CNE Grants 81-Year-old Superfan Free Lifetime Fair Access

The CNE presented Batten with a golden ticket on Friday, ensuring she never pays for entry again. "My mum always brought us in carriages, and I brought my children in carriages, Batten told reporters. "We had to go to the parade because my grandpa and my uncle were in it — so that was a must.

Batten's family ties to the festival span nearly a century. Her father competed in music competitions at the CNE in the 1930s, and she has attended every iteration of the event except during the Second World War and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her daughter, Lisa Carruthers, said Batten always pressures the family to attend, despite their home in Muskoka.

"She always pressures us every year, and we live in Muskoka so it's like, 'Oh mom, we don't want to go, it's so nice out, Carruthers said. "But we come and we have so much fun every time, and we have to remind ourselves of that because it's just about being with family. Batten's sister, Elaine Darwin, called the Ex an annual family highlight.

"A lot of people don't even have the honour and privilege of living to 80, never mind coming down to the fair with all this craziness, right?" she said. "So, that just shows you what her passion is and her dedication. Batten also attended the fair with her sister Donna, whose final wish was to visit the Ex one more time while critically ill.

CNE CEO and President Mark Holland said the golden ticket recognizes more than just attendance." "There's something behind those 81 years that is more than just the experience of coming to the Ex, Holland said. "It's all of those moments of connection with her family and all of the different adversity that they've faced and things that they've gone through. Holland added that the CNE plans to distribute more golden tickets in future years.

Darwin reflected on the importance of preserving memories. Memories are starting to become everything right now, you know?