Canadian National Exhibition facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Canadian National Exhibition
Genre	Provincial fair/Agricultural and entertainment
Dates	18 days (from mid-August to Labour Day)
Frequency	Annually
Venue	210 Princes' Boulevard
Location(s)	Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario
Years active	146
Founded	1879
Attendance	1.54 million (2016)
Website	www.theex.com

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is a huge yearly event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It happens at Exhibition Place for 18 days, ending on Labour Day in early September. About 1.5 million people visit the CNE every year. This makes it Canada's biggest annual fair and one of the largest in North America!

The first CNE was held in 1879. Its main goal was to show off new ideas in farming and technology. Farmers, engineers, and scientists shared their discoveries. As Canada grew, the CNE also grew, showing off new ideas and different cultures. For many families in the Greater Toronto Area, visiting the CNE is a special yearly tradition.

The CNE Grounds: Exhibition Place

The CNE Midway on August 31, 2012

The CNE takes place at Exhibition Place. This large area is about 192 acres (78 hectares) big. It sits along Toronto's waterfront, right by Lake Ontario. Many buildings and structures here are very old and important. You can find outdoor stages for live music, like the CNE Bandshell. All the roads on the site are named after Canadian provinces and territories. The grounds also have a stadium for football and soccer, parks, fountains, and gardens.

This land was once used by the British and Canadian military. There was even a French fort here in the 1700s. The CNE started using part of the land in the 1870s. By the 1920s, it used the whole area. In the 1950s, more land was added by filling in parts of the lake.

Fun Things to See and Do

The 18-day fair is packed with exciting things. You can find shopping areas, cool exhibits, live shows, and farm displays. There are also sports events, a casino, and a huge carnival midway with rides, games, and lots of food!

Shows and Attractions

The Canadian International Air Show is a big highlight of the fair. It happens on Labour Day weekend and has been a part of the CNE since 1949.

Several buildings at the CNE have different exhibits.

• The International Pavilion shows products from all over the world.
• The Arts, Crafts and Hobbies Building has unique crafts and collectibles.
• The Enercare Centre hosts the international pavilion, a garden show, and amazing SuperDogs performances. It also has a sand-sculpting contest!
• The Food Building is a popular spot. It offers food from many different cultures, showing off Toronto's diverse population.
• The Better Living Centre has a casino on one side. On the other, you can see farm displays and even a butter sculpting competition!

The CNE also has the 1792 "Scadding Cabin" log cabin. This is Toronto's oldest standing building. It is only open to the public during the CNE.

Toronto's oldest standing structure, a log cabin from 1794. It is open during the CNE.

The carnival midway is a huge part of the CNE.

• There's a special children's area with smaller rides for younger kids.
• The main midway has dozens of rides. These include thrilling roller coasters, swing rides, and a log flume ride.
• You can play many games of skill and chance along the pathways.
• There are also many carnival food stands.
• The CNE has a "sky ride" with chairs like ski lifts. It carries people from one end of the midway to the other.

The Canadian National Exhibition has a carnival midway in the northeast part of Exhibition Place.

The Coca-Cola Coliseum hosts live shows. In the past, these have included high-wire acts and ice skating. Outside, the Bandshell has daily music and big-name performers at night. You can also find street performers, acrobats, and children's shows. The CNE has two main parades: the Warrior's Day Parade for veterans and the Labour Day Parade for workers. Every evening, there's also a "Mardi Gras" parade.

Exhibition Place is also home to BMO Field. This is a large stadium in the middle of the fairgrounds. It is used by two professional sports teams from Toronto: the Toronto Argonauts football team and the Toronto FC soccer team. The CNE also holds youth baseball and women's fastball tournaments nearby.

BMO Field is a multi-purpose stadium in the center of the fair grounds.

In 2013 and 2014, the CNE had a zip line ride. It was the tallest and longest temporary zip line in the world! Riders traveled almost 1,100 feet (335 meters) at about 65 km/hour.

Delicious Food Options

The Food Building at the Canadian National Exhibition

Many visitors think food is a key part of the CNE experience. There are so many choices across the fairgrounds! The Food Building is a major stop. It offers classic fair treats like Beaver Tails and Funnel Cakes. You can also find international dishes and unique items like Deep Fried Red Velvet Oreos. Don't worry, there are also healthy, vegetarian, and halal options.

Since 2012, the CNE has hosted a "Food Truck Frenzy." This event brings many food trucks to Princes' Boulevard. In 2015, a "Craft Beer Fest" was added, letting guests try local beers.

The CNE also hosts a Ribfest in Bandshell Park. Vendors cook delicious pork ribs and other barbecue foods. They even compete to see who has the best ribs!

Market stands at the International Pavilion. The CNE hosts many markets and shops.

Shopping Fun

You can find many places to shop at the CNE:

Warriors' Day Parade

Warriors' Day Parade
Commemorative plaque describing the Warriors' Day Parade, 2005
Genre	Military
Location(s)	Toronto, Ontario
Years active	1921–present
Founded	1921
Attendance	3,000 (2019)
Patron(s)	Warriors' Day Council

The Warriors' Day Parade started in 1921. It is organized by the Warriors' Day Parade Council.

Parade History

The parade began to honor veterans of the First World War. It was first held in 1921. Since then, it has continued to celebrate the service of Canadian men and women in the armed forces.

Commemorative plaque about the Warriors' Day Parade, 2005

The parade often remembers special events. For example, in 2015, it honored veterans of World War II. In 2017, it remembered the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the Dieppe Raid. The parade was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who Participates?

After the world wars, as many as 30,000 military veterans marched in the parade. In 2019, about 3,000 veterans participated. Many privately owned military vehicles and classic cars also join the parade.

History of the CNE

An advertisement for the 1884 Toronto Industrial Exhibition. It was renamed the Canadian National Exhibition in 1912.

In 1846, a fair was held in Toronto to promote farming. It also showed off manufactured goods and crafts. This fair was a success, and it moved to different cities each year.

In 1878, the fair returned to Toronto. The city decided to create a permanent fair. This new fair was called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. It opened on September 3, 1879, and lasted three weeks. Over 100,000 people visited, and it was a big success! The fair kept growing and became known as the "Show Window of the Nation." It started on about 50 acres (20 hectares) and now covers almost 200 acres (80 hectares).

In 1912, the Toronto Industrial Exhibition changed its name to the Canadian National Exhibition. This new name showed how big and important the fair had become. The CNE has always shown off the latest technology.

• Electric railways were introduced in 1883.
• Edison's phonograph (an early record player) was shown in 1888.
• Wireless telephones appeared in the 1890s.
• Radio was introduced in 1922.
• Television was shown in 1939.

Electric railways at the CNE in 1884. They were first shown the year before.

During World War II, the CNE grounds were used by the Canadian military. Buildings became military barracks and training centers. The CNE fair itself was closed from 1942 to 1946. After the war, the grounds helped soldiers return home.

Miss War Worker Beauty Contest held at the CNE during World War II.

The CNE reopened in 1947. People came to see new consumer goods and farm advancements. Over time, the CNE became more modern and diverse. It has changed to meet the needs of Toronto's growing population. In 1968, the CNE was allowed to open on Sundays for the first time.

The CNE in the 21st Century

An F-35 Lightning II performs a high-speed pass during the 70th Canadian International Air Show, at the CNE.

In 2003, the CNE celebrated its 125th anniversary. In 2005, a new Mardi Gras parade was added. The CNE also became the first fair in North America to get EcoLogo Certification in 2010. This means it is recognized as an environmental leader.

Famous ice skaters like Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, and Elvis Stojko have performed at the CNE. In 2016, the CNE started the Innovation Garage. This event features a competition for new ideas, bringing back the CNE's history of innovation.

On May 12, 2020, the CNE announced it would be cancelled that summer. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. It was the first time the CNE had been cancelled since World War II.

Economic Impact

The CNE helps the local economy a lot. A study in 2017 found that the CNE brings in about $93.1 million for the Greater Toronto Area each year. It also creates many jobs.

Jobs at the CNE

The CNE hires about 1,200 people starting in the spring to plan the fair. During the fair itself, another 3,500 people are hired. These jobs are with emergency services, food vendors, and exhibitors. For many young people in Toronto, working at the CNE is their first job!

Partnerships

With 1.5 million visitors, the CNE is a great place for companies to connect with people. Many businesses, both Canadian and international, are sponsors and exhibitors at the CNE.

CNE's Green Efforts

The CNE is committed to being environmentally friendly.

EcoLogo Certification

In 2010, the CNE became the first fair in North America to receive EcoLogo certification. This means the CNE meets high environmental standards. It shows the CNE is a leader in protecting the environment.

Environmental Strategy

The CNE has a plan to be green, focusing on three main areas:

Saving Energy

• Midway lights are turned off during the day.
• Solar panels are used on buildings, golf carts, and games.
• All decorative tree lights are now energy-saving LED lights.

Reducing Pollution

• The CNE encourages visitors to use public transit, bike, or walk.
• Most staff golf carts are electric, not gas-powered.
• Some rides at the fair use bio-diesel generators.

Reducing Waste

• Many materials are recycled, like cardboard, paper, and food waste.
• Water refill stations are available to reduce plastic bottle waste.
• Many recycling and compost bins are placed around the grounds.
• Styrofoam is no longer allowed at the CNE.
• In the Food Building, most tableware can be composted.

The CNE has been very successful in reducing waste:

• 2009 - 77.30%
• 2010 - 83.76%
• 2011 - 81.93%
• 2012 - 82.82%
• 2013 - 86.36%

How the CNE is Run

The CNE is run by the Canadian National Exhibition Association (CNEA). This group has a volunteer Board of Directors. The CNEA follows rules set by the Province of Ontario. The CNEA operates on land owned by the City of Toronto, called Exhibition Place.

Until 2013, the CNEA worked closely with the Board of Governors (BOG) of Exhibition Place. The CNEA paid fees to the BOG for using the grounds. In 2012, it was decided that the CNEA would become financially independent. This means the CNEA can now keep its profits and invest them back into the fair. This helps the CNE grow and improve each year.

The CNEA has over 125 members, including individuals and groups from different areas like farming and industry. A Board of Directors is elected each year from these members. Six representatives are appointed by Toronto City Council.

Current Leaders

Executive Committee:

Directors:

Images for kids

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  The now vanished "Flyer" rollercoaster and Exhibition Stadium at the CNE in 1985.