Gods On Display

On Friday Peter and I discovered the perfect activity for a summer day. We suffered great hardship to get this story. OK, it wasn’t quite as bad as the explorers of the 1500’s, but it was close: we forgot our water bottles and our umbrellas.

The venue is at the CNE grounds, accessible by car, off the Lakeshore Road across from Ontario Place. Or, like us, you can take public transit. The GO train has a stop at the exhibition grounds. There is construction on the platform, so the only exit is at the west end of the station, which is of course the opposite end from where we exited the train. And there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.

We had some clues as to the actual spot we wanted to visit, The Garden Of the Greek Gods, near the bandshell and the rose garden. After asking several groundskeepers, we found the place. It’s a lovely park, across from the lake and near a fountain surrounded by fragrant roses in all shades of pinks and reds. There are benches too!

The park is filled with 20 limestone sculptures by E. B. Cox, 1914-2003, an internationally-known sculptor. He created these figures in the 1960’s and they were on display at the CNE for several years, until their location unfortunately became the back yard of the MuZik Nightclub, a somewhat sleazy club where even shootings have taken place. Cox’s daughter battled with CNE personnel to have the sculptures relocated. Finally, in 2022, they were moved.

The stately Greek Gods seem to enjoy their new location; there are smiles on many of their limestone faces. We were met by Hercules, the tallest of the figures. Following the path, we found the snake-headed Medusa, Pan with his reed pipes, the bird-women Harpies and many other famous Gods and Goddesses. I especially loved the irony of Narcissus because how could anybody so misshapen contine to admire his reflection?

About this time the dark clouds let loose and we ran for any covered space we could find. It was a hidden service door behind a restaurant, and it had a bench. And a cardboard box! We chatted about the sculptures and their lovely setting as we waited for the rain to let up. Then we checked out the restaurant. It was not open, not even for drinks.

By this time we were wet and thirsty. The Gods didn’t seem to be smiling on us, so we headed back towards the GO station, splashing through deep puddles and hopping over muddy ditches. And we found the grounds of the CNE strange, almost eerie, without crowds of people eating cotton candy, carrying their prize stuffies, and lining up for rides.

But we might go back. It would be nice to smell the roses on a sunny day. The godly statues deserve a closer look. And the restaurant serves Italian food.

Sue