Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Encyclopedia
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, colloquially called The Royal, is an annual fall fair
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada, which takes place over two weeks in November. Inaugurated in 1922, and originally housed in the Coliseum
, on the grounds of Exhibition Place
, the event has expanded to also take up the Direct Energy
National Trade Centre, and remains an important exhibit for livestock
breeders. Elizabeth II
, as Queen of Canada, is the fair's royal patron
.
and the United States. The fair then, save for the years when Canada was embroiled in the Second World War
, consistently provided for farmers a forum to display equipment, discuss new trends, and showcase wares. Members of the Canadian Royal Family have also been guests of honour at the fair.
In 1965, significant changes were introduced by the federal Department of Agriculture
, which had been a long time sponsor of the Royal. Both the number of livestock classes for each breed and the number of entries per breeder were reduced; new judging standards were set, emphasising the utility of the breed; buildings were renovated; and the Winter Garden Show and Horse Show were given more prominence, the latter attracting some 75,000 viewers in the mid 1990s. By 1996, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as a whole saw over 325,000 attendees, exhibitors, and international and local visitors, and there was accounted for: "over 3,000 head of cattle, 1,300 horses, 1,600 birds, 500 sheep, 300 goats and 300 pigs" were on display along with "world championship field crops, giant vegetables and many more agricultural products, educational exhibits and feature attractions." The following year, for the fair's 75th anniversary, a commemorative stamp was issued by Canada Post
.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is Canada's most prominent agricultural event within both the provincial and national scopes. Its mandate is predominantly trade-related, featuring wine and food shopping as well as the livestock, machinery, and foodstuffs displays. Entertainment includes a rodeo
, horse show, and President's Choice SuperDogs, although there is no midway
.
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada, which takes place over two weeks in November. Inaugurated in 1922, and originally housed in the Coliseum
Ricoh Coliseum
Ricoh Coliseum is an ice hockey and agricultural arena at Exhibition Place in Toronto. It serves as the home arena of the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League farm team of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Toronto Triumph of the Lingerie Football League. It was formerly known as the CNE...
, on the grounds of Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place
Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,...
, the event has expanded to also take up the Direct Energy
Direct Energy
Direct Energy is a North American retailer of energy and energy services. The company was founded in 1986. With over six million customer relationships in Canada and the United States, it is the largest energy and home services retailer in North America. The current President and Chief Executive...
National Trade Centre, and remains an important exhibit for livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
breeders. Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, as Queen of Canada, is the fair's royal patron
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
.
History
The original plans called for the first mounting of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair to take place in 1921, but this was delayed when a heating system for the Coliseum could not be installed in time. The first show thus opened on 22 November 1922, drawing to its livestock competitions 17,000 entries from several provincesProvinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
and the United States. The fair then, save for the years when Canada was embroiled in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, consistently provided for farmers a forum to display equipment, discuss new trends, and showcase wares. Members of the Canadian Royal Family have also been guests of honour at the fair.
In 1965, significant changes were introduced by the federal Department of Agriculture
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals...
, which had been a long time sponsor of the Royal. Both the number of livestock classes for each breed and the number of entries per breeder were reduced; new judging standards were set, emphasising the utility of the breed; buildings were renovated; and the Winter Garden Show and Horse Show were given more prominence, the latter attracting some 75,000 viewers in the mid 1990s. By 1996, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair as a whole saw over 325,000 attendees, exhibitors, and international and local visitors, and there was accounted for: "over 3,000 head of cattle, 1,300 horses, 1,600 birds, 500 sheep, 300 goats and 300 pigs" were on display along with "world championship field crops, giant vegetables and many more agricultural products, educational exhibits and feature attractions." The following year, for the fair's 75th anniversary, a commemorative stamp was issued by Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
.
Programme
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
, horse show, and President's Choice SuperDogs, although there is no midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
.