History of the Canadian National Exhibition
It was established in 1879 as a modest agricultural and industrial exhibition and has expanded to an annual fair that attracts over one and a half million persons during its two-and-a-half week run.
The fair has been held annually from 1879 on the same Exhibition Place site on Lake Ontario, except during World War II, when the fairgrounds were given up to the Canadian military, and a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fair provides entertainment, a midway, shopping, two parades, an air show, agricultural displays and numerous food vendors for visitors.
The City of Toronto received 20 acres (8.1 ha) of Garrison Reserve lands south of the Lunatic Asylum, west of the city, on King Street West and constructed the CA$5,000 'Palace of Industry', nicknamed the 'Crystal Palace', its walls were cast iron and glass (this being prior to electric lighting), in time for the next time the event was held in Toronto, in 1858.
The City arranged for a lease with the Government of Canada of 50 acres (20 ha) of the Military Reserve west of Old Fort York, at the foot of Dufferin Street for CA$100 (equivalent to $3,847 in 2023) per year.
The City moved the Crystal Palace from its site on King Street to a place on the grounds to serve as the main exhibition space.
[11] The track of the Military Reserve and its Grandstand was used for equestrian displays and several wooden structures were built for other exhibits and live stock.
In 1884, the fair added the "Little World" exhibit of miniature landscapes with about 100 figures doing "all the operations required in the carrying on of the leading industries of the day."
An 'International Fireworks Competition' was held, along with "Mr. Hirschfelder's Great Museum" of curiosities, "Professor Morley's Beautiful Fata Morgana" and the animal exhibits of Piper's Toronto Zoo.
[23] The 1893 Massey farm equipments company display included a 15 ft (4.6 m) long electric model of the train they used to ship to market[24] and was hosted by an Egyption dragoman in exotic Eastern clothing.
[28] A highlight of the year's fair was a special exhibit of gold and silver ores from British Columbia and Lake of the Woods in the CPR Building.
Acts and attractions included "Frank Bostock's Animal Arena" of trained wild animals, Williams and Warren's "Fairyland", Heazlits' Children's Theatre, Captain Louis Sorchos "Deep Sea Divers", Cassel's Dog and Pony Show, Stark's Glassworks, and Milton Dowker's display of Alberta cowboy life in the Northwest Territories.
[36] A prominent display was a huge cake of "Comfort" Soap, that fairgoers were invited to guess the weight of, for a prize of an upright piano.
cake of soap and the winner was Mrs. William Adams of Euclid Avenue who won a CA$350 (equivalent to $12,585 in 2023) Palmer Upright Piano.
"[41] The art gallery displayed paintings valued at CA$200,000 (equivalent to $7,191,248 in 2023), including The Death of General Wolfe by Benjamin West, loaned by King Edward.
[42] The grand stand show was a "pyro-military spectacle entitled 'The Relief of Lucknow'", featuring pipers of The Black Watch and fireworks.
"[41] The Exhibition grounds were part of the Dunlop 15 miles (24 km) bicycle road race from High Park through Toronto and back.
Displays included weapons, war trophies returned from Europe and "blood-stained and torn clothing worn by soldiers in the trenches.
The first event was the official opening of the fair by Ontario Premier Hepburn with a concert by the Kneller Hall Band from the UK's National School of Music in Twickenham, England on August 27, 1936.
Those remaining troops continued their regular administrative duties or participated in CNE displays and events to promote the Canadian war effort.
[90] The CNE had held aerial displays dating back to 1919, when Fokker D VII fighters were flown along the waterfront and 1939, when RCAF aircraft made a flypast.
[93] Independently, swimmers attempted to cross Lake Ontario to match Bell's achievement, leading to the drowning death of Clifford Snowlton after completing only 3.5 mi (5.6 km).
[96] While the City wanted to demolish the Quarters also, public opposition arose to its demolition, including Governor-General Vincent Massey, and the decision was reversed.
[107] In 1966, Conklin Shows built the "Alpine Way" cable-car system, connecting people from the west side of the Food Building to near the Princes' Gate.
The exhibit included a totem pole, carvings by Wilmer Nadjiwon, artifacts of Tom Longboat and was hosted by actor John Yesno.
At the same time, the older buildings at the western end of the fair were not up to contemporary standards, the whole Exhibition Place site was running a yearly deficit, and there were no funds for refits.
[128] In 2007, BMO Field opened, hosting new Major League Soccer team Toronto FC on the site of the old Grandstand and the Hall of Fames building.
In 2012, Canadian Olympic gold-medalists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir performed in La Vie: Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show during the first 15 days of the fair, and three-time World Champion and Olympic silver-medalist Elvis Stojko closed out the show on Labour Day weekend.
[134] The same year also saw the introduction of the CNE Innovation Garage in partnership with Ryerson University, featuring a pitch competition for young inventors and displays of new inventions and projects such as ZooShare biogas.
The bandshell's entertainment included Dionne Warwick, Jann Arden, Amanda Marshall, Kim Mitchell, Tynomi Banks and Kardinal Offishal.
