During the 1880s, Saskatoon was still in its infancy. Some of the community’s earliest settlers met and created the Temperance Colony Pioneer’s Society – the earliest form of the Saskatoon Prairieland Park Corporation.
READ MORE: Saskatoon parade kicking off six days of fun at ‘The Ex’
Here’s a look at some of the formative years for the Saskatoon Exhibition, better known as ‘the Ex,’ as told by Prairieland Park and city archives officials.
1886 – The Central Saskatchewan Agricultural Society is formed for the purpose of proving to federal officials that the Saskatoon area could be homesteaded. The first edition of the Ex is held Oct. 13. The one-day event happens at what is now the location of Nutana Collegiate. Area farmers compete in livestock and farm product competitions.
1895 – The Ex moves to the opposite side of the South Saskatchewan River, meaning many farmers would no longer have to use a ferry, which was often unreliable, to take part.
1903 – The fair moves again – this time to present day Kinsmen Park. The Ex is now a three-day event. The types of food, entertainment and competitions continue to evolve.
1907 – Electricity comes to Saskatoon. The ceremonial flick of the electrical switch happens during the Ex hours. A reported 10,000 people watch as the electrical system starts up for the first time. The advancement means the fair can stay open well into the evening.
1909 – Setting up and tearing temporary facilities is too costly for the Ex. The fair’s new home sits on a parcel of land that, along with facilities, costs Saskatoon $30,000. The site is now known as Prairieland Park.
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