Parts of five provinces in Central and Eastern Canada will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, attracting visitors from across the country to major tourist destinations such as Montreal and Niagara Falls. Eclipse chasers have a number of cities and towns to choose from in Ontario, including Kingston where public places open for viewing include Lake Ontario Park, Fort Henry, and various schools and parks. In the Niagara Falls region, public viewing areas include Old Fort Erie, Kingsbridge Park, and Queen Victoria Park, among others. Port Colborne will offer public viewing points at locations such as the Vale Health and Wellness Centre, Sugarloaf Harbour Marina, and Nickel Beach. Other places in the path of totality in Ontario include Burlington, St. Catharines, Belleville, Brockville, and Cornwall.
In Quebec, Montreal offers several viewing spots such as the Science Centre and Parc Jean-Drapeau, with a viewing party planned at McGill University. Mount Royal Park also falls in the path of totality. Sherbrooke invites visitors to the Maison de l’eau in Lucien-Blanchard Park for a viewing party, with Bishop’s University hosting viewers at the campus. Other places in the path of totality include Drummondville and Havre-Aubert. In New Brunswick, Fredericton is hosting an eclipse fest with activities planned, and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will assist viewers on lower Carlton Street for the viewing. Miramichi is hosting viewers at Miramichi-Chatham Airport, with capacity for about 1,500 vehicles in the parking lot. Other places in New Brunswick include Caribou.
In Prince Edward Island, Summerside and Cavendish are among the places where the full eclipse will be visible. Mill River Resort near Woodstock is hosting a total solar eclipse viewing event, with parts of Prince County and northern parts of Queen’s County also falling in the path of totality. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s is hosting a viewing party, although the capital will only see a partial eclipse. The full eclipse will be visible in Gander before moving into the Atlantic, with a bus tour organized by Johnson Geo Centre to Gander from St. John’s for viewing at the College of the North Atlantic campus.
Overall, the total solar eclipse on April 8 will be visible in parts of Central and Eastern Canada in provinces like Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Major tourist destinations like Montreal and Niagara Falls are expecting visitors from across the country, while other cities and towns along the path of totality offer public viewing areas for eclipse watchers. Activities and viewing parties are planned in various locations, providing people with opportunities to witness this rare celestial event. Whether at public parks, schools, universities, or nature science museums, there are plenty of options for experiencing the total solar eclipse in Canada.
