CNE GM David Bednar onstage with President Bill Clinton

The big day has come and gone, and what a big day it was.  Once again, the CNE staff pulled off a difficult event and made it look relatively easy.  For me personally, it was very big deal to get to meet President Clinton in person.  I had a major case of butterflies in my stomach because I was to introduce him, stay on stage through his speech, and then ask him the questions for the second part of the program.  My anxiety reached its peak just before he walked into the building; once I actually met him and we began to talk, it felt as if a weight had come off my shoulders.  He is a genuine and engaging person with a remarkable ability to stay in the moment, so I was able to relax and move to the stage confident that the program would be a success.  The audience displayed considerable warmth and a clear affection for him.  They were terrific.  They applauded frequently and stood at least twice to give him a standing ovation.  I looked down to the first few rows to see my family there to cheer me: my grandson and his parents, my wife, my brother (who travelled with his friend from Austin, Texas, for the event), and my step-daughters.  A few rows back sat the CNEA board and other friends.  From the stage, the panoramic view of all the rest of the audience stretching to the top of the far stands was inspiring.
 
The day was not without its challenges.  President Clinton’s attendance at the funeral for Senator Kennedy might have required a delay. In the end it did not, but it made some of us nervous nonetheless.  The line-ups for last minute tickets were lengthy and still in place as the President was about to take the stage.  A difficult decision had to be made to refuse entry at that point to those who had not purchased tickets in advance and some were upset about being kept out.  I suspect they would have been more disappointed to have stood in line, bought a ticket, and then enter the stadium only to hear the last, or none, of the President’s remarks.
 
We will be analysing this part of the 2009 CNE for some time to come.  As we do with all aspects of the fair, the management team will go back over the evidence to try to see how it could be done better, what worked, what did not, etc.  Regardless, I believe that this speech was a very good thing for the CNE and tourism to Toronto, and I am extremely grateful to be working with such a dedicated team of professionals.

Photo borrowed from globeandmail.com article: My Car (Hiebert for The Globe and Mail)

Being the shameless self-promoter that I am, I am sharing the following link for those of you who are nutty enough to want to know more about me:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/auto/…
As mentioned therein, the truck is not for sale, so don’t ask.

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

Last Thursday morning was the citizenship ceremony.  Over the past few years, it has settled into an annual event at the CNE in which the immigration officials get out of the office for a ceremony here to swear in some new citizens to Canada.  This year we had 56 newcomers from 26 different countries.  Along with the presiding judge of the ceremony, the CNEA president, our local MP, and the director of the immigration office, I was part of the platform party.  I offered welcoming remarks to the new Canadians, introduced the two tenors who performed, and then was allowed a few closing remarks.  I am allowed the opportunity to speak each year for two reasons: I am the GM of the fair, and I became a Canadian citizen at the 2000 CNE.  In my remarks, I expressed confidence that the new citizens will make wonderful new lives for themselves here in Canada.  I also suggested that, although they officially became Canadians that day, that the fact of being Canadian might sneak up on them in expected ways:

“When you are speaking with someone from your country of origin and they question your repeated use of the word ‘eh’, you may be reminded that you are Canadian.  If, in the depths of February, someone complains about the blizzard howling outside and you find yourself replying, ‘You know, I really like the change of seasons,’ then you may be reminded that you are Canadian.”

I guess I am old-fashioned enough that I get a little emotional about this sort of thing.  I know it sounds like a cliche, but you really do see hope on the faces of these new Canadians — hope and pride and warmth and affection for each other.  It is a little-known new tradition at the Ex, and I hope future years will be better attended by the general public.

Horses and Acrobats.  We started throwing this idea around a couple of years ago.  We were concerned about what we would do if the RCMP actually accepted our invitation to perform here.  The last time they were here (2004) was before we moved the Horse Show into the period before the Ex, and we made that move so that the Coliseum could be used during the fair.  The set-up of the Coliseum is a big deal in either of its available “modes”.  If used as an ice surface, it takes time to make ice.  If used for horses, a lot of dirt (officially called “tanbark” due to its colour) is required.

This year, the RCMP offered to return for the Labour Day weekend.  If they could have come for opening weekend it might have been different, but it would have silly to leave the tanbark in for the Horse Show, remove it and make ice for another skating show, and then re-install the tanbark for the RCMP.  The tanbark would have to stay, and tanbark isn’t good for much of anything other than horses.

The company that produced the ice-skating/aerial acrobatic shows for the past three years, ISF Entertainment, listened to our suggestions about combining horses and acrobatics and the rest is, as they say, history.  Similar to the skating/acrobatics show, ISF brought together performers who had never worked together, hired a talented director, enlisted the support of the choreographer who had done such a great job with the skaters, and put together a 30-minute spectacle.  Audience reaction has been unanimously positive.  The show has to close this coming Thursday to make room for the RCMP and the Rodeo, so I know that the remaining shows will be packed.

This “EX-posed” project will be one to watch to see if it turns into a new CNE tradition.  Our Youth Action Group (YAG) was pretty charged up about it everytime the idea was discussed.  I am sure almost everyone has some sort of secret related to the CNE, at least those who attend or once worked here.  The big question is whether or not we will get responses.  Will people expose themselves?  Remains to be seen.  The YAG is supposed to have distributed postcards all over the place, so they are out there.  Will they return?

Myself, I have no secrets.  My life is an open book.  Well, okay, I might as well admit it.  I think the game of golf is just plain stupid.  I don’t get it.  All the equipment, special shoes, driving practice, the way you hold the club, and then what?  Hit the ball, walk, talk.  For what?  I just don’t understand.

What does this have to do with the CNE?  Sorry, that’s my secret.

I think that the secrets already posted have far too much to do with kissing.  Do people at the Ex really kiss that much?

6:15 am Friday August 15th – We have worked all year for today to arrive and here it is.  Thankfully, the weather looks good.  Provincial Minister of Tourism, Peter Fonseca, will officially open the fair in less than 4 hours.  Federal Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, will also be here.  There really is a special excitement around the opening and we all get caught up in it.  Last minute rehearsals finished yesterday and now, 18 days of fun.  For me, all I have to do is to see the looks on the faces of the children in our First Family to make the year’s hard work worthwhile.