The CNE ~ Canadian National Exhibition
Total 20 Posts
The Canadian National Exhibition has opened. I worked a game booth across from The Polar Express every day it was open in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Here are some of the highlights from my 3 years working at the Ex. Conklin Carnies Save My LifeWhat a Wonderful WorldThe Legend of
Friday, August 19 – Comedy Night featuring Howie Mandel, Ali Hassan, Nour Hadidi, Neil Seguin, Courtney Gilmour Saturday, August 20 – Bruce Cockburn with Hawksley Workman* Sunday, August 21 – Marianas Trench* with Jocelyn Alice Monday, August 22 – DSL Dire Straits Legacy with Jake Clemons* Tuesday, August 23 – Iskwē and Monowhales* Wednesday, August
This is the 20th anniversary of my first summer working at the Canadian National Exhibition, known affectionately as simply The Ex. Although much has changed in the last 20 years, including a reduction in the number of days The Ex is now open, here are six significant changes I noticed
At the Ex yesterday, they had this "5 DVDs for $20" deal. There's four of us in the family, so everyone got to choose a movie and I'd top it off with one family flick. Here's the choices made. Keep in mind, this DVD shack didn't have any A-list titles.
I'm back from a great day at the CNE. I've written extensively about my three summers working at the Canadian National Exhibition as a teenager, so when I join the family for a trip to the Ex now it's really for three reasons. The Sights, Sounds and Smells I love
The Canadian National Exhibition opens next week. Of the 131 years of The Ex's existence, I worked a game booth across from The Polar Express every day it was open for three of 'em: 1989, 1990 and 1991. If you want to revisit my many CNE memories, visit my CNE
I was searching YouTube for something completely different when I came across this montage of the Canadian National Exhibition in 1990. That was one of three summers I worked there and you can read my stories right here. Watching this video took me right back. Unfortunately, there are no scenes
Since I worked at the CNE for three years in the late 80s and early 90s, I've only been to the CNE once. I think I simply overdosed on the place, having walked that midway 60 days in a row. Taryn and I went once about ten years ago and
What the heck happened to our summer? Can the CNE really be starting up tomorrow? In the words of the great Cinderford, Gloucestershire band EMF, that's unbelievable. If you want to revisit my many Canadian National Exhibition memories with me, visit my CNE page where I've shared stories from my
It just so happens that my shower radio is tuned to 102.1 and my morning showers last week coincided with a bit where the CFNY morning guys made fun of carnies working the Canadian National Exhibition. Throughout the CNE it's common for carnie jokes to resurface. I suspect carnies
With the Canadian National Exhibition in full swing, this is the ideal time to revisit my "Tales from the Ex". Three years as a games booth attendant provided me with some pretty cool stories. Here are seven I shared during the summer of 2004. Read 'em while they're hot. Conklin
Last year, during the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I shared some stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. With the 126th CNE in full effect, the timing is right to revisit these tales. Conklin Carnies Save My LifeWhat a Wonderful WorldThe Legend of ArdoRisking My
Throughout the 125th Canadian National Exhibition I've shared stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is my final tale for 2004. I have many others, so we'll pick this up again next August. Today is Labour Day and the final day of the twenty
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. The CNE's midway, full of rides and game booths, is mainly operated by Conklin and has been for decades. I didn't work for Conklin. As
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. Working at the CNE you could always expect a concert crowd before and after that night's show at Exhibition Stadium. The concert ticket got you
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. We called it Black Monday. Labour Day Monday was always the last and busiest day of the CNE. It was also well known as a
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. We called him Ardo and we feared him. Ardo was the boss and his persona was thug-like, a tough dude you didn't want to mess
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. I typically closed up the booth at the end of the night. The park would close, I'd wait for the midway to empty and then
During the 125th Canadian National Exhibition, I'm sharing stories from my three years working there as a game booth attendant. Below is one of many. During the height of Madonna's Blonde Ambition tour in 1990, I was working a game with a Madonna-wannabee. She copied that complete look, including that
The 125th Canadian National Exhibition opened last week. It's the world's largest annual exposition and a great annual tradition here in Toronto. I probably won't go to the Ex again until James is old enough to really enjoy it. You see, as a teenager, I seriously overdosed on the place.
