The Pacific National Exhibition is on now in Vancouver, in its 105th edition. “I would say that the PNE truly does represent the collective memory of our province. It’s the place you came with your grandparents and now you bring your grandchildren,” said Laura Ballance, a spokeswoman for the PNE. She says it continues to be an important cultural and entertainment experience, a place to create memories and celebrate as a province.
ListenLike the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, some may ask how a tradition with a history over a century could still be relevant, Ballance says it takes hard work and innovation. “The foundation of our future is based on our history, but we cannot rely on that history”. She acknowledges the other distractions. “We live in a city that is rich with choice every day of the year; we can snow ski and water ski on the same day for a good chunk of the year.”
Over the decades, exhibits that began at the PNE went on to take on a life of their own. The Auto Show, the Boat Show and even Super Dogs, a major crowd pleaser, all began in Vancouver.
This year they brought in a Broadway musical for the first time. “Peter Pan” with Cathy Rigby is available to visitors to the PNE, all part of the ticketed price. Ballance says it is proving very popular.
The west coast fair began in 1910 as both an agricultural and industrial exhibition. It was an opportunity to showcase British Columbia building products, ingenuity and natural resources to the world. For a time it was the second-largest fair after the New York State Fair.
When it first opened, the newspapers described it as “in the wilds of eastern Vancouver” and it was more than a day trip then, with camping provided after people disembarked from the train it took to get there. Now the city has grown up around the PNE grounds, and many of the big cultural events of the province took place here. This is where Elvis performed, and the Beatles, 51 years ago.
The Beatle memorabilia exhibit called “The Magical History Tour” is another of the big draws this year. The PNE is the venue for the world premier of a combination of three collections, two Canadian and one American, that have been put together in a very moving way. It includes what is believed to be the last album John Lennon ever signed, which he handed back to Mark Chapman, his killer, who put it in a planter, as he waited for the legend to return to the his home in the Dakota in New York City. A maintenance man picked it up and handed it over to the police. When they tried to return it, neither Chapman or Yoko, were interested. Eventually, after some misgivings one of the Canadians behind this exhibit became the owner, in humble recognition of what the album signified. All hope of a reunion ended then.
The other historical gem is the last Carl Phare-designed, Walker LeRoy-built wooden roller coaster in existence. A Canadian treasure Laura calls it, and now it’s a draw to so many, from people getting married on it, to movies being shot on it, Ballance says you’re not a true British Columbian unless you’ve ridden the PNE Roller Coaster!
It was given an ACE Coaster Landmark Award, that’s from the American Coaster Enthusiasts, and it’s a designation for rides of historic significance. It is the last of Cark Phare’s work still in operation today. The PNE runs until September 7th.
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