People in Toronto have four ways to mark the seasons: Christmas lights mean snow, cold & ice; the first signs of endless road construction indicates spring is finally here; Canadian National Exhibition heralds the end of summer; and when the Air Show roars over head, fall is officially here.
When the first ads for the annual Canadian National Exhibition start popping up, it tends to trigger a bit of melancholy in many Torontonians. There will be a sigh of “already? Damn summer is almost over?” It’s generally refered to as The Ex or the CNE and used to be the biggest thing to happen in southern Ontario. People came from all over just to enjoy the midway and exhibits. My family was no different. Every year, we’d pile into the car and off we’d go for a day at the CNE. My brothers and sister would head off to enjoy the rides and games, quickly vanishing into the crowd with their friends. Mom and I would look at each other, nod in silent agreement and beeline for the arts and crafts and food pavilions. After that, we’d hit all the agricultural buildings, spending extra time with the rabbits and chickens. We would spend the entire day wandering building to building.
By the end of the day, exhausted and filled with cotton candy and hotdogs, we’d head home, sleeping most of the way.
Every time I see an ad, a sense of nostalgia still overwhelms me. Mom and I would spend days talking about the latest gadgets and futuristic visions we saw. I remember a demonstration that touted how one day we would be seeing people on the telephones. Mom wasn’t sure that was a good idea; I loved it. Shortly before she died, we reminisced about the Ex and laughed at that memory. How things changed.
Is there a stamp?
Well, yes. And it’s not one of Canada Post’s best efforts.
1978
Scotts 767
Designer: Theo Dimson
Graphic designer Theo Dimson was well known for his art deco design style, but this stamp, just doesn’t show off his talents. Nor did it do justice to the grand old entrance of the CNE – the Princes’ Gates.
The neo-classical gates were erected in 1927 and have been a symbol of the Ex for generations of attendees. A glimpse of the gates in the distance meant you were nearly there! And they towered over the neighbourhood at 20 metres (65 ft).
The gates were designed by Chapman and Oxley, designers of a number of Toronto’s iconic buildings, including the ROM, Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion, and the Toronto Public Library’s Circulating Library (now the called the Koffler Building) to name a few.
CNE organisers initially named it the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Gates, to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, but luckily the name was changed to the more manageable Princes’ Gates.
From 1879 to 1912, it was called the Toronto Industrial Exhibition. The first exhibition took place Sept. 3, 1879 and ran for 3 weeks. 100,000+ people visited the fair grounds, seeing over 8,000 exhibits showcasing industrial innovations and Canada’s agricultural heritage. In 1881, the entire population of Toronto was only 86,400! People came from all over the country for the exhibition. In 1912, it was decided to rename it the Canadian National Exhibition or CNE, to better reflect its national outlook. It is the largest annual exhibition in Canada, and is still counted as the 5th largest in North America. It currently ranks in the top 3 of the Top 100 trade fairs, trade shows & conferences list.
You knew I’d sneak in airplanes, didn’t you?
One of the biggest draws for the CNE is the annual air show – the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS). It began in1946 at the old De Havilland Airport at Downsview (north Toronto). In 1949 the show relocated to Exhibition Place at the CNE grounds. By 1956 it was fully integrated into the CNE schedule and continues to attract in huge crowds. In 2015, 1.6 million people attended, setting a record for official attendance. Some of us were uncounted because we could see some of the aerial displays from our balconies. Nothing says airshow like feeling your balcony rattle as a jet roars over head. As much as I love airplanes, I’m not a big fan of having them buzz my apartment building.
In 1999, Canada Post issued a beautiful souvenir sheet of 4 stamps to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary. Designers Tiit Telmet and Marko Barac used works from photographers David Tarrant and Roman Holowatji’s to create this 4 stamp set.
Both Canada and the United States are heavily represented at the show, with the RCAF, USAF, USMC, and USN making numerous appearances. Perennial favourites, the RCAF Snow Birds have appeared almost every year since they were formed in 1971. Canada Post honoured the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, aka Snow Birds, on their 25th anniversary with a souvenir sheet and FDC.
This time Tiit Telmet paired up with Wade Stewart to create this 2006 pair.
This year’s show runs at noon and 3:30 pm from Sept. 2 to 4. And that sound you just heard? That was an existential scream from the people in Greater Toronto as the realisation hits that summer is coming to an end.
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