Canada is set to witness a remarkable celestial spectacle as a total solar eclipse sweeps across eastern regions today, promising a unique experience for enthusiasts and sightseers. This rare event, first touching Ontario just before 2 p.m. EDT and concluding in Newfoundland shortly after 5 p.m. EDT, has prompted preparations in several cities along the path of totality, including Niagara Falls, Kingston, and Montreal, among others.
Fort Erie stands out as a prime location with an expected darkness duration of nearly four minutes, marking its first eclipse since 1925 and not expecting another until 2144. Meanwhile, Hamilton anticipates about two minutes of totality, with special viewing arrangements at parks and Tim Hortons Field to accommodate large crowds. This will be Hamilton’s last total eclipse for the next 120 years.
Niagara Falls, identified by National Geographic as an ideal viewing spot, expects a total eclipse phase lasting approximately three and a half minutes. The city’s iconic backdrop and accessibility may attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, although weather conditions remain a critical factor for clear visibility.
In Kingston, the total eclipse phase is projected to last just under three minutes, with the city preparing for potentially up to half a million visitors. Traffic measures are in place to ensure accessibility to essential services like hospitals.
Montreal, on the path’s northern edge, will experience a shorter totality phase of about a minute and a half. The city’s Espace pour la Vie, in collaboration with Parc Jean-Drapeau, is set to host up to 80,000 spectators for this event, which last occurred in Montreal in 1932.
Fredericton will see the eclipse’s totality phase for over two minutes in the late afternoon, with other areas in New Brunswick also experiencing full coverage. This astronomical event, contributing to significant tourism and community engagement, underscores the enduring fascination with solar eclipses and their ability to bring people together in awe of the universe’s wonders.