Mont-Mégantic National Park Raising Awareness About the Hidden Effects of Light Pollution

Mont-Mégantic, October 11th — Residents across the Eastern Townships were invited to celebrate the night sky on Saturday, October 10, as part of Le Jour de la Nuit, an initiative raising awareness about light pollution and its effects on wildlife and human health.

The event, brought to Quebec by the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve three years ago, encourages residents to turn off unnecessary outdoor lights and rediscover the stars.

Organizers coordinated activities across the region, including information booths at Marché de la Gare in Sherbrooke, reduced lighting at Parc Jacques-Cartier, and programming near the Mont-Mégantic National Park entrance in Scotstown.

“Life needs darkness,” said a representative of Mont-Mégantic National Park during an interview on Good Morning Townships.

Artificial light can disrupt nocturnal wildlife, including migrating birds, fireflies and bats. Organizers also highlighted research into the effects of nighttime light on human sleep.

The initiative encourages residents to make reducing light pollution a year-round habit rather than a one-night effort.

Activities included educational presentations and opportunities to observe stars and planets through telescopes, depending on weather conditions.

For more information, residents were directed to cieletoilemontmegantic.org.

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