Northern Lights seen over Ottawa, eastern Ontario
Northern lights overhead in Dunrobin on March 23, 2023. (Christopher Illidge/CTV Viewer)
Ottawa and eastern Ontario residents who looked to the sky Thursday night were treated with a rare sight.
Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, made a rare appearance, with residents across Ontario treated to the stunning effect.
The Northern Lights normally aren't visible this far south.
According to The Weather Network, the display is due to a gigantic gap in the solar atmosphere, which emits a much stronger than usual solar wind. As that solar wind sweeps past earth, its charged particles cause a disturbance in the planet's geomagnetic field.
With clear skies Friday night, another viewing might be possible.
- Did you see the Northern Lights on Thursday and snap a photo? If so, we'd love to see it. Please email it to ottawanews@ctv.ca.
The Aurora Borealis as seen from Huntclub in Ottawa on March 23, 2023. (Cecilia Loizzo/CTV Viewer)
The Northern Lights from Carleton Place, Ont. on March 23, 2023. (Austinator Reid/CTV Viewer)
The Northern Lights seen over Stittsville on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023. (Andrew Symes/CTV Viewer)
Last night's Aurora Borealis, observed in Ottawa. This photo was taken around mid-night during a brief moment of clear sky. (Nelson Liu/CTV Viewer)
The Northern Lights seen over Stittsville on Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023. (Courtesy Andrew Symes)
Aurora Borealis from South Mountain, ON. I have not seen or photographed a display like this in many years. (Gary Boyle/The Backyard Astronomer/CTV Viewer)
Northern lights seen Thursday night just before midnight over the town of Almonte, Ont. (Kelly Peltier/CTV Viewer)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Tone-deaf': Singh slams rapporteur Johnston for not stepping down
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh slammed foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston's refusal to heed the House of Commons' call for him to step down as 'tone-deaf.'
Air Canada reports communications system issue, flights operating at reduced rate
Air Canada reported a technical issue with its flight communications system on Thursday, causing delays across the country for the second time in a week.
RBC facing technical issues with online, mobile banking
The Royal Bank of Canada is facing issues with online and mobile banking. According to a brief message posted on Twitter, there is an issue with the digital display of transactions.
Climate change and El Nino's return will impact Canada's weather. Here's how
Forecasters warn an upcoming weather pattern known for warm temperatures could bring droughts, floods and even tropical storms to Canada.
Jordan's royal wedding gets underway in ceremony packed with stars and deep symbolism
The wedding of Jordan's crown prince to the scion of a prominent Saudi family began on Thursday in a palace celebration that drew massive crowds and a mood of excitement around the kingdom, while presenting the young Hashemite royal as a new player on the global stage.
Strawberry moon kicks off month of planetary shows
From the strawberry moon to invisible meteors, here's a round up of when to look up and what to look for in the sky this month.
Former 'Family Feud' contestant Timothy Bliefnick guilty in wife's slaying
A jury Wednesday convicted a former contestant on the television game show "Family Feud" of first-degree murder and home invasion in the slaying of his estranged wife in western Illinois.
Dished up by 3D printers, a new kind of fish to fry
Forget your hook, line and sinker. An Israeli foodtech company says it has 3D printed the first ever ready-to-cook fish filet using animal cells cultivated and grown in a laboratory.
Ottawa improving how it handles intelligence: Trudeau's national security adviser
The prime minister's national security adviser says Ottawa needs to improve the way it manages intelligence, and officials are taking steps to address breakdowns in communication within government.
Atlantic
-
N.S. premier calls for urgent, proactive firefighting help from Ottawa
Premier Tim Houston repeated his calls for urgent firefighting help Thursday, asking Ottawa to “be proactive” with aid as multiple wildfires continue to burn out of control.
-
New wildfire reported in Fall River, N.S.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage says a new wildfire has been reported in the community of Fall River.
-
CTV’s Bruce Frisko receives notice to evacuate neighbourhood while anchoring newscast
Thousands of Nova Scotians have been waiting and worrying about their homes and neighbourhoods since wildfires began burning in the province on Sunday forcing mandatory evacuations. Among them is CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko, who found himself on both sides of this crisis.
Toronto
-
Large part of Ontario now under provincial fire ban
A large part of Ontario is under a provincial fire ban due to high risk of forest fires.
-
Several Air Canada flights delayed at Toronto Pearson due to 'technical issue'
Several Air Canada flights are delayed at Toronto Pearson International Airport due to a temporary technical issue.
-
Westjet passengers surprised by 'impromptu' speech by CEO on flight
Westjet passengers on a flight from Toronto were surprised when the airline's CEO stood up to give an impromptu speech before takeoff.
Montreal
-
Calling 311? Bill 96 now requires Montrealers to 'attest' they can get English services
Residents who wish to speak with the City of Montreal by calling 311 now have to attest they can receive services in English because of Bill 96. New provisions of the language law came into effect Thursday.
-
Quebec wants to force everyone to use the same charging standard for smartphones
The days of missing the right charger for your cellphone could be a thing of the past in Quebec. A new bill tabled in the provincial legislature Thursday aims to amend the Consumer Protection Act to require universal charging for devices like smartphones and tablets.
-
'We're battling a fire in a Ski-Doo suit!' Montreal firefighters quell blaze in extreme heat
Police and firefighters in Montreal responded to a five-alarm fire in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood in the extreme heat. Four firefighters were evaluated for heat stroke and five residents were displaced.
Northern Ontario
-
RBC facing technical issues with online, mobile banking
The Royal Bank of Canada is facing issues with online and mobile banking. According to a brief message posted on Twitter, there is an issue with the digital display of transactions.
-
Fire ban declared in northern Ontario
An open-air fire ban declared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in the north due to extreme forest fire hazard went into effect at midnight.
-
3 girls now charged in assault, kidnapping investigation in Huntsville
Huntsville OPP has charged a third girl in connection to an alleged assault captured on video at a local high school and shared on social media earlier this month.
London
-
VIDEO
VIDEO | A barn in Delaware went up in flames around 11 a.m.
According to London fire, Engine 9, Car 9 and Tanker 5 have all responded to the scene on Brigham Road.
-
WANTED: Matthew Daigneault known to frequent London area
OPP are looking for Matthew Daigneault — wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for a breach of statutory release. He is described as a white man about 6’ tall, 243 lbs, with a short/receding hairline.
-
'It's important to break down those barriers": Young women get hands-on firefighter training with Camp Molly
Through a free four-day camp, 30 young women will get the chance to learn about a career in fire services in the Township of Zorra this week.
Winnipeg
-
Collapsed platform in Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar last repaired a decade ago: city
The elevated walkway in Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar that collapsed during a school field trip, sending 16 children and one adult to hospital, was last repaired a decade ago.
-
Search for missing teen has been suspended, family says
The search for a missing teen last seen more than a week ago in Winnipeg has been suspended after a body that has yet to be identified was found.
-
'Customers very satisfied': The use of cosmetic pesticides once again allowed on Manitoba lawns
Winnipeg lawn care companies have an old weapon back in their arsenal as they begin their annual war against weeds.
Kitchener
-
Staff at Kitchener business thwart attempted robbery
Mallory Robinson says it was “a little more than [she] was expecting” when she arrived at work at her family's Kitchener business Wednesday morning.
-
Fire rips through Kitchener townhomes, residents displaced
At least three units in a townhouse complex are damaged, displacing many residents, after a fire on Green Valley Drive in Kitchener on Wednesday afternoon.
-
Air quality alert for parts of southwestern Ontario
Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement Thursday for parts of southwestern Ontario, saying the hot and sunny weather could lead to high levels of air pollution.
Calgary
-
Didsbury senior rescued after 4 days missing in heavily-wooded area
Innisfail RCMP say a Didsbury woman who went missing for four days is in good spirits after being located by rescue teams.
-
Explosions erupt from southwest Calgary home's garage
Fire crews, along with police, are investigating after a double detached garage outside a southwest home burst into flames on Thursday morning.
-
Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes Highway 3 east of Cranbrook, B.C.
A fatal crash on Highway 3, east of Cranbrook, involved three vehicles including a semi tractor-trailer, RCMP said Thursday.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon woman randomly stabbed in torso while shopping downtown
The victim of a random stabbing in downtown Saskatoon last Thursday is sharing her story about the terrifying attack in broad daylight.
-
'This is disgusting': Sask. Indigenous prof says deep-rooted stereotypes continue to drive racial profiling
A Saskatchewan university business lecturer says companies need to do a better job of educating employees on consumer racial profiling.
-
Fire that totalled Saskatoon waste truck deemed accidental
A fire that totalled a Saskatoon waste disposal truck on Wednesday originated in the hydraulic area behind the cab, according to a fire investigator.
Edmonton
-
'If it floats we treat it as a boat': Residents reminded to use the North Saskatchewan River safely this summer
The City of Edmonton, Devon, and Fort Saskatchewan, along with local emergency organizations, are reminding residents to be safe when on or near the North Saskatchewan River this summer.
-
Fire ban ends in Edmonton after nearly 1 month
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services ended the ban after rain and cooler weather, the City of Edmonton said in a release.
-
Air Canada reports communications system issue, flights operating at reduced rate
Air Canada reported a technical issue with its flight communications system on Thursday, causing delays across the country for the second time in a week.
Vancouver
-
Surrey to raise rainbow flag at City Hall for Pride Month in historic 1st
Cities across Metro Vancouver are raising rainbow flags in solidarity with LGBTQ2S+ communities as June 1 marks the official start of Pride Month—with one city joining in on the annual tradition for the first time ever.
-
B.C.'s raises minimum wage by more than $1 an hour
British Columbia’s lowest paid workers are getting a pay hike. The province is increasing minimum wage by more than a dollar an hour, starting Wednesday.
-
Downtown Vancouver clothing boutique targeted by vandals for the 3rd time since August
CityLux Boutique is among the downtown Vancouver businesses that have been targeted by recent break-ins.
Regina
-
'This is disgusting': Sask. Indigenous prof says deep-rooted stereotypes continue to drive racial profiling
A Saskatchewan university business lecturer says companies need to do a better job of educating employees on consumer racial profiling.
-
Sask. schools left in the dark about funding, budget deadline extension
Despite promises of more money and an extension to the budget deadline for schools, the Saskatchewan government has been mum on details.
-
As Sask.'s opioid crisis continues, some are calling for more education for overdose prevention
Saskatchewan’s opioid crisis is on the rise again this year after an expected plateau in 2022.