Canadian National Exhibition Blog

2008 marked the CNE’s first foray into “blogging” and it was a learning experience.  Thank you to all of our bloggers, David Bednar, Scooter Korek and all the rest, for providing us with the inside scoop.  Thank you also to Official CNE Bloggers Contest Winners, Denise, Marilyn and Nicolas, for your contributions.  Things worked out great and we hope you have fabulous vacations with the help of your VIA Rail packages!  Readers won’t know this, but we decided to offer four trip vouchers to each Official CNE Blogger instead of the two that were promised at the outset, since each one of them did a fantastic job.

It’s time for us to sign off for the season, but we hope you’ve enjoyed reading the posts as much as we did gathering them.  The blog will be available for viewing during the off-season, however, please note that comments will be held for moderation.  Check back in the spring for more interesting stories and comments, as we gear up for next year’s fair!

If you have any questions or comments regarding the CNE Blog, please contact us at: cneblog@theex.com.

Have a great year and Let’s Go to The EX 2009: August 21 to September 7!

Sincerely,
The CNE Blog Team

2008 Canadian National Exhibition Association
Annual General Meeting

Fountain Dining Room, Queen Elizabeth Building,
Exhibition Place

Thursday, October 16, 2008; 10:30 a.m.

David Bednar, CNE General Manager, to Members, Directors and Guests

Members and Directors, staff and guests, thank you for taking the time to attend this morning.  It is great to see familiar faces and exciting to see some new ones.  This looks to me to be one of the best attended AGMs in recent memory, another positive sign of the good status of the CNE.  I am pleased to bring you my report to this meeting.

The Canadian National Exhibition had another successful year in 2008.  At this meeting last year, I called the 2007 CNE a “knockout, out-of-the-park home run”.  Well, if any of you thought we could do better — as it turns out, you were right.  All the improvements we made to our programming, marketing, and operations brought the fair to a new level this year.

After weeks of rain, the weather gods smiled on us and blessed the 130th Canadian National Exhibition with near perfect weather… once we got through Opening Day that is!  As you may recall, that Friday started out as a lovely sunny day for our Opening Ceremonies.  In the afternoon, however, an angry looking funnel cloud rode into town, and brought two friends: hail storm and pouring rain.  By end of day, it was proven that every cloud does have silver lining; eventually the bad weather departed and left behind a beautiful double rainbow that evening!

Overall, people came in droves throughout the 18 days!  Did gas prices keep more people in town?  Did the additional money invested in marketing this year reach more people?  Did folks just want to get out of the house after a long and soggy summer?  Hard to know for sure.  What we do know, is that 1.31 million people attended the fair this year.

The financial accounts are not final yet, and won’t be for some time, but our financial position looks promising at this time.  Overall, our revenues have exceeded budget, but I caution that there may well be some areas of expenses over budget.  The net position at the end of the year should exceed budget, but we won’t know until later.  Not only did we have a successful Ex, but many of our partners had their expectations exceeded.  Sponsors were happy — from Coke to Garnier to GM to Rogers, to name but a few, they all had a fantastic time.  We also had favourable reports from North American Midway Entertainment (NAME) as well as some exhibitors and concessionaires.

It was gratifying to see visitors of all ages from every cultural background enjoying a day at the fair.  Preliminary data from our research firm, suggests that 25% of visitors polled were extremely satisfied with their CNE visit; 60% were very satisfied, with 14% somewhat satisfied and a mere 1% not very satisfied.

Again this year, there were a few significant changes made to the layout of the fair.  What did you, Members of the Association, notice that was different?:

The Farm:

Yes, The Farm moved for starters.  As you may recall, the Automotive Building was under construction this summer as it is being transformed into the state-of-the-art Allstream Conference & Convention Centre.  The Farm, which has lived there for many years, was moved into the Better Living Centre.  We received many compliments on its new home.  Being so close to Kids’ World made it much easier for our guests with small children to get to The Farm.  Furthermore, the increase in natural light made it a more pleasant experience for both visitors and exhibitors not to mention the cows, pigs, goats and chickens who really liked their new “digs”.  Despite its proximity to the Casino, there were fewer problems with the new location than expected, and in general we think it was a good move.

Sports:

That said, when The Farm moved into the Better Living Centre, SportZone obviously had to move out.  Being the Olympic Year for Summer Games, we moved our sports activities outside just west of the Food Building presenting a very popular interactive sports program entitled Celebrate the Olympic Spirit.  However, the shopping that had traditionally resided in SportZone was still left without a home — which led, in part, to our next success story:

The Warehouse Extension in Hall G of the Direct Energy Centre:

I especially want to draw your attention to this area because you may not like what I have to say about it.  It was, without a doubt, one of the most popular successes of the 2008 CNE.  Stitches alone, the “anchor” vendor at the far north end of the area, experienced sales beyond all expectations.

One of the longstanding major criticisms of the CNE is that it is “nothing more than a flea market”.  I have heard this comment from the public, the media, and also from some of you, the Members and Directors.

As General Manager, here is my problem: on the one hand, I hear all this criticism; on the other, I see the obvious success of this new area.  Like it or not, fairs mirror their communities, and Toronto is obviously a shopping community.

The Rentals staff work diligently on the presentation, believe me, from every angle, from product mix to carpet to signage, and worry a lot about our image.  There are those who may not like the idea, but our audience clearly has a strong appetite for a bargain.

Midway:

A couple of things must be said about the midway.  Not only did we sign a new contract with North American Midway Entertainment and shift the north-south game line further west, we also made the first of a number of changes on the independent lines, changes I think must be made towards improving our customer’s experience.  Because they involve “moving”, or in some cases, “losing” locations, these changes have been difficult for some of our concessionaires to accept.

However, we will continue to move toward a more permanent midway layout, add new concessionaires, and change or reduce others.  Secondly, the NAME presentation was outstanding this year.  TSSA [Technical Standards and Safety Authority] officials said the rides were in the best shape they have ever seen.

Programming Highlights:

Highlights of the 2008 CNE?  Well, they vary… depending on whom you talk to.

Many of us will never be able to look at a “tennis ball” the same way again after ventriloquist Michael Harrison’s hilarious show.  The Canadian Forces Musical Salute was spectacular in BMO Field, a magical evening as the sun set to the strains of the 1812 Overture — although Rod Stewart, who was performing across the street, thought someone was trying to shoot at him when the cannons fired.

The Bandshell lineup was sensational and proved that people will come to the CNE to see concerts at the Bandshell.

We also know anectodally that people came from “near and far” to see the magnificent Quilt of Belonging in Heritage Court.  I don’t know how many of you were able to see it, but it was quite spectacular and featured 263 squares representing 71 aboriginal groups and 192 immigrant nationalities found in Canada.

Equestrian groupies took the reins with the three shows in Ricoh Coliseum: Hippike: A Gypsy Legend; The Rodeo and the RCMP Musical Ride.

We had two very popular attractions on Princes’ Boulevard including our Grand Illusion and Escape Artist Show and our evening show: Jump Jet featuring Ontario’s own Circus Orange and here’s a little trivia for you: 353 pyrotechnical effects at each performance every night of the fair.

Did anyone else notice how quiet the Air Show was this year?  The show ran to just under three hours and was spectacular with fewer noise complaints than we received last year.  As we all know, it is the final highlight of the CNE.

I would like to take this opportunity to give some thanks.  As Jim said, we benefit enormously from the excellent support of both the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place and the City of Toronto.  I also appreciate the support of the Executive and the Board of Directors.

You can always tell the staff at these meetings: they are the ones seated at the back.  I also must thank staff of Exhibition Place and MLSE [Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment].  I would ask our hardworking staff to stand and be recognized for putting on a terrific fair.  There will be some time to socialize after this meeting and I encourage you to get to know some of these individuals.  They are a great bunch of people to work with.  And finally thanks to you — the Members.

As members of our Youth Committee will tell you, the new ride the Mega Drop was a big hit in 2008!  It took 52 seconds to go up in this ride and 3 seconds to come down.  Rather like the stock market over the past couple of weeks!  Which leads me to talk about next year.

Unfortunately, despite the number of psychics exhibiting at the CNE, no one left behind their crystal ball.  We do not know what the economic landscape will look like next August.

Therefore, we are planning for next year’s fair carefully and prudently.  We are keeping a close eye on both pricing and expenses, as we work to service the best interests of the CNEA, our partners, and our customers.  As a result, this may mean a change in some of the previous recommendations staff had made for the 2009 fiscal year.

As we look to the future, I continue to rely on and value the great support of the Board and this Association, and invite you all to join us next summer from August 21st to September 7th for the 131st Canadian National Exhibition.  As you can tell, the fair is late next year.  In fact as late as the calendar allows.  But rest assured, our Horse Show and Casino will open early on August 4th.

We look forward to seeing you then!  “Let’s Go to the EX!”

Thank you

Yesterday, August 19th, playing hooky from work, I reveled in the guilty pleasures of wandering around the Ex in the sunshine when I should have been chained to my desk under blue-green fluorescents.  Later this week I’ll make the annual trip with my wife, kids and a few of their friends.  We will see the SuperDogs (compulsory), the petting zoo (optional as the kids are now teenagers) and look for clothes bargains for school (practical).  That will be fun — it just can’t compare to a totally free day.

A list of everything I saw and heard would be long and boring so let me tell you about a few highlights:

Music

I was getting a little footsore so I welcomed a chance to hear something international and cultural while I rested in the theatre at the International Pavilion.  It turned out to be a performance by Habeeba’s Belly Dancing Troupe.  The ladies were enchanting and the music was… stimulating.

I loved the Blues Brothers Tribute (a favourite movie) but then I was lured away by the sounds of bagpipes (another favourite) and I listened to the pipers and the brass band in the Mardi Gras parade.

I stumbled on my musical highlight for the day completely by accident — the CNE Express train had a problem so we all had to get off near the Casino.  I heard an amazing trumpet solo coming from the direction of the Casino patio.  I don’t know the name of the band but Spider Jones came up on stage and screamed out “Mustang Sally”, “In the Midnight Hour” and more — I got a few pictures and settled in for the show.

Amazing

I have seen him before, but I am still amazed at the skill of the CNE’s rock star, Daryl Maddeaux.  Daryl makes incredible towers carefully, seemingly impossibly, balanced stones.  You have to see it to believe it.  I talked to Daryl for a few minutes and he patiently demonstrated his skills to several skeptics who thought there must be some sort of trick.  For them, Daryl took off a rock from the top of a tower, let the skeptics heft the stone, then he demonstrated how with great concentration, he feels for just the right spot to balance the tip of a boulder.

David Hamill is a magician of another kind.  He enthralled a crowd at the busker’s stage with a mixture of magic and humour.  Maybe anyone can learn a magic trick with enough practice, but it takes real talent to attract a passing crowd and keep them watching and laughing while you effortlessly perform one illusion after another.

Breathtaking Spectacle

After last year’s Aerialist and Ice Skating show, I knew HIPPIKE would be something special.  I expected feats of strength and graceful acrobatics — but I wasn’t prepared for ten-year-old twin girls standing on galloping horses.  It is supposedly a Gypsy Legend (according to the CNE Guide).  I don’t know what the story is supposed to be, but it is a spectacle of soulful singing, death defying horsemanship, beautiful women, beautiful horses and the strongest young men you are ever likely to see.

Then the really dangerous stuff: JUMP JET features more acrobatics only this time the performers do it in the middle of sound and light show inside a fireworks display.  I couldn’t follow a story line with this one either — but when the spectacular spacecraft shooting coloured fire around the trapeze artist is right above your head you are too amazed to think about where you are in the story arc.

I had a great day.  Too much happened to tell it all in one page.  I haven’t mentioned the Midway or the food (great new kinds of food) or hundred other features that keep me coming back.

This year’s Ex is different.  The Ex isn’t the same fair I looked forward to every summer when I was a kid (and dreaded because it meant going back to school right after).  Only Tiny Tom Donuts and the Princes’ Gate remain exactly the same.  I think its better.

I also took about 500 pictures.  That’s why I really liked going alone even my patient wife won’t stand still for me taking twenty shots of the Ferris Wheel because I just can’t seem to frame it right.  I will post a few if the blog allows it.

James

Whoosh, what the heck was that? Then I remember that the final CNE weekend means the Air Show is in town. The Ex must’ve ordered up picture perfect weather for these last few days. Not a cloud in the sky means excellent views of the exotic winged hardware up in the sky. I hear and feel a high powered military jet roar by. Then, seconds later I spot it buzzing the Toronto skyline. A sight like this is enough to get anyone’s heart pounding.

Needless to say we’re all feeling the pinch of higher gas prices and that applies even more so to jet fuel. With many smaller airshows disappearing, it is reassuring to know that the CNE one is proceeding full speed ahead. The crowds both in transit on the way down and then at the fairgrounds themselves tells me that the Ex knows a good thing when it sees it. This attraction literally tops them all. With an intoxicating combination of speed and daring, all the elements are in place for a truly unique experience.

Once that wraps up I feel incredibly patriotic and decide that it is time to check out the Canadian Forces display. With men and women on active duty around the world, it is important for us to show them our support and encouragement. The machines they have available in their area are truly formidable. We climb aboard APVs, planes, and much more. The souvenir freebies that they distribute are also a welcome touch and I soon lose track of all the silicon wrist bracelets I spot people sporting around the fair.

Hard to believe that this is the last weekend already. However, if anything can make the end of summer easier to deal with it is a visit down to the CNE. The rides, attractions, and most importantly, people make it the place to be for a few precious weeks in late August.

Precision timing, crowd-pleasing performances, and unbelievable skills. These are just some of the elements that characterize unique CNE shows that are not to be missed. The seats in the Ricoh Coliseum were almost all full. We were there to catch the legendary RCMP Musical Ride. With 32 riders wearing the traditional RCMP red uniforms this act is truly magic to behold. Each rider is paired with a lovely black horse and together they make a formidable duo. We learn that the Musical Ride is just one of many opportunities available within the RCMP across Canada. In fact, just a handful of the riders this time are from Ontario so the group makes up a perfect cross section of our country’s demographics.

Enough about the specifics and onto the show. The ride starts in dramatic fashion and I tend to agree with the announcer who suggests that the best seats are actually the ones highest up. From that vantage point you get a true sense of the complexity of their various maneuvers all set to music. Check out the “Cloverleaf” and you’ll feel what rush hour traffic looks like on our busy highways. However, instead of chaos, the RCMP version is like a beautiful equine ballet.

Continuing the horse theme, we come back to Ricoh for the CNE Rodeo. This is the first appearance for the attraction here in 25 years so the crowd is amped. The majority, including myself, have never seen live rodeo so we’re in for a real treat. The cowboys, and girls, demonstrate amazing control over their steeds during roping competitions. This is the real deal too because prize money is on the line and losers get nothing but our applause.

Both of these shows are phenomenal and demonstrate a healthy respect for the Fair’s roots while still pointing the way to its potential future. You owe it to yourself to check them out.

‘Twas a beautiful, cool summer night for a walk so I organized a small group to take in the history and architecture of the CNE. Appropriately enough for an agriculturally-based fair, we began with the Horse Palace, and although the horses were out on patrol that evening, the building still had plenty of “horsey” atmosphere (i.e. manure smell). Dating back to 1931, it is a beautiful old building that served as a focal point of the fair for many years.

From there it was on to sneak a peek at Ricoh Coliseum. It’ll host the world famous RCMP Musical Ride starting this final weekend. Next was the Direct Energy Centre. There we saw some prize winning plants and flowers. We also checked out a lovely and enormous “Quilt of Belonging” that is comprised of panels representing various native groups from around the world.

Soon we ambled over to a nearby stage to watch some young, talented dancers performing traditional Ukrainian routines. We were tempted, but resisted, the lure of chamois, amazing car waxes, and much more. A quick stop at the gorgeous Automotive Building (currently under renovation) then off to admire the Princes’ Gates.

From there it was on to the Better Living Centre, new home of the farm. We got to touch piggies, see giant ostriches, and marvel (or drool) over enormous butter sculptures.

Night was fast approaching, now so we zipped by the Shriner fountain, Scadding cabin which is the oldest building in Toronto, and the giant windmill – the first in a major urban centre in North America. A few of us ended the evening with the culinary delights of the Food Building including a delicious corn dog for me.

Sure the CNE signifies that summer is almost over but what a great way to commemorate the changing of the seasons. It offers architectural wonders, cool junk food, and a unique sense of timelessness and frivolity that you can’t help but love.

Precision timing, crowd-pleasing performances, and unbelievable skills.  These are just some of the elements that characterize unique shows that are not to be missed.  The seats in the Ricoh Coliseum were almost full.  We were there to catch the legendary RCMP Musical Ride.  With 32 riders wearing the traditional RCMP red uniforms, this act is truly magic to behold.  Each rider is paired with a lovely black horse and together they make a formidable duo.  We learn that the Musical Ride is just one of many opportunities available within the RCMP across Canada.  In fact, just a handful of the riders this time are from Ontario so the group makes up a perfect cross section of our country’s demographics.

Enough about the specifics and onto the show.  The ride starts in dramatic fashion and I tend to agree with the announcer who suggests that the best seats are actually the ones highest up.  From that vantage point you get a true sense of the complexity of their various maneuvres all set to music.  Check out the “Cloverleaf” and you’ll feel what rush hour traffic looks like on our busy highways.  However, instead of chaos, the RCMP version is like a beautiful equine ballet.

Continuing the horse theme, we come back to Ricoh for the CNE Rodeo.  This is the first appearance for the attraction here in 25 years so the crowd is amped.  The majority, including myself, have never seen live rodeo so we’re in for a real treat.  The cowboys, and girls, demonstrate amazing control over their seeds during roping competitions.  This is the real deal too because prize money is on the line and losers get nothing but our applause.

Both of these shows are phenomenal and demonstrate a healthy respect for the Fair’s roots while still pointing the way to its potential future.  You owe it to yourself to check them out.

I’ve never explored the CNE as thoroughly as I did this year.  Now I’m coming away with some tips I’ll be drawing on every summer from now on.  If you’re not a CNE expert, you may find them useful as well:

1. Take Transit
   Of course there’s the environmental concern.  But when I looked at the parking lots on the busy days, it made me especially glad we’d taken the TTC.
2. Use the Online Schedules
   Handy for making sure you get there on the right days and in time for the special shows you really want to see!
3. Take Water, Buy Food
   Having a bottle of water is indispensible, but if you’re going to be at the CNE you’re really missing out if you don’t indulge in what the Food Building and the midway have to offer.
4. For Quiet Places to Rest…
   Try a curb on the periphery, the lawn inside the kids’ zone or for an extended break head south to the Rose Garden.  We plan on going and visiting the Rose Garden again in the early summer next year, to properly admire the blooms, pool and statue.
5. Go Early, Go Often
   Obviously the Labour Day Weekend is the big blowout for the Ex and the energy, crowds and special events are well-worth a visit.  But also going much earlier in the run — the first weekend or especially on a weekday — gives you a great chance to check everything out with fewer lines and at a leisurely pace.  Two very different but equally worthwhile versions of the CNE!

‘Twas a beautiful, cool summer night for a walk so I organized a small group to take in the history and architecture of the CNE.  Appropriately enough for an agriculturally-based fair, we began with the Horse Palace and, although the horses were out on patrol that evening, the building still had plenty of “horsey” atmosphere (i.e. manure smell).  Dating back to 1931, it is a beautiful old building that served as a focal point of the fair for many years.

From there it was on to a sneak peek ar Ricoh Coliseum.  It will host the world famous RCMP Musical Ride starting this final weekend.  Next was the Direct Energy Centre.  There we saw some prize-winning plants and flowers.  We also checked out a lovely and enormous “Quilt of Belonging” that is comprised of panels representing various native groups from around the world.

Soon we ambled over to a nearby stage to watch some young, talented dancers performing traditional Ukrainian routines.  We were tempted, but resisted, the lure of chamois, amazing car waxes, and much more.  A quick stop at the gorgeous Automotive Building (currently under renovation) then off to admire the Princes’ Gates.

From there it was on to the Better Living Centre, new home of the farm.  We got to touch piggies, see giant ostriches, and marvel (or drool) over enormous butter sculptures.

Night was fast approaching now, so we zipped by the Shriner fountain, Scadding cabin which is the oldest building in Toronto, and the giant windmill — the first in a major urban centre in North America.  A few of us ended the evening with the culinary delights of the Food Building, including a delicious corn dog for me.

Sure the CNE signifies that summer is almost over, but what a great way to commemorate the changing of the seasons.  It offers architectural wonders, cool junk food, and a unique sense of timelessness and frivolity that you can’t help but love.

It was halfway through the fair and we had a mid-afternoon torrential downpour.  We stood at the window of the General Manager’s office watching everyone running for cover into any building they could find.  Uh-oh the day was going to be disappointing — the street in front of the building cleared completely of any people.  Then, out of the cover of a nearby building we saw a little girl running with an umbrella.  She stopped in the middle of the street.  Uh-oh double whammy — a lost child.  But no — her parents watched from the shelter of the building, and we watched from our “ivory tower” as it were, as she stopped, put the umbrella out in front of her, face up to the pouring rain and began to spin and dance on the empty street.  She had a huge smile on her face, and you could almost imagine you were hearing her sing “I’m dancing in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I’m happy again.”  It was one of those moments that sticks in your mind at the ability of children to find joy and happiness in everything.  Turned out to be a wonderful day!!