“Oh baby, let’s go to the Ex!” If that tune isn’t running through your head already, you’re clearly not from Ontario or you need a refresher in summer fun.
The iconic jingle is more than a song, it’s a call to summer fun and a decades-old Toronto tradition in Toronto. The Canadian National Exhibition, or CNE, runs for 18 days each summer at Exhibition Place. It has thrilling rides, unique food, live music and lots of exhibits from art to agriculture. My favourite thing about it, though, is the air show. For over a hundred years, it has drawn millions of people, becoming a symbol of summer fun.
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We have our own Ex in town. The Lloydminster Exhibition Association. I’ve been here just over a year and I would argue, it’s more important to our community than the CNE is to the GTA.
Maybe it’s because it’s a facility run by locals, designed for locals. Maybe it’s because they treat you like family and want you to leave feeling that way. But on a strictly financial level, it’s not even close.
The Ex makes a strong case for why its value goes beyond its century-long traditions in our community. While the 146-year-old CNE entertains a huge city, the 121-year-old Lloyd Ex touches nearly every part of local life.
It hosts livestock shows like the Stockade Round-Up and the CPCA Finals for
chuckwagon racing. It’s versatility also endears us with trade shows, agricultural fairs and many community events. Its total economic impact is roughly $25M for a city of roughly 32,000 people. That works out to nearly $781,000 for every 1,000 residents. It’s far bigger than the CNE’s roughly $16,000 per 1,000 people.
However, the Lloyd Ex is more than money. It builds local pride and culture. Farmers show off their animals, young people compete in agricultural events and families come together for traditions that have lasted generations. Chuckwagon
racing called the Lloyd Ex home for over 30 years, while cattle competitions bring visitors from across Alberta and Saskatchewan, helping local hotels,
restaurants and shops. The CNE draws millions, but the effect is spread across a huge city, so the impact on each person is smaller.
Both fairs celebrate summer, community and tradition. But in Lloydminster, the effect is direct and powerful. Fairs like these don’t just entertain; they keep traditions alive, teach skills and help the local economy.
They are part of the heart of the community. In Lloydminster, the Ex makes a real difference every year.
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