City within a City': Exploring the Shared History of the CNE and Exhibition Place

Shayda Spakowski and Fiona Crawford

This tour, hosted jointly by the CNE and Exhibition Place, explores the shared history of these organizations through the concept of Exhibition City. The term seems to have originated within the Works Department and was used to refer to the network of buildings instead of the geography of the grounds themselves. As time went on, Exhibition City also became known as a “City within a City”. Due to its location within the greater city of Toronto, it became clear that to run the grounds as effectively and efficiently as possible, the site would benefit from installing elements commonly found within other cities including a fire and police department, hospital, post office, transit, social housing, landscaping, modern restaurants, telephone and telegraph offices, cleaning and garbage collection, and even cultural institutions such as art galleries, senior/social spaces and even a location for the press/news departments. We’ll explore all these and more as we work our way through Exhibition City beginning at the Princes’ Gates. Tour stops will also include Stanley Barracks, Horse Palace, Fire Hall, Police Station, Music Building, Administration Building and Rose Garden.

Walk Start:

Princes' Gates (Princes' Blvd and Canada Blvd)

Rose Garden (Prince Edward Island Cres and Ontario Dr)

Walk End: