Ottawa and eastern Ontario school boards move PA Day due to April solar eclipse
Several school boards in Ottawa and eastern Ontario have rescheduled the professional activity day in April due to the total solar eclipse, citing safety concerns when the moon blots out the sun across eastern Canada.
The celestial event that will cover the sun in Ottawa and across eastern Canada is set for April 8, between 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., when students will be leaving school for the day.
The expected trajectory of the 2024 solar eclipse. (Photo: eclipse2024.org)
Over the last few weeks, several school boards in the Ottawa area have moved the scheduled April PA Day to Monday, April 8, out of an abundance of caution for students and staff who will be outside.
"Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can cause damage to one's eyes," the Ottawa Catholic School Board said.
The Ottawa Carleton District School Board announced on Feb. 16 that it is closing schools on April 8 due to the solar eclipse. The board notes it does not have a PA Day scheduled in April to move.
A total solar eclipse sees the moon align perfectly between Earth and the sun, creating "temporary darkness" across parts of the country, the Canadian Space Agency says.
Officials warn that looking directly at the sun without appropriate protection during the total solar eclipse, "can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight."
The following school boards have moved their PA Day due to the solar eclipse:
- OCSB: Ottawa Catholic School Board (April 26 to April 8)
- OCDSB: Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is closing schools on April 8.
- CECCE: Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (April 26 to April 8)
- CEPEO: Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (April 26 to April 8)
- CSDCEO: Conseil scolaire de district catholique de l’Est ontarien (April 26 to April 8)
- UCDSB: Upper Canada District School Board (April 26 to April 8)
- CDSBEO: Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (April 26 to April 8)
- RCDSB: Renfrew County District School Board (April 26 to April 8)
- RCCDSB: Renfrew County Catholic District School Board (April 26 to April 8)
- LDSB: Limestone District School Board (April 12 to April 8)
- ALCDSB: Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (April 12 to April 8)
"We are continuing to assess the situation and will be communicating with students, families and staff about April 8th in the coming weeks," an OCDSB spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa last month.
While Ottawa is just outside the path of totality, Belleville and Montreal are in the path of totality for the solar eclipse. The Canadian Space Agency says the solar eclipse will begin in Belleville on April 8 at 3:21 p.m. and last 2 minutes and 4 seconds, while it will begin in Montreal at 3:26 p.m. and last 1 minute and 27 seconds.
"People outside the path of totality will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse, during which the Sun is not hidden in totality."
CTV News Ottawa will have special live coverage of Monday's solar eclipse.
Watch CTVNewsOttawa.ca from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 8. You can also tune in to Newstalk 580 CFRA for continuing coverage.
CTV News will have coverage from Kingston, Brockville, Ottawa and the Niagara Region.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada to launch 'national action plan' to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Jury finds Andrei Donet guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Montreal teen
A jury has found a 21-year-old man guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Montreal teenager Jannai Dopwell-Bailey outside his school in 2021.