City of Kingston, Ont. says cloud forecast might have limited number of visitors for eclipse
The City of Kingston, Ont. says the "solar-bration" of the total solar eclipse on Monday was "truly a day to remember."
According to a news release from the city, more than 10,000 people spent the night in hotels in the Limestone City and approximately 20,000 people sought out prime viewing spots around Kingston for the celestial event, including 1,500 people at Grass Creek Park.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"Thank you to the community and our residents who helped by experiencing the eclipse from their neighbourhoods, this allowed us to reopen roads and resume service sooner and faster than planned," says Brad Joyce, Commissioner of Infrastructure, Transportation and Emergency Management. "The reduction of daily vehicle travel was substantial and made it much easier to maintain emergency services, health service access and transit."
While the City of Kingston is declaring the day a success, the number of visitors falls well short of the estimated 500,000 people officials said they were expecting.
The city said the anticipated cloud forecast likely deterred many day trip visitors, but local residents were still able to take in the event.
More than 170,000 pairs of eclipse glasses were handed out. The City of Kingston says if you're wondering what to do with them now that the eclipse is over, you can keep them as a souvenir or donate them to Utilities Kingston or the Tourism Kingston’s Visitor Information Centre, which will pass the glasses on to the group Astronomers Without Borders, who will give them to children in other countries for a future eclipse.
You can recycle used glasses by removing the lenses, putting the plastic in the trash and putting the remaining cardboard frame in the recycling.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.