It's been a while since my last visit to the Canadian National Exhibition.
From childhood memories I remember the food building, horses (and horseshit), plus games and rides that you had to pay tickets for, which somehow hindered the carefree nature of the carnival setting.
But this year the CNE could be worth a return visit, thanks to the Marilyn Monroe in Canada exhibit at the Queen Elizabeth Building.
A selection from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection shows photographs and memorabilia of the blonde icon in Canadian settings, including standing tall beside a Mountie in Banff (above), paddling in a canoe, and standing next to Miss Canada in a vintage Maclean's article.
"What we were showing is that there is a sustained interest in Marilyn. Her pop culture appeal transcends borders," says exhibition curator Chris Finn. "We wanted to create a Canadian connection to Marilyn Monroe."
I had no idea a Mariliyn Monroe Canadian connection existed, so this exhibition would be entertaining as well as educational for me.
For more info on Marilyn in Canada, and other exhibits at the CNE, click here.