Written by: Chantelle Muise
Well today the lights will turn off for another year. The vendors will pack up, and the animals will be carted away. The last vat of grease will be boiled and the caretakers of the grounds will be busy sweeping away the remains of Mardi Gras Beads, plastic bottles and food wrappers. The CNE is bidding adieu until August 2013! Although there will be a number of events that will take place on the grounds from now until then, like Bridal Shows, Haunted Walking Tours, Fall Home Show, Woofstock and The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (check all listings at www.explace.on.ca ), it’s still always sad to see the CNE go.
I could write about how I will miss the CNE, but if you’re an EX lover like myself – you understand! I could write about what an amazing chance I got, to be able to see the whole fair unravel before my eyes and how lucky I was to share it all with you – but I don’t want to make you jealous! Just Kidding! J I could write about the food, the rides and the games – but I think those things were covered already! I could even write about the shows and other amazing attractions – but seeing how today is the last day, and maybe you didn’t get a chance to go this year, I don’t want to rub in what you were missing! So I leave you with this…
I don’t know if you are aware of this, but I wasn’t until this year – Did you know, that beautifully crafted structure that stands so tall and greats you in every year, is called the PRINCES’ GATES and NOT “PRINCESS” GATES! They were officially opened on August 30th, 1927 during that year’s fair. Named after Prince Edward and Prince George, who were scheduled to be in town, and the Royal Highnesses themselves were there to open them up – First to go through was a Veterans Parade, which became the traditional Warriors’ Day Parade that we know today. By the way, as angelic as it may seem the figure on top is a “Goddess of Winged Victory,” not an angel! To read more about this visit http://www.cnearchives.com or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhibition_Place.
It just goes to show you that you can learn new things every day. I have been going to the CNE for 33 years, and I never knew this. All this time I thought it was called “Princess,” apparently a really common mistake! So when you leave this year and say farewell to the CNE, be sure to stop by the Princes’ Gates and say sorry to the “Sirs” for mistaking them for a “Lady”!
See You At Next Year’s CNE!