Night Moves in Canada

Dark-Sky Preserves are exciting destinations that can be experienced in National Parks and Historic Sites across the country.

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Story and Photos Courtesy Parks Canada

Canadian National Parks are the gateway to unique, natural attractions. In certain regions of the country, you can experience dazzling, celestial beauty among Parks Canada’s 13 Dark-Sky Preserves (DSP). They are a welcome escape from glaring city lights and where you can observe (and learn) about stars, the moon, galaxies and constellations at your leisure or through special events.

What Exactly is a Dark Sky Preserve?

Dark-Sky Preserves are protected areas with a commitment to preserving the night sky by reducing and/or eliminating light pollution in all forms. Many plants, wildlife and insects rely on the darkness to forage, breed and navigate. Conserving the dark sky not only provides a magical experience but efficiently protects ecosystems.

With all of the current environmental concerns, a ‘dark sky' is not often considered a threatened space. However, the opportunity to see constellations or star systems is being threatened by light pollution.

Education about the ecological and cultural importance of dark skies is the key element of the DSP program and Parks Canada protects more dark skies than any other agency or jurisdiction in the world. In a DSP, artificial lighting must be kept to a minimum while ensuring public safety.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) determines which protected areas can be considered a DSP, Urban Star Park, or a Nocturnal Preserve. While most provinces have designated DSPs,  those in the Prairies and Maritimes have some of the most exciting - but all are worth experiencing. Here are a few at a glance:

Alberta: Elk Island National Park

As part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve and Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve, Elk Island National Park is an exquisite area to observe the wonders of the night sky. Lay down on a blanket and experience seasonal meteor showers, the Northern Lights or just count the shimmering stars by a cozy campfire.

Located 35 minutes east of Edmonton, Elk Island National Park was designated a DSP in 2006. It’s open all day, every day and all night.

For more information visit www.pc.gc.ca/elkisland.

New Brunswick: Fundy National Park

On your next overnight trip to Fundy National Park, explore its ‘newest trail,’ the Milky Way. Located near Alama, NB, this National Park was named a DSP by the RASC in 2011 and is one of the best places to explore the night sky in Canada.

As a DSP, Fundy National Park protects the nighttime environment from artificial lighting and benefits stargazers as well as wildlife, which are adversely affected by light pollution. Remember, you must adhere to dark-sky protocols to prevent excessive lighting and glare.

Fundy National Park is committed to reducing artificial light pollution within the preserve’s buffer area.

For more information about the park visit www.pc.gc.ca/fundy

Saskatchewan: Grasslands National Park

Grasslands National Park is located in Southwestern Saskatchewan and was named a DSP in 2009. Since preserving the night sky is becoming more important than ever, Parks Canada works internally and with local communities to limit light pollution in the park.

The Grasslands National Park DSP is one of the largest and darkest in Canada and is an excellent area to enjoy beautiful stargazing. For astronomers, this is one of the best places in Canada to observe deep-sky objects.

For more information about the park visit www.pc.gc.ca/grasslands

Nova Scotia: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site

Designated a DSP in 2010, this National Park is home to the province’s darkest sky and brightest stars. Kejimkujik invites you to the 13th Annual Kejimkujik Dark Sky Weekend where you can experience the brilliant celestial bodies and discover how stars have inspired centuries of story, song, and legend.

Presented in partnership with the RASC, the event will be held from August 19 to August 21, 2022. It’s where you can enjoy Nova Scotia’s only DSP and search for planets, galaxies, constellations, meteors, and more.

For more information visit www.pc.gc.ca/kejimkujik

Newfoundland and Labrador: Terra Nova National Park

Also designated a DSP by the RASC in 2018, Terra Nova National Park is committed to protecting the nighttime environment and reducing energy consumption. This includes adjusting, retrofitting, or eliminating light fixtures as well as promoting and delivering new educational and interpretive programs on astronomy and other dark sky themes.

The park’s DSP designation was the first in Newfoundland and Labrador and the 20th in Canada. Protecting the night sky is great news for stargazers as well as wildlife as Terra Nova is set to improve nocturnal ecology by returning the dark night to birds, bats, insects and amphibians.

For more information visit www.pc.gc.ca/terranova

Additional Dark-Sky Preserves can be discovered and enjoyed in the following National Parks and Historic Sites:

Ontario

Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario

www.pc.gc.ca/bruce

Fathom Five National Marine Park

www.pc.gc.ca/fathomfive

Point Pelee National Park

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/pelee/activ/sky-ciel

Saskatchewan

Fort Walsh National Historic Site

www.pc.gc.ca/walsh

Alberta

Jasper National Park

www.pc.gc.ca/jasper

New Brunswick

Kouchibouguac National Park

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/nb/kouchibouguac/nature/ciel-sky

Northwest Territories (and Alberta)

Wood Buffalo National Park

www.pc.gc.ca/woodbuffalo

Dark-Sky Viewing Tips

  • Check the weather before visiting a DSP.
  • Take along a star chart or download a stargazing app. Try the Star Walk 2 or The Solar Walk, which is ideal for kids.
  • Bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope.

3 Responsible Lighting Practices

  • Place red cellophane over your flashlight. Red light is less obtrusive than traditional white light and helps to retain night vision.
  • Turn off lights when not in use.
  • Use better light, not more light.