Vicki L MorrisonThe Fair at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) is saluting brave members of the community who put their lives on the line at this year’s Hero’s Opening Weekend.
New to the Fair this year, Canadian first responders, plus a guest will receive free admission on August 22 and 23.
“To us service members and first responders are true heroes,” said Mike McDaniel, president and CEO, PNE.
Current or retired Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, ambulance workers, firefighters, police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, coast guard, and search and rescue may show their valid first responder ID at the gates to receive free entry with one guest on Hero’s Weekend.
Fair goers can expect unique programming and displays on the site to highlight the work of first responders all weekend long.
Owned by the City of Vancouver, the PNE is a vibrant non-profit charity organization dedicated to providing over three million visitors a year with first-class cultural, sporting and family entertainment events.
“On that weekend we want to do what we can to honour these brave community members with The Hero’s Opening Weekend and show our gratitude for their service,” said McDaniel.
The PNE operates from a 114 acre site at Hastings Park, a multi-facility venue in Vancouver where the organization runs four activity streams, an annual 15 day Fair, Playland Amusement Park, maintenance and care of the Hastings Park site and management of the site’s year round facilities.
These facilities are utilized to celebrate a variety of hockey, amateur sporting, music, community, social, cultural and commercial events throughout the year.
According to the PNE website Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier officially opened the first annual Pacific National Exhibition in 1910. At the time, the fair was known as The Industrial Exhibition.
The Fair was seen as a showcase of British Columbia to the rest of Canada and the world and was the second largest event of its kind in North America, behind the New York State Fair.
Since the first Fair, the annual event has become the largest annual ticketed event in the province and continues to draw in excess of 900,000 visitors during its 17 days.
Many significant events in the history of the province of B.C. occurred during the annual Fair at the PNE. Throughout its long life numerous technological firsts debuted including, the first rotary telephone in the Pacific Northwest, and aircraft and rocketry displays.
Numerous consumer shows got their start as a part of the annual Fair including, the Vancouver Boat Show, the BC Home Show and the Pacific International Auto Show, which all began as displays at the PNE. World class and award-winning shows such as Cirque Pop, City Rhythm and Bring on the Night were all created especially, and exclusively for the PNE.
Over the past 101 years, the PNE has evolved from its role as an industry showcase into a centre for entertainment and a place to spend time with family.
For more information about the Fair at the PNE please visit their website.
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