Job seekers began lining up outside Exhibition Place early on Wednesday morning, hours before the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) job fair was scheduled to open its doors, as Toronto anticipated one of its most significant seasonal hiring events in years.
The fair, held at Hall C of the Enercare Centre, opened at 11 a.m., but by mid‑morning, long lines of applicants had already formed, with candidates carrying resumes and water bottles under the rising summer heat.
Regarding reports that tickets for the job fair were being sold for profit online, a CNE spokesperson said that there is no need to purchase a ticket to attend the event on Wednesday.
“Please do not fall for scams online selling a ticket or a place in line,” read a post from the CNE on Instagram.
This year’s turnout comes amid troubling labour trends for Canadian youth. Statistics Canada reports that unemployment among 14‑ to 24‑year‑olds is sitting near 14 per cent, while almost one in four Ontario teenagers is out of work — the highest youth unemployment levels in decades.
The CNE has already received a record 54,000 online applications for seasonal positions at Canada’s largest fair, including jobs as cashiers, midway operators, food service workers, and game attendants. More than 5,000 roles are available this summer, with successful candidates helping staff the event when it opens on Aug. 15.
Last year, 81 per cent of CNE staff were aged 14 to 29, while 78 per cent identified as visible minorities, and 15 per cent reported having a disability. The fair hired over 5,000 seasonal workers and attracted nearly 1.5 million visitors, generating about $112 million for the GTA economy.
The CNE job fair continues through the afternoon, with interviews taking place on site.