The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) is a nonprofit organization that
operates an annual 15-day summer 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.
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.
The Vancouver Exhibition Association (VEA), the
predecessor to the Pacific National Exhibition organization was first
formed in 1907; although the association was not incorporated until 18
June 1908. 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. 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.
The
VEA held its first fair at Hastings Park in August 1910. It was opened
by then Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier as the Vancouver
Exhibition. 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. However, the exhibition itself was not cancelled
until 1942, after the Canadian declaration of war against Japan was
issued. 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. 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. 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.
On 7 February 1946, the Vancouver Exhibition
Association changed its name to its current moniker, the Pacific
National Exhibition; and later reopened the fair to the public under
that name in 1947. The organization was formally reincorporated as the
Pacific National Exhibition in 1955.
The highest attendance at
the fair was recorded in 1986, with 1.1 million guests visiting the PNE,
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Rollerland is a 1,840 square
metres (19,800 sq ft) exhibition, banquet hall and venue for the
Terminal City Roller Derby.
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. The PNE Agrodome is a smaller indoor arena
with 3,000 permanent seats, with provisions to expand up to 5,000 seats.
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.
Other
buildings on the PNE grounds includes the Livestock Barns, a large
multi-use facility, and the organization's administrative offices.
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
At the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver. Summer of 2018.
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