A History of “Firsts”

In fulfilling its mandate, the CNE always featured exhibits on the latest technological advances in industry and agriculture. 

CNE patrons were introduced to:

• Electric railway transportation in 1883
• Edison's phonograph in 1888
• The wireless telephone in the 1890 
• Radio in 1922
• Television in 1939
• Plastics and synthetics in the 1940s & 1950s
• Virtual Reality in 1992. 

Meanwhile, activities in the original CNE Coliseum continued to be aimed at keeping Canadian farmers abreast of changes and improvements in the agricultural sciences.