PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Preparing Grimsby residents for the Total Solar Eclipse

With the Total Solar Eclipse only days away, Town Staff and Council are hoping residents will take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime rare phenomenon.

To do so, some safety precautions are recommended as Niagara will be one of the best places in Canada to view the Total Solar Eclipse, and hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to come to our region, likely passing through Grimsby.

Below are some things for residents to know:

Town Hall Operations

• Town of Grimsby will be operating as normal on April 8^th, however unexpected delays may be possible due to unforeseen circumstances on the day of the eclipse.

Traffic Congestion

• Based on past Total Solar Eclipse elsewhere (Oregon 2017), Niagara is expected to experience a very high influx of visitors travelling to see this event from near and far (worldwide). Some are estimating anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million making their way through Niagara to experience this rare celestial event.
• Highway traffic flow leading up to (and immediately after) the eclipse is likely to be congested. This may result in travellers attempting to find alternate routes on our municipal and regional roadways, impacting the delivery of essential services to the Town of Grimsby.
• Follow local directives and road signage as you travel on April 8. While travelling on highways, don't stop, take pictures, or get out of your car to view the eclipse.
• If you plan to attend a viewing party, we suggest you attend one that is in walking distance. However, if you need to travel to an event, be prepared to stay late and anticipate a long and slow drive home.

Niagara Region State of Emergency

• The Niagara Region has officially declared a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA). This has been done to strengthen the tools the Region has at its disposal to safeguard the health and safety of residents and visitors and protect our critical infrastructure in any scenario that may arise. As such, any resident travelling to Niagara Falls should be aware of the many roadways that will be closed to vehicular traffic on April 8, so please plan ahead to adjust any travel plans.

Safety Glasses and Protecting Your Eyes

• Make sure you wear only ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses; don’t use scratched or damaged glasses, regular sunglasses, or do-it-yourself filters.
• Never look directly at the covered or uncovered sun without proper eye protection, even though it may be tempting during an eclipse. It is recommended that you keep proper eye protection on for the entirety of the eclipse.
• Make sure children keep their eclipse glasses on.
• The Town of Grimsby no longer has glasses available for residents however, you are welcome to check with the Region.

General Safety Tips 

• Be prepared for crowds and long lines. Consider filling up your gas tank, getting groceries, and running errands before the eclipse.
• Reschedule appointments if you’re able.
• Arrange childcare as April 8 is a PD Day in Niagara.
• And remember, during totality (when the moon completely covers the sun), the sky will turn dark creating a brief period of total darkness during the day.

Public Parks and Parking in Grimsby

• Residents or visitors are not permitted to camp overnight within our parks.
• Drivers should keep an eye on all signage to ensure they are parking legally to provide room for emergency vehicles.
• Residents are asked to keep all sidewalks clear of vehicles to ensure safe passage for pedestrians.
• For a full copy of the Parking By-law, please visit the frequently request By-laws at https://www.grimsby.ca//town-hall/by-laws.

Backyard Safety Viewing Party

We also want to ensure you’re having fun and making memories while enjoying the Total Solar Eclipse. The safest, and probably the most fun place to view the eclipse is right from your home and you should be able to view the eclipse with little to no effort! If you can see the sun from your house on a normal day, you will have a great view of the eclipse.

Below are some fun activities for individuals of any age to enjoy on the day of the Total Solar Eclipse:

• Solar Eclipse arts and crafts > paint rocks, create and launch rockets, make a sun dial, or glow in the dark party favours.
• Create a Solar Eclipse food theme > Sun Chips, Milky Way Bars, ‘Sun Tea,’ Sunny D, Orbit Gum, Starburst, ‘Sunflower’ Seed Hummus Dip, Moon/Sun Sugar Cookies, Moon Pies.

• Out of this world playlist > create a ‘Total Solar Eclipse’ music playlist to enhance your backyard viewing party (Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles, Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra, etc.)
• Plan a backup > there are many live streams available for residents to watch. Check out:
  • Niagara Falls: https://www.niagarafallstourism.com/2024-solar-eclipse-niagara-falls-canada/#eclipse-live-stream  
  • NASA: https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/live/
  • University of Toronto (Registration Required): https://my.alumni.utoronto.ca/s/731/form-blank/index.aspx?sid=731&pgid=22396&gid=1&cid=36766&ecid=36766&post_id=0

About the Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, a Total Solar Eclipse will be visible in North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. To see this rare and natural phenomenon you must be somewhere in the “path of totality.” 

During a Total Solar Eclipse, the path of totality is a narrow corridor, approximately 100 to 115 km wide, where the sun appears to be completely covered by the moon for a short period of time (between 2 and 3 minutes). This is the most spectacular part of the eclipse, as those who are lucky enough to be in this corridor can see the sun's corona, the chromosphere, prominences, and streamers.

In Grimsby, the partial eclipse will begin at approximately 2:04 p.m., with the start time of totality at 3:18 p.m. The total duration of the totality will be approximately 3 minutes.

Resources

A Solar Eclipse webpage has been developed on the Town of Grimsby Website and is updated as needed. Visit https://www.grimsby.ca/parks-recreation-culture/total-solar-eclipse for more information.

Residents are encouraged to visit the Town of Grimsby’s social media channels for ongoing updates regarding the Solar Eclipse. You can also call 2-1-1 to receive up to date information on any impacts to community and social services. And as always, for any emergencies where the safety of people or property is at risk, dial 9-1-1.

We are excited to be a part of this unique opportunity and hope residents make the most of this historic event.

Be safe and have fun!