It was a Solar Eclipse Never to be Forgotten

Monday, 8 April 2024 17:44

By Geoff Waterfield

Tourism Minister pleased with economic impact

It was a chilling darkness over the Niagara region it will never forget... as the total solar eclipse came and went this afternoon, leaving the area in a darkness similar to the night.

While the weather may have gotten in the way for Niagara with the cloud cover, it didn't stop the region from breaking the Guinness Book of World Records for the most people dressed as the sun.

Niagara Falls beat the China Life Insurance Company, when in 2020, it dressed 287 people... today Niagara Falls recorded 309.

People in other parts of the world, and Canada, had decent weather.

The curator of the U-S National Air and Space Museum says this may be the most viewed astronomical event in history.

So many people gathered along the St. Lawrence Seaway in Montreal that cellphone service slowed down.

Ontario's Minister of Tourism is thrilled with what today brought for the Niagara region's economy.

Neil Lumsden says this is not like selling tickets to the Grey Cup, or a world championship, in gauging attendance, and, it's a big deal for many people. "Honestly, when I hear about people who travel around the world, to make sure they see this astronomical experience, it's like a membership. A couple of people I've seen interviewed over the last couple of weeks are very emotional about it."

He says the experience of today is important in simply bringing people together.

He recalls talking to someone earlier today and their experience. "We haven't been to Niagara in 4 or 5 years, but we're going to go back because we saw things we didn't know we could do, such as going on a tour of the winery. I think what's going to happen is people will say 'Hey, we've gotta come back'."

Meanwhile, the Niagara region has cancelled the State of Emergency it called for in advance of the possible one million visitors.

It was a Solar Eclipse Never to be Forgotten

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