The CNE opens in Toronto for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic
The Canadian National Exhibition has returned to Toronto after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 18-day event kicked off with an opening ceremony Friday morning.
Speaking at the ceremony, Toronto Mayor John Tory said he hoped residents would welcome the fair back with "huge enthusiasm."
"If you think about it, there are very few things in our city that embody the traditions and the city itself the way the CNE does," he said.
Health measures that restricted in-person events prevented the fair from operating in 2020 and 2021. The organization that runs the fair has said the cancellations cost millions in losses and missed revenue.
Darrell Brown, CEO of the Canadian National Exhibition Association, said earlier this week there's a lot riding on this year's event.
"For some of these vendors, the CNE is the big paycheque of the year. It was a struggle for some of them to make it through (the pandemic), but the vast majority are back and they're anxiously awaiting the gates opening," he said.
Mac-and-cheese lemonade and ketchup ice cream were among the new wacky foods fairgoers can feast on, along with the typical fair foods like hotdogs and poutine, and long-standing CNE favourites such as waffle ice cream sandwiches and mini doughnuts.
A nightly drone show has been touted as another of the fair's new attractions.
The CNE's return came amid a strike by unionized safety inspectors working for the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, who have raised concerns about how rides are being examined during the labour action.
The CNE previously said it has taken steps to ensure the strike doesn't affect the safety of visitors, staff or vendors, and has its own engineering team to carry out inspections on top of those performed by the TSSA's non-union staff and management.
Striking workers held a rally during the opening ceremony Friday, shouting slogans as organizers and officials took to the stage.
The fair runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 19, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.