Pacific National Exhibition

Last updated
Pacific National Exhibition
Pacific National Exhibition logo 2023.svg
StatusActive
Genre Summer fair
Winter fair
DatesMid-August to Labour Day (15 days)
December (10 days)
FrequencyAnnually [note 1]
Location(s) Hastings Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
Coordinates 49°16′58″N123°02′12″W / 49.2828°N 123.0366°W / 49.2828; -123.0366
CountryCanada
Inaugurated
  • August 1910;113 years ago (1910-08) (summer)
  • December 2022;1 year ago (2022-12) (winter)
Previous event2023 (summer)
Next event2023 (winter)
Attendance731,708 (2019) [1]
1.1 million (record in 1986) [2]
LeaderShelley Frost (president & CEO)
Organized byPacific National Exhibition [note 2]
Website www.pne.ca

The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) is a nonprofit organization that operates an annual 15-day summer fair, 12-day winter fair, a seasonal amusement park, and indoor arenas in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The PNE fair is held at Hastings Park, beginning in mid-to-late August and ending in early September, usually Labour Day, and in mid-December until Christmas.

Contents

The organization was established in 1907 as the Vancouver Exhibition Association, and organized its first fair at Hastings Park in 1910. The organization was renamed to the Pacific National Exhibition in 1946. During the mid-20th century, a number of facilities were built on the PNE grounds, including Pacific Coliseum and the PNE Agrodome. In 1993, the amusement park adjacent to the PNE, Playland, became a division of the PNE.

History

The Vancouver Exhibition Association (VEA), the predecessor to the Pacific National Exhibition organization was first formed in 1907; [3] although the association was not incorporated until 18 June 1908. [4] The VEA had petitioned Vancouver City Council to host a fair at Hastings Park; although faced early opposition from the city council and the local jockey club that used the park for horse races. [3] However, the city council eventually conceded to the VEA's request and granted the association a 5-year lease to host a fair at Hastings Park in 1909. [3]

A stall offering pony rides at the Vancouver Exhibition in August 1930 Pony rides VPL 12268 (20310400970).jpg
A stall offering pony rides at the Vancouver Exhibition in August 1930

The VEA held its first fair at Hastings Park in August 1910. [3] It was opened by then Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier as the Vancouver Exhibition. [3] The biggest attractions of the two-week fair are its numerous shops, stalls, performances, a nightly fireworks show, and the exhibition's Prize Home. From its beginnings, the exhibition was used as a showcase for the region's agriculture and economy.

In the initial years of the Second World War, the fairgrounds saw an increased military presence. [5] However, the exhibition itself was not cancelled until 1942, after the Canadian declaration of war against Japan was issued. [5] From 1942 to 1946 the exhibition and fair was closed, and like the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, served as a military training facility for the duration of World War II. [5] During this time, the exhibition barns that were used to house livestock, were used as processing centres for interned Japanese Canadians from all over British Columbia. [5] The interned Japanese Canadians were later shipped away to other internment camps throughout British Columbia, and Alberta. The Momiji (Japanese word for Maple) Gardens on the PNE's grounds serves as a memorial for the event. The barns used for the internment of Japanese Canadians are still used to house livestock during the annual fair, and serve as storage area to house some of the PNE's property the rest of the year.

The PNE in 1957, two years after it was formally reincorporated as the Pacific National Exhibition. PNE, 1957.jpg
The PNE in 1957, two years after it was formally reincorporated as the Pacific National Exhibition.

On 7 February 1946, the Vancouver Exhibition Association changed its name to its current moniker, the Pacific National Exhibition; [4] and later reopened the fair to the public under that name in 1947. [5] The organization was formally reincorporated as the Pacific National Exhibition in 1955. [4]

Crowds at the 2016 PNE Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) (29407868116).jpg
Crowds at the 2016 PNE

The highest attendance at the fair was recorded in 1986, with 1.1 million guests visiting the PNE, [2] most likely due to Expo 86 that was occurring at the time. In 1993, the amusement park adjacent to the PNE, Playland, became a division of the PNE organization. [6]

During 1997-1998, the PNE grounds was transformed with the demolition of a number of buildings including the Food Building, Showmart and the Poultry Building. This gave way to the Sanctuary, a parkland setting with a pond. The pond restored part of a stream that once flowed in the park out to the Burrard Inlet. The city restored a large portion of the park. Many old fair buildings have been demolished and replaced by a more natural character. Although land was purchased in Surrey that was to become the fair's new home, the PNE has since transferred ownership from the province to the City of Vancouver and will remain at Hastings Park. The PNE is a registered charity.

Two attractions at the PNE were named as heritage sites by the City of Vancouver in August 2013. The Pacific Coliseum and the Wooden Roller Coaster were added to the list. [7]

In 2020, the fair went on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside other agricultural and county fairs across Canada, including the Calgary Stampede, the Canadian National Exhibition, and K-Days. [8]

In the early hours of February 20, 2022, a major fire broke out on PNE grounds, where multiple vehicles, tools and equipment, and buildings were destroyed as a result. [9]

Breakout Festival Riot

In September of 2022 the PNE Amphitheatre hosted the two day rap and hip-hop festival known as Breakout Festival.

On the second day of the festival fights broke out inside and outside the venue, and vandalism occurred when concert-goers became hostile following an announcement that the headliner, American rapper Lil-Baby, would not be taking the stage.

After a major police response was launched and the riot was stopped, seven people were arrested and the venue suffered millions of dollars of property damages, although no major injuries were reported.

In September 19, 2023, a year after the riot, the Vancouver Police Department charged an additional 15 people with crimes related to the riot following an extensive investigation which included reviewing and analyzing video posted to social media by attendees.

Grounds

The Sanctuary at Hastings Park The Sanctuary at Hastings Park 2.JPG
The Sanctuary at Hastings Park

The Pacific National Exhibition occupies approximately 42 hectares (105 acres) at Hastings Park, a municipal park in the Hastings–Sunrise neighbourhood. [1] This includes the 6.1 hectares (15 acres) of land used by Playland, a PNE-operated amusement park. [1]

The PNE grounds maintains several gardens and natural preserves on the grounds including The Sanctuary; a small pond that serves as a resting place and breeding ground for approximately 130 species of birds. [10] Gardens at the PNE grounds include an Italian garden and Momiji Commemorative Garden; the latter serving as a memorial for the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. [11] Another memorial located on the park grounds is dedicated to the 29th Battalion, (Vancouver), CEF, an infantry battalion whose lineage is perpetuated by the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own). [12]

Approximately 24 hectares (60 acres) of Hastings Park is not managed by the Pacific National Exhibition. [1] This includes Hastings Racecourse, a 19 hectares (48 acres) facility operated by Great Canadian Entertainment; and several facilities maintained by the municipal government, including Empire Field, an emergency dispatch centre, and local community centre. [1]

Structures

Pacific Coliseum is one of several permanent structures located at the grounds of the PNE. Pacificcoliseum.jpg
Pacific Coliseum is one of several permanent structures located at the grounds of the PNE.

The PNE grounds contains several buildings and exhibition halls. The PNE Forum is a 4,200 square metres (45,000 sq ft) exhibition facility that is used for large displays and trade shows. [13] Rollerland is a 1,840 square metres (19,800 sq ft) exhibition, banquet hall and venue for the Terminal City Roller Derby. [13]

Two buildings on the PNE grounds are indoor arenas. The Pacific Coliseum is multi-purpose arena that holds 15,713 permanent seats, with provisions for 2,000 temporary seats for concerts and certain sports. [13] The PNE Agrodome is a smaller indoor arena with 3,000 permanent seats, with provisions to expand up to 5,000 seats. [13] Entertainment facilities includes the Garden Auditorium, a building that features a built-in stage and dance hall. The PNE grounds also feature amphitheatre with bench-style seating for 4,500 visitors. [13]

Other buildings on the PNE grounds includes the Livestock Barns, a large multi-use facility, and the organization's administrative offices.

Demolished buildings

  • Armed Services Display Building (1950s)
  • Aquarium
  • Athletic Field (1910)
  • Baby Dipper
  • Band Stand
  • 1950s BC Pavilion; later BC Sports Hall of Fame
  • Dining Hall
  • Dip the Dips (1915)
  • Directors' Dining Room
  • Display Barn
  • District Display Exhibit
  • Empire Stadium (1954); later Empire lot and now Empire Field (and maintained by the Vancouver Parks Board)
  • Feed Store
  • Ferryboat Wharf (1910)
  • Food Building (a.k.a. Pure Foods Building, 1931); now part of the Sanctuary parkland
  • Forestry Hall (1913)
  • Fountain
  • Giant Dipper
  • Grandstand (1910)
  • Green House
  • Happyland Carousel Building
  • Horticultural Building
  • Industrial Building (1910); later as the Women's Building
  • Livestock Judging Pavilion
  • Manufacturers' Building; also Machinery Hall and later Transportation Building (1910)
  • Mineral Exhibit
  • Miniature Railway
  • Post Office
  • Poultry & Pigeon building (1950s)
  • Press Bureau
  • Pure Foods Building (1931) now the Italian Gardens
  • Race Track and Stables (around 1905)
  • Racing Paddock
  • Refreshment Stands
  • Sheep Stables
  • Shoot the Chutes
  • Showmart (1931); now part of the Italian Gardens
  • Skid Road (Midway) (1910)
  • Stable Restaurant
  • Stock Judging Building
  • Streetcar Station (1910)
  • Swine Building (1950s)
  • Vaudeville Stage

Access

The PNE red gate, situated off East Hastings Street and Renfrew Street Hastings Park Entrance.jpg
The PNE red gate, situated off East Hastings Street and Renfrew Street

The PNE grounds has several entrances or "gates," including the red gate off East Hastings Street and Renfrew Street, and the purple gate off East Hastings Street. [14] Both gates are situated in the southern portion of the PNE grounds, with the latter gate also the main entrance to Playland. Several gates are located in the northern portion of the PNE grounds, with the yellow gate situated off Renfrew Street near the Pacific Coliseum, while the green gate is located along Miller Drive. [14]

There exists several parking lots on site, with two parking lots off Renfrew Street and another off Bridgeway Street. [14] The PNE also operates another parking lot south of Playland, across East Hastings. [14] The PNE also operates a valet service for cyclists. [14]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The event has been cancelled on several occasions since it first operated, with the event cancelled from 1942 to 1946 due to the Second World War, and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  2. ↑ The Pacific National Exhibition is an organization managed by the City of Vancouver since 2003. From 1973 to 2003, the organization was managed as a provincial crown corporation of the government of British Columbia.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National Exhibition</span> Annual event held in Toronto

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Labour Day, the first Monday in September. With approximately 1.5 million visitors each year, the CNE is Canada's largest annual fair and the fifth largest in North America. The first Canadian National Exhibition took place in 1879, largely to promote agriculture and technology in Canada. Agriculturists, engineers, and scientists exhibited their discoveries and inventions at the CNE to showcase the work and talent of the nation. As Canada has grown as a country, the CNE has reflected the growth in diversity and innovation, though agriculture and technology remain a large part of the CNE. For many people in the Greater Toronto Area and the surrounding communities, the CNE is an annual family tradition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhibition Place</span> Publicly owned mixed-use development in Toronto

Exhibition Place is a publicly owned mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197-acre (80 ha) site includes exhibit, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial, and national historic sites. The district's facilities are used year-round for exhibitions, trade shows, public and private functions, and sporting events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Coliseum</span> Indoor arena in Vancouver, Canada

Pacific Coliseum, known to locals as "The Coliseum" or the "Rink on Renfrew," is an indoor arena located at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia. Its main use has been for ice hockey and the arena has been the home for several ice hockey teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Stadium (Vancouver)</span> Former sporting venue in British Columbia, Canada

Empire Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium that stood at the Pacific National Exhibition site at Hastings Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Track and field and Canadian football, as well as soccer, rugby and musical events, were held at the stadium. The stadium was originally constructed for the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The stadium hosted both Elvis Presley and The Beatles. It saw most of its use as the home of the BC Lions of the CFL from 1954 to 1982, in which the venue also played host to the first Grey Cup game held west of Ontario in 1955. Empire Stadium also hosted the Grey Cup game in 1958, 1960, 1963, 1966, 1971, and 1974; seven times in total.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playland (Vancouver)</span> Amusement park in Vancouver, BC

Playland Amusement Park is an amusement park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The amusement park is located at Hastings Park and is operated by the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), an organization that hosts an annual summer fair and exhibition adjacent to Playland. Playland opened at its current location in 1958, although its predecessor, Happyland, operated at Hastings Park from 1929 to 1957. Playland was formally made a division of the PNE in 1993.

Vancouver Public Library (VPL) is the public library system for the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2013, VPL had more than 6.9 million visits with patrons borrowing nearly 9.5 million items including: books, ebooks, CDs, DVDs, video games, newspapers and magazines. Across 22 locations and online, VPL serves nearly 428,000 active members and is the third-largest public library system in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings Park</span>

Hastings Park is a municipal park located in the northeast sector of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood. The 62 hectares park features several sports and recreation facilities, including Hastings Racecourse and Playland amusement park. The southern portions of the park are also used as the fairgrounds for the Pacific National Exhibition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings–Sunrise</span> Neighbourhood of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada

Hastings–Sunrise is a neighbourhood located in the northeastern corner of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa SuperEX</span> Defunct annual exhibition in Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa SuperEX was an eleven-day annual exhibition that took place every August at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa, Ontario. The exhibition provided exhibits, entertainment and amusements indoors in the buildings on site and outdoors on the grounds. The Central Canada Exhibition Association operated a fair annually from 1888 until 2010, except during World War II. The fair was on hiatus due to plans to redevelop Lansdowne Park and the Association continued to work towards finding opportunities to bring back SuperEX. It was announced in December 2015 that the Ottawa SuperEX board had disbanded a year earlier and the Ex would not be returning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Vancouver</span> Place in British Columbia, Canada

East Vancouver is a region within the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Geographically, East Vancouver is bordered to the north by Burrard Inlet, to the south by the Fraser River, and to the east by the city of Burnaby. East Vancouver is divided from Vancouver's "West Side" by Ontario Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corkscrew (Playland)</span> Roller coaster

Corkscrew was a steel roller coaster located at the "Playland At the PNE" amusement park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is famous for its appearance in the 2006 motion picture Final Destination 3, the 2012 motion picture Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, as well as the popular television series Smallville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Pride Parade</span> Annual LGBT event in British Columbia, Canada

The Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival is an annual LGBT Pride event, held each year in Vancouver, British Columbia, to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies. It is run by the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS), a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization that seeks to "produce inclusive, celebratory events, and advocacy for LGBTQAI2S+". Vancouver's Pride Parade is the largest parade of any kind in Western Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings Street (Vancouver)</span>

Hastings Street is one of the most important east-west traffic corridors in the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and used to be a part of the decommissioned Highway 7A. In the central business district of Downtown Vancouver, it is known as West Hastings Street; at Carrall Street it becomes East Hastings Street and runs eastwards through East Vancouver and Burnaby. In Burnaby, there is no east-west designation. The street ends in Westridge, a neighbourhood at the foot of Burnaby Mountain where it joins the recently built Burnaby Mountain Parkway and diverges from the continuation of the former Highway 7A as the Barnet Highway, to Port Moody, British Columbia.

The Forum is an indoor arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada located on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enercare Centre</span> Exhibition complex in Toronto

Enercare Centre, formerly known as the Direct Energy Centre and originally the National Trade Centre, is an exhibition complex located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used by the Canadian National Exhibition and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, as well as by various trade shows. In 2015, it hosted several sport competitions and the broadcasting centre for the 2015 Pan American Games.

This is a timeline of the history of Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Lakehead Exhibition</span> Regional fair

The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition (CLE) is an annual regional fair in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Similar in nature to the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, it features local and regional artisans and farmers, a midway, concessions and numerous other activities geared towards families and people of all ages. The exhibition takes place yearly in early August and is held on the CLE grounds in the Intercity area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Empire Field</span>

Empire Field was a temporary Canadian football and soccer stadium built at Hastings Park in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Located on the site of the former Empire Stadium, the 27,528 spectator venue was constructed to allow a new retractable roof to be installed at BC Place in 2010 and 2011. Empire Field was home to the Canadian Football League's (CFL) BC Lions for the 2010 and part of the 2011 seasons, and for Major League Soccer's (MLS) Vancouver Whitecaps FC for part of their debut 2011 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wooden Roller Coaster (Playland)</span> Roller coaster in Vancouver

The PNE Roller Coaster is a wooden roller coaster at Playland in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1958, it is the oldest roller coaster in Canada. The ride is 2,840 ft (870 m) long—which established it as the largest roller coaster in Canada at the time it was completed—and has a height of 68 ft (21 m) and speeds of up to 76 km/h (47 mph). The coaster was awarded the Coaster Classic and Roller Coaster Landmark statuses by American Coaster Enthusiasts.

PNE Garden Auditorium is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Vancouver, Canada, located on the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition. It opened in 1940 and was known as the Exhibition Garden.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "2019 Pacific National Exhibition Annual Report: April 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020" (PDF). www.pne.ca. Pacific National Exhibition. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Free admission to the PNE". Vancouver Sun. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Mackie, John (12 August 2016). "This Week in History: 1910 Sir Wilfrid Laurier opens the first Vancouver Exhibition". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "An Act to incorporate Pacific National Exhibition". www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca. Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Cameron (18 June 2010). "100 Years of te PNE: A fair to remember". montecristomagazine.com. MOONTECRISTO Magazine. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "History & Legacy". www.pne.ca. Pacific National Exhibition. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ↑ Aslam, Sonia (28 August 2013). "PNE attractions named as heritage sites". News1130. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Hasegawa, Regan; Jung, Angela (April 20, 2020). "Celebration of Light, PNE cancelled as organizers explore other options". CTV News . Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Fire at PNE fairgrounds leads to exploding fuel tanks and destroyed vehicles". CBC News. CBC. 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  10. ↑ Swinton, Darci; Young, Linda; Filippelli, Mary; Breshears, Sherry (24 July 2013). "Hastings Park could be spectacular under better governance". Vancouver Sun. Postmedia Network.
  11. ↑ "In the Park". www.pne.ca. Pacific National Exhibition. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "29th (Tobin's Tigers) Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF, memorial". National Inventory of Canadian Military Memorials. National Defence Canada. 2008-04-16. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Venues". www.pne.ca. Pacific National Exhibition. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Getting to the PNE Fair". www.pne.ca. Pacific National Exhibition. 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.