Reclaiming the Stars: Your Guide to Canada’s Dark-Sky Parks

As December’s darkness grows, learn about the parks and preserves that keep our skies free of glare, sheltering wildlife and treating visitors to cosmic wonders

Dec 18, 2024

*Image attribution: jasperdarksky.travel*

Embracing the Long Winter Nights

The Winter Solstice on December 21, 2024, marks our longest night of the year in Canada.

It’s a time when darkness seems to stretch for hours on end. Most of us might spend our evenings indoors, but did you know that this time of year also offers a chance to experience something special in nature? Canada is home to many Dark-Sky Preserves—places protected from artificial light where you can see a night sky filled with stars, planets, and sometimes the faint glow of distant galaxies.

If you’re surprised to learn that Canada has a network of these stargazing havens, you’re not alone. I was surprised too.

Parks Canada protects more dark skies than any other agency in the world. Their preserves make it possible to view the sky almost as our ancestors did, before city lights drowned out the stars.

“My original idea,” says Dr. David Welch, “was that every park should be a Dark-Sky Park by default.”

Dr. Welch, a physical geographer and retired Parks Canada scientist, helped shape the guidelines that make these preserves what they are today.

What Is a Dark-Sky Preserve?

A Dark-Sky Preserve is an area committed to reducing or eliminating light pollution.

Light pollution doesn’t just block out the stars, it also affects wildlife and plants. Many animals depend on darkness to feed, mate, and find their way. By protecting the night sky, we protect these natural rhythms.

Canada’s Dark-Sky Preserves are approved by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC). The RASC sets strict rules for responsible lighting and public outreach. When a park or site meets these standards, it can be recognized as a Dark-Sky Preserve, Urban Star Park, or Nocturnal Preserve.

The goal is simple:

Protect the dark night from unnecessary light.
Help wildlife that relies on darkness.
Let visitors experience a truly star-filled sky.
Encourage learning about astronomy and our place in the universe.

These preserves show that by using less and smarter lighting, we can bring back the night sky for future generations.

Who Are the Pioneers of the Dark-Sky Movement?

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is a key player.

Founded in 1868, the RASC has long supported amateur and professional astronomers, educators, and anyone curious about the night sky. They created the guidelines that define what a Dark-Sky Preserve should be. These requirements were later embraced by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Dr. David Welch was one of the early minds behind this effort.

He spent over two decades working to protect the night. He began as an Earth Sciences Advisor and eventually became Head of Environmental Quality at Parks Canada. His team worked on issues like climate change and air pollution, and tucked among these topics was light pollution. Welch took that small concern and helped develop the lighting guidelines for Dark-Sky Preserves.

Why Were Dark-Sky Preserves Created?

The main reasons for creating these preserves are:

Protecting wildlife: Darkness is crucial. Owls hunt, insects navigate, amphibians call, and bats forage when it’s dark. Light at night disrupts these activities.
Preserving human health: Exposure to light at night affects melatonin production. Some studies link suppressed melatonin with health risks. Keeping areas dark supports healthier cycles for humans too.
Cultural and astronomical heritage: For most of human history, we navigated and told stories by the stars. These preserves let us reconnect with that past.
Reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions: Thoughtful lighting saves energy and helps the environment.

As Dr. Welch said,

“Light pollution was tucked away in a small corner of all that.”

Now, that small corner is a movement, helping us understand how reducing light can improve our lives and the planet.

Where to Find Canada’s Dark-Sky Preserves

There are currently 13 Dark-Sky Preserves managed by Parks Canada, and several others recognized by RASC and other bodies.

Some examples include:

Wood Buffalo National Park (Northwest Territories and Alberta): The largest Dark-Sky Preserve in the world. With its vast wilderness and minimal light, the views are unmatched.
Grasslands National Park (Saskatchewan): One of Canada’s darkest preserves. It’s a place where you can truly see the Milky Way stretch across the sky.
Fundy National Park (New Brunswick): Recently designated, it’s now one of the best places in Atlantic Canada to see a star-filled sky.
Kouchibouguac National Park (New Brunswick), Kejimkujik National Park (Nova Scotia), and Terra Nova National Park (Newfoundland and Labrador): These East Coast gems offer clear night skies with minimal light pollution.
Point Pelee National Park (Ontario) and Bruce Peninsula National Park (Ontario): Both are popular spots for stargazing. Point Pelee even hosts Dark Sky Nights with telescopes set up by local astronomers.
Jasper National Park (Alberta) and Elk Island National Park (Alberta): Already famous for their natural beauty, these places also offer star parties and astronomy events.
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (Alberta and Montana): Recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, crossing borders to protect the night sky.
Fort Walsh National Historic Site (Saskatchewan): Adds historical depth to your stargazing, combining cultural heritage with astronomy.

If you live near any of these places, check if they’re open in winter. Some are accessible all year, and the winter skies can be crystal clear. Others may have limited access, so it’s worth contacting the park or site directly.

What Can You Do at a Dark-Sky Preserve?

While many preserves might be quieter in winter, this can also be the best time to stargaze.

Cold air is often clearer, so you might see stars shine more brightly. If you plan a trip:

Check the weather before heading out. No one wants to drive to a preserve on a night when clouds block the sky.
Bring proper gear: Warm clothing, hot drinks, a star chart or a stargazing app, and maybe binoculars or a telescope.
Use red light on your flashlight: Red light is less harmful to your night vision than white light. A piece of red cellophane over your flashlight works well.
Turn off lights when not in use: This helps everyone’s eyes adjust to the darkness and improves the experience.
Think better light, not more light: Even at home, directing outdoor lights downward and using lower-watt bulbs makes a difference.

At some preserves, you can join special events like stargazing parties, guided night hikes, or even night canoe outings (like those sometimes offered at Kejimkujik National Park). Point Pelee hosts star parties where the Royal Astronomical Society sets up telescopes. Fundy National Park has replaced older streetlights with LED lights that reduce light pollution. Kouchibouguac, Terra Nova, and others run educational programs about astronomy and nocturnal wildlife.

In Fundy National Park, you can think of the park as

“an astronomy park where the night sky glows with millions of stars visible to the naked eye.”

They’ve even replaced old light fixtures to save energy and reduce glare. It’s about balance: safety and experience, without washing out the stars.

Winter Solstice and Dark Skies

The Winter Solstice reminds us that night can be more than just an absence of daylight.

It can be a time of quiet discovery. Imagine standing in a preserved dark area, looking up to see countless points of light. Without the hum of city lights, you might spot Orion’s belt, the faint glow of the Andromeda Galaxy, or even a planet shining steady and bright.

This year, as we approach the darkest day, consider visiting a Dark-Sky Preserve.

Some may be closed or offer limited access in the winter, but others remain open. It’s worth checking online or calling ahead. Even if you can’t go right now, you might mark your calendar for the warmer months. The stars aren’t going anywhere.

Becoming a Dark-Sky Advocate

You don’t have to be an astronomer to care about dark skies.

Reducing light pollution at home helps. Use dimmers, lower-wattage bulbs, timers, and turn lights off when they’re not needed. If you enjoy these preserves, spread the word. The International Dark-Sky Association shares tips and hosts events like International Dark Sky Week in April. Local groups, like RASC chapters, often host star parties and educational evenings. By making small changes, we can preserve the night sky for wildlife, for ourselves, and for the children who will come after us.

Reclaiming the Night

Canada’s Dark-Sky Preserves give you the chance to reconnect with nature on a cosmic scale.

On these long December nights, as the Winter Solstice arrives, it can feel like we are far from the warmth and light of summer. But the darkness is not empty. It holds stars, constellations, and stories waiting to be discovered. Parks Canada and other organizations have made sure these places exist so you can stand under a sky that glows like it did hundreds of years ago.

So, consider a visit—or at least learn about these special places.

You might find that the beauty of a dark sky is as meaningful as any landscape lit by daylight. And perhaps, as you stand beneath a starry sky, you’ll remember that you are part of something much larger than the world you see in daylight.

Share Your Dark-Sky Stories

Have you been to a Dark-Sky Preserve? Or do you live somewhere that is immune to light pollution? Take a quick sec. to type a comment and share your stories. I look forward to reading them.

And then have a rad rest of your day!