What the CNE Air Show used to look like in Toronto

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Every Labour Day weekend, the skies above Toronto's waterfront fill with the booming roar of fighter jets and the awe-inspiring formations of the Snowbirds as part of the Canadian International Air Show (CIAS).

However, long before the annual spectacle attracted over a million spectators each year, North America's longest-running air show looked quite a bit different than it does today.

The CIAS traces its roots back to 1946, when a crowd gathered at the de Havilland Airfield for an aviation show. It moved to Exhibition Place in 1949, before becoming a regular fixture of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in 1956, eventually growing into a world-class showcase of precision flying, stunt performances, and aeronautical technology.

This year marks the 77th edition of the air show, but it also comes with a bittersweet milestone — the Snowbirds are set to make their final Toronto appearance for at least a few years as the team prepares to be grounded and retooled.

Although the annual show is a nostalgic end-of-summer tradition for many, it has also faced criticism over the years, from complaints about its impact on pets to concerns about the sights and sounds of military aircraft on refugees and immigrants with traumatic experiences.

However, long before the CIAS became the spectacle (and controversy) it is today, the air show looked quite different.

Here's what the CIAS used to look like in Toronto.

cne air show