What's your favourite thing about the PNE?
In preparation for this week's column, I put that question to several of my friends and colleagues.
While most of them mentioned a ride or an attraction, one friend came back with a somewhat obscure answer.
"The PNE is a great way to track time," she said.
"From childhood to your teenage years into adulthood, your memories from the PNE are a great way to track the years."
After about an hour of reflection, what she said made profound sense.
For many, the PNE is an annual family institution that they remember just like birthdays, Christmases, and Thanksgiving holidays.
I remember, as a kid, my brother and I used to wake up early, get our 7-Eleven all-day ride passes and then head to gates on Hastings and Renfrew. To the chagrin of my parents, we'd go on every ride, sometimes multiple times. My favourite was the swing ride right at the entrance to Playland.
As a teenager, I was too cool to be seen at the PNE with my parents so I'd go with my friends. We'd only go on the scariest rides, of course, trying desperately not to show fear. We ate everything in sight: the cotton candy, the popcorn, the barbecue chicken and my favourite - the mini-donuts. Invariably, one of us would get sick and hurl.
One year, I went on a first-date to the PNE with a girl named Colleen. I remember desperately trying to win a Teddy Bear for her by knocking down those glass bottles. I never did win anything and never got a second date with her - I'm not sure if there's any correlation.
And last year, as an adult, I had the pleasure of taking my two nephews to the fair for the first time.
Seeing the excitement in their eyes was like coming full circle. Seven-year-old Niam loved the swing ride just like his uncle, while Kailen, 5, loved the Super Dogs. I hope to take them again this year and every year before they're 'too cool' to be seen with me.
The PNE is local tradition that I hope never goes away.
Maybe one day I'll even get to take my future grandkids.
