lights out!

Very interesting...

Winds of change, perhaps?

At the RASC Toronto Centre meeting most recent, there was a brief announcement regarding a flyer that got distributed to residents in Markham regarding, essentially, light pollution. Prepared by a local politician (or candidate), it talked about issues, solutions, light design, security light systems, etc. Wow. We were all impressed. The http://www.darksky.org/ site was referred to on the glossy brochure. This is great news for people on the north side of the GTA...

And today, I noticed an ad from the city itself in the subway car. It's aimed at business owners, particularly those in the downtown core, to remind them to turn their lights off. The main headline declares, Lights Kill Birds! See FLAP for more info.

I actually noticed this ad a little while ago. But now, given the Markham blitz, it makes me wonder if there's not a shift happening.

I've seen or known of these efforts in other cities. But I've been impressed to see inroads made in Toronto.

Maybe, maybe, we can reclaim our night skies...

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I later learned the Richmond Hill is the only municipal Canadian government to have light pollution laws. Of course, that they surround the David Dunlap Observatory makes them more aware and sensitive to the issue.