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 he Central Canada Exhibition Association has been a proud institution in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for 109 years. The annual Central Canada Exhibition -- located at Lansdowne Park since its inception -- started out as a small rural fair on the outskirts of Ottawa. Through the years, it has watched the city grow up around it until it was no longer on the outskirts but, rather, in a prime residential area of the city called the Glebe. The exhibition has led the tourist industry in the region, annually attracting more than half a million visitors.
The Ex has been responsible for many firsts in the city, including an electrical show by Thomas Ahearn, which was a tremendous feat for the times.
Through the exhibition, Ottawa has also attracted a number of big-name performers, both on their rise to fame and well after they had achieved it. The list includes the likes of Bob Hope and a young Cary Grant, then still known as Archie Leach, who once performed at the fair as a stilt walker.
The Central Canada Exhibition has always been, and with good fortune will continue to be, the largest annual event in the National Capital region.
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This section outlines the history of the fair, including its agricultural roots.
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This page profiles the fair's three main midway suppliers: World of Mirth, Amusements of America and Conklin Shows.
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Through the theme of innovation, this section outlines the experience of exhibitors at the fair over the years.
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This section studies many themes in the fair's political history, including leases, lawn parking, moving the grounds and the politics of the CCEA.
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This page lists a number of interesting articles written about the exhibition. They are designed to supplement the readings on this site.
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Here you will find interviews with CCEA directors and office staff.
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A gallery of images reflecting different eras of the exhibtion.
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For information on a multitude of other fair and exhibition sites around the world, check out our links page.
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