Cheers broke out at 3:19 p.m. Monday outside the Rogers Centre in Toronto as a partial solar eclipse brought the city to dusk, with the moon blocking over 90 per cent of the sun.
Ahead of the Blue Jays home opener, large crowds gathered downtown donning eclipse safety glasses as they gazed up at the cloudy skies for the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
After the partial eclipse reached its peak and the city started to brighten again, many remained outside to catch a glimpse of the sun through the clouds.
In Mississauga, resident Natalie Senior was working at home when she just popped outside to take a quick photo of the eclipse from her driveway.
“I was in awe. It’s a piece of history. And I was glad to capture such a sight. It’s a split second photo. I caught it just in time,” Senior said on Monday.
At the Downsview airport lands in North York, a crowd of all ages enjoyed views of the eclipse as themed songs played on speakers, including Total Eclipse of the Heart, Walking on Sunshine and Life on Mars.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the community, particularly the children, at the event, which was hosted by Northcrest Development.
“That cloud is getting in our way a little bit, but it will still get dark,” Chow said about 10 minutes before the eclipse reached its peak.
Wearing a custom Blue Jays jersey, at one point, the mayor struggled to spot the sun through the clouds in anticipation of the eclipse.
“It’s up there somewhere!” she said, gesturing to the sky.
Bob Goulais, a knowledge keeper from Nipissing First Nation performed a smudging ceremony during the event.
“The eclipse is that joining of our grandfather, the sun, and our grandmother, the moon,” he said.
‘It reminds us to reflect on our own place in creation’
Goulais described Monday as a day of reflection, posing a unique opportunity for the community to learn about Anishinaabe ways.
“We see that balance in creation,” Goulais said. “It reminds us to reflect on our own place in creation and where we fit into it.”
Earlier on Monday, Brian Osiah, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, warned there could be “bad news” in store for the GTA and even Niagara Region, which lies within the path of the totality.
“Unfortunately, it does look like it will be mainly cloudy,” Osiah told CBC Toronto early this morning. He added that weather maps suggest that areas south and west of London, Ont., could be the best places to get a better glimpse of the eclipse.
Eclipse watchers warned of possible eye damage
Though the moon didn’t totally cover the sun over the GTA, a partial eclipse meant you could see parts of the sun covered during the eclipse.
Just as looking at the sun with the naked eye can cause eye damage, experts had warned that looking at the eclipse without approved eye protection could cause serious harm.
Children were said to be at higher risk of eye damage if they look at the eclipse without proper eye protection, according to the City of Toronto.
Solar eclipse glasses that are ISO certified meet international standards for protective eyewear. If they purchased glasses online, residents were urged to look for the ‘ISO’ marker, or ‘CE,’ which indicates the eyewear meets European standards.
Before using eclipse glasses, the city advised that people “check them for any “damage, wrinkles, punctures or scratches.”
Those spending the day at the Toronto Zoo got a free pair of eclipse glasses with their ticket, while supplies last.
Pet owners were urged to keep their animals at home for the duration of the eclipse,according to the Toronto Humane Society, as large crowds, travel and loud noises were said to not be ideal for your furry friends.
Owners were advised to distract their pets from the unusual event outside and not to encourage them to look at the sky, said Karen Ward, chief veterinary officer at Toronto Humane Society.
Toronto Public Library hosted viewing sites
Toronto Public Library locations hosted various educational programs for kids who were at home thanks to the PA day on Monday.
Available activities included solar eclipse trivia, pinhole projector tutorials and an educational space workshop hosted online.
Though several eclipse viewing parties were already full, the Forest Hill library branch hosted a drop-in solar eclipse viewing with no registration required. Free protective glasses were provided on a first come, first served basis.
WATCH | Total eclipse birthdays 25 years apart:
Total solar eclipses hold special meaning for one Toronto couple. Judi Jewinski celebrated her birthday in Paris during the Aug. 11, 1999, total solar eclipse. Her husband Ed Jewinski will celebrate his birthday during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. The couple spoke to CBC’s Patrick Swadden about the special event they share.
The Dawes Road branch in East York also hosted a drop-in eclipse viewing with a limited supply of glasses available — but it was an adults only event.
If you’re feeling lucky, you can try joining a wait list for a viewing event this afternoon, such as ‘Solar Eclipse of the Heart’ at Barbara Hall Park in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood.
At the Toronto Zoo, visitors were invited to record observations of animal behaviour for the duration of the eclipse using an online form. Visitors were invited to come back Tuesday to compare their insights.
The eclipse has generated widespread interest in animal monitoring, Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong said on Monday.
Visitors were invited to make observations on Sunday as well to create a baseline of typical animal behaviour, according to the zoo’s website.
Collected data will be integrated into a report, DeJong said, noting that other members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums are also monitoring animals
“We’ll be able to collaborate [and] work together,” he said. “It’s the scientific process in action.”