*a 3 minute read*
The clock hits midnight, you glance at your phone, and you see the date reads September 4th, 2023. A faint sigh is released and you realize you have received the signal — it is the end of summer.
In Toronto, Canada, summer’s end is prompted after the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) closes on Labour Day, the first Monday of September. At the CNE, for 18 days straight, people can shop, see exhibits, watch sports events and enjoy a carnival midway with rides, games and unique food (they had Korean Fried Frog Legs this year… so there’s that).
While the fair itself is a whirlwind of fun, the aftermath of it may not be, as Sept. 4 has been sanctified in Torontonians’ minds as the day to retire back to their households, “save their money,” and complain that it’s already too cold and summer needs to return swiftly.
Usually, after a couple tears of pain from the realization of summer coming to a close, there is a time of self-reflection, where questions and statements run through your mind as you evaluate the summer experience.
Some examples:
Were you shaking enough nyash at Caribana this year or were you moving shy with your friends in the corner?
Did you secure enough whines at the African lounge you pulled up to with your friend group?
Did you pull up to enough or a lack of outings in the summertime?
For the girls, did you post your favorite Drake lyric on your getaway vacation or did you keep it simple with the summer dumps?
The trip you planned with your friend group either made it out of the group chat or not, there’s no in-between.
You knew if you went to the CNE with someone, they had to be “the one” to save yourself from further embarrassment. If you are a guy and you didn’t win the plush toy for your girlfriend, you failed yourself, your girl and her IG group chat, and your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (do better bro bro).
As you get older, the statements/questions above hold either a lot, some, or little to no weight in contributing to your life, but you could argue it is all indicated by one thing — the end of summer.
It’s Not Really Over, Is It?
The funniest part of all of this is how summer does not technically end until Sept. 23 and the sun is still shining and booming past Sept. 4. There’s still time for nyash shaking and trips to the beach on 30+ degrees days with your desired friend group.
But you already know how things can go, “life” gets in the way and you start prioritizing what is important. Going back to uni/college, finding your first real job after graduating uni/college, or stacking your money to go on your next scheduled trip with your friends that probably won’t make it out of the group chat, again (this has happened to me many times as you can tell).
The pre-downloaded script of a perfect “Summer in Toronto” provides a feeling of knowing there is always something to do — you just have to find it. In this city, the options seem endless as there is never just one thing happening at once. Weekly functions, large-scale events like Afrofest and Caribana, routine rooftop parties — people will even fly in from all over the world to taste what Toronto offers in the summer.
The high of the summer season can make you act in a way that’s different than your regularly scheduled programming, and we know what the sun does to some of you when June, July and August hit the calendar. The sun doesn’t come around often in Toronto, so when it is out, you must be appreciative and savour while you can.
You can appreciate living in a place that provides such enjoyment in a concentrated location, that it also creates a necessary time for separation. You can’t always die for nyash, you can’t always come home at 3 a.m. with your head spinning, and you can’t always say “what’s the next move” (obviously you can but shut up and listen innit).
Incognito Mode
The balance of going out and laying low is necessary for survival. It becomes apparent people feel this way after the CNE is closed because the CNE offers everything, all at once. Games, alcohol, rides, photo booths, competition and enjoyment all in one location right after you have done everything else all summer? People get tired, no wonder summer’s over after Labour Day. All your money was spent throughout the summer and the remainder of your money went all in one lavish day at the CNE (and you still couldn’t get the plush toy for your girl, shameful).
I know your savings account is a chequing account in disguise, it’s where you lot leave the “real money” when the events start becoming a regular occurrence. It’s time to recoup and readjust, the time for spending is done, and the time for saving has arrived. Thank me later.
You know what we call that? Balance… (ciaga) and in this life, balance… (ciaga) is what you need to stay happy and not broke. Start slowing down from now before things start to get ahead of you. Remember, you don’t want to be shaky since you need to redeem yourself from missing five basketball shots in a row trying to impress your babes at the CNE. Better get your affairs in order my friend, God bless you all.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and had a great summer. Keep enjoying what’s left of the year and the heat, you know we will miss it once it is gone. Feel free to share this post with a friend and answer the question below!
Timeless Thoughts 
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