Game booths lining the roads, some with hordes of people milling around; food in outdoor booths and the jam-packed Food Building; and vendors marketing their products and giving away prizes. Add in the rides as backdrops to the colourful scenes made by the booths as well as hordes of people, and you have a picture of this year’s Canadian National Exhibition (the Ex).
At a first glance, the Ex, known as the country’s largest annual community event, might seem to be all about game booths, rides, and food stands.
Yet amidst the glitz and glam, quieter arts still flourish. In the Heritage Court, located just behind the hollering Fido booth, everything from gardening to literature to sculpture is showcased.
The faintly fragrant hall—cooler than the booths outside and less crowded than the Food Building—greets visitors with displays of plants and rocks. Paintings of various flowers line the left side, while the booths on the right offer bamboo, orchids, and glittering decorations.
At a first glance, the Ex, known as the country’s largest annual community event, might seem to be all about game booths, rides, and food stands.
Yet amidst the glitz and glam, quieter arts still flourish. In the Heritage Court, located just behind the hollering Fido booth, everything from gardening to literature to sculpture is showcased.
The faintly fragrant hall—cooler than the booths outside and less crowded than the Food Building—greets visitors with displays of plants and rocks. Paintings of various flowers line the left side, while the booths on the right offer bamboo, orchids, and glittering decorations.
Down the middle of the hall, past the vegetation, is a booth named “A Celebration of Greatness: L. M. Montgomery, from Canada to the World.” The booth features copies of Montgomery’s books, postcards showing Leaskdale, and other items related to the author and her residence in the Township of Uxbridge.
Best known for her “Anne of Green Gables” series, Montgomery is one of Canada’s iconic authors. Though she wrote in the early 1900s and most of her stories are set in her birthplace, Prince Edward Island, her stories have garnered an international audience and are still enjoyed today.
The woman who runs the booth, Luanne Evans, garbed in full costume as Montgomery, says Montgomery’s books had such a wide appeal because they were “wholesome stories” about girls’ dreams and experiences.
Best known for her “Anne of Green Gables” series, Montgomery is one of Canada’s iconic authors. Though she wrote in the early 1900s and most of her stories are set in her birthplace, Prince Edward Island, her stories have garnered an international audience and are still enjoyed today.
The woman who runs the booth, Luanne Evans, garbed in full costume as Montgomery, says Montgomery’s books had such a wide appeal because they were “wholesome stories” about girls’ dreams and experiences.
Evans said the booth’s purpose was to promote the Uxbridge through Montgomery, who moved to Leaskdale after marrying Ewan Macdonald. Evans’ husband adds more authenticity to the booth by dressing like Macdonald. This is the L. M. Montgomery booth’s fifth year at the CNE.
Further back in Heritage Court, an artistic competition is heating up. The medium? Sand.
The International Sand Sculpting Competition is just that—international. Artists from places like Japan, Australia, and Italy gathered, labouring on their sculptures while visitors stopped and stared. Of course, Canada was represented too.
The CNE takes place every year in the 18 days before and including Labour Day. It features rides, games, parades, sports, performances, and displays. Situated near the lakefront, it attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors every year.
This year’s musical guests include Marianas Trench, Neil Sedaka, and Lights, while Olympic figure-skating medalist Joannie Rochette will perform in a skating show called “Beyond Broadway” with the CNE’s Aerial Acrobatics and Ice Skating show.
Further back in Heritage Court, an artistic competition is heating up. The medium? Sand.
The International Sand Sculpting Competition is just that—international. Artists from places like Japan, Australia, and Italy gathered, labouring on their sculptures while visitors stopped and stared. Of course, Canada was represented too.
The CNE takes place every year in the 18 days before and including Labour Day. It features rides, games, parades, sports, performances, and displays. Situated near the lakefront, it attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors every year.
This year’s musical guests include Marianas Trench, Neil Sedaka, and Lights, while Olympic figure-skating medalist Joannie Rochette will perform in a skating show called “Beyond Broadway” with the CNE’s Aerial Acrobatics and Ice Skating show.
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