Exhibition Place, Toronto

Exhibition Place is a vast 192-acre waterfront complex where Toronto’s major event venues stand alongside early-20th-century architecture. The grounds host exhibitions, conventions, festivals, sporting events, and the annual Canadian National Exhibition, making the experience here quite different, depending on when you visit.

A good place to begin exploring is at the Princes’ Gates, on the eastern side of Exhibition Place. You cannot miss the monumental central arch flanked by long rows of columns. Look up to the top, where the winged figure of Victory crowns the structure. Opened in 1927, the Beaux-Arts gateway commemorates the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation and remains the ceremonial entrance to the grounds.

Pass through the gates and continue west along Princes’ Boulevard. On your right, the enormous Enercare Centre dominates this part of the grounds. Formerly known as the Direct Energy Centre, this is Canada’s largest exhibition and convention centre, with more than one million square feet of flexible space. Its long modern façade makes it easy to distinguish from the older buildings elsewhere on the site.

Continue west past BMO Field and toward the older section of Exhibition Place. Farther ahead, look for the domed Horticulture Building, now home to the Toronto Event Centre. Built in 1907, it is recognizable by its large steel-and-glass dome rising above the low building. The place originally housed agricultural, horticultural, and flower displays and is one of the best reminders of the Exhibition’s early years.

From here, head north toward Saskatchewan Road and Quebec Street. Look for a red-brick building with a tall square clock tower-this is the historic Fire Hall and Police Station, completed in 1912. Its Tudor-style timber detailing, contrasting brickwork, and copper-roofed tower give it the appearance of a small early-20th-century civic building rather than an exhibition hall.

Tip: If you are visiting during the Canadian National Exhibition, arrive on a weekday and earlier in the day if you want to explore the grounds before the largest crowds arrive.