[2] Warriors'Day was inaugurated 26 August 1919 by Edward, Prince of Wales at the Canadian National Exhibition.

[3] The parade is held on the third Saturday of August which is the second day of the Canadian National Exhibition.

The parade honours the service of Canadian men and women in the armed forces.

[6] Similarly, GO Transit also offers free travel for the day of the parade to veterans and current personnel.

Veterans of the Great War were given free rein of the grounds until the afternoon, when they attended a baseball game on the Toronto Island.

In the evening, the veterans returned to the fair grounds to be reviewed by Edward, Prince of Wales who was visiting Toronto and be entertained by a special show at the Grandstand.

[9] It was estimated that 115,000 persons attended the CNE that day, including 30,000 veterans, some of the battleship HMS Renown.

[9] The Warriors' Day parade council was formed in Toronto in 1921, extending the work of the CNE.

The council desired a specific day to pay tribute to living veterans of the First World War.

[11] Governor General Lord Byng, the former Commander of the Canadian Corps at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, took the salute of the veterans in the afternoon.

"[12] In the evening, festivities were held at the Grandstand for the veterans, including a massed band concert, dancing, gun displays and boxing.

[13] In 1938, the parade attracted 20,000–30,000 Forces personnel and veterans from units in Ontario, Australia and Newfoundland.

Its route was altered along Lake Shore Boulevard to avoid the Grandstand construction site.

[15] The 1959 parade saluted the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway with NATO warships attending, and the ships' companies marching.