By Brian Ashton
What a great year for the CNE – big crowds, great entertainment, tons of fun, and photo albums full of memories.
This year the CNE was once again wild, colourful, and had something for everyone.
A wide variety of entertainment and events included Bandshell concerts, celebrity chef demonstrations, an aerial acrobatics and ice skating show, a dog show, a working farm, parades and a three-day Air Show.
Midway rides and games, wacky fair food as well as international food and shopping are also popular highlights of this major Toronto event.
Mackenzie King at the CNE in 1947
Ringing alarm bells
So why as President of the Ex am I raising alarm bells and calling our CNE friends to action?
Over 134 years the Ex has survived everything from wars to bad weather and always came out bigger and stronger.
Sure we have changed, but we still hold bragging rights as the event defining the end of summer and a tradition you can’t miss.
What could possibly threaten the future of the CNE?
We are one of the biggest fairs and exhibitions in North America attracting nearly 1.4-million customers over the course of 18 days.
We generate over $80-million to the Ontario economy, with $58-million fueling the greater Toronto economy alone.
We attract 275,000 out-of-town visitors every year. We are a proud employer of 5,000 youth during the 18-day fair, many coming from at-risk communities. Moreover, our spending creates the equivalent of 633 jobs in the region.
Imagine, in the last decade, the CNE has contributed more than $20-million in site fees to the annual operating budget of Exhibition Place, in addition to $7.3-million in operating profits going to the city’s bottom line.
Say NO to “Gambling titans”
So what is on the horizon that could possibly bring this successful Toronto tradition and institution to a close?
A mega Las Vegas style casino and entertainment complex – who would have thought?
Of the 192 acres of public land at Exhibition Place, parks and grand heritage buildings already occupy much of it.
Gambling titans from Vegas want to build a massive gambling complex on close to 35-acres of Toronto owned land on the waterfront, close to a staggering 3.5-million square feet.
And it won’t just be a huge casino, but include restaurants, retail, hotel, and possibly residential.
Largely, once this last vestige of publicly owned waterfront land is covered by cavernous, concrete buildings, there will be little if any space left for the CNE. Maybe enough space for a “corn -dog stand and a merry-go-round”!
You can just imagine the traffic and parking issues when the casino is in full operation attracting thousands of cars on a daily basis. When other annual events take place, like the Royal Agricultural Fair, Sportsmen’s Show, and Honda Indy, you’ll have event gridlock.
How to take action
What can you do? City of Toronto Council will be deciding in March to say Yes or No to a casino in downtown Toronto.
The CNE Board of Directors has said No to a casino at Exhibition Place.
Now we need you, our friends and supporters of the Ex, to say No to a casino at Exhibition Place.
Here’s how to make your feelings known:
Email Mayor Rob Ford: mayor_ford@toronto.ca You can call also his office at 416-397-3673.
Email your City Councillor: councillor_name@toronto.ca or call at 311
Email the Clerk of Toronto City Council: clerk_toronto.ca
