In Sherbrooke we can observe the total solar eclipse planned for the afternoon of April 8th for the longest time. For now, despite everything, the city has decided to delegate the organization of the events to partners. This decision is not unanimous in the local council. Amateur astronomers also regret that the population is not being monitored at this historic moment.
The Sherbrooke Amateur Astronomers Club wishes the city had taken the lead in organizing a free public event.
I'm a little disappointed that there aren't more things to do in Sherbrooke as such, because when I looked at the beautiful Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est website, there are a lot of events around Sherbrooke, notes Daniel Brousseau, who is Member of the club.
Things are exceptional in Sherbrooke. It will be dark for 3 minutes and 25 seconds, he added.
Coaticook, Granby, Bromont and Lac-Mégantic organize free events in parks. Instead, Sherbrooke decided to delegate the organization to partners.
Destination Sherbrooke will therefore offer a paid activity for 750 people in the exhibition center.
The Sherbrooke Region School Service Center confirms that it has already purchased glasses to enable its teachers and students to observe the solar eclipse and make this day an educational event.
The Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Sciences is also planning an event.
An underestimated event, according to an advisor
According to city councilor Christelle Lefèvre, the city underestimates the extent of the phenomenon.
I experienced it, the total solar eclipse in Europe in 99. I saw the effects, I saw what it represented before, on the same day. People were quite surprised by the traffic, by the hustle and bustle. There are a lot of people who travel for something like this. If they weren't in the hallway, she believes they would move around.
I think we missed the boat a bit. […] There are many actors who underestimated the impact of this event.
The matter will be discussed at the next council meeting. It remains to be seen whether the city will become more involved.
We have played our role to ensure that the population is safe [pour regarder lâéclipse]But also not to overshadow the municipalities that have already done something in this direction, emphasizes local councilor Raís Kibonge.
One thing is certain: Daniel Brousseau will be there.
It's really extraordinary. We saw it happen in the United States in 2017 and it's crazy. It's really an event and I think we need to experience it as a group.
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The August 2017 total solar eclipse was observed in Missouri. (archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP
The hotels are already filling up for April 8th. Traffic volumes in the region will be higher than normal, estimates Tourisme Cantons-de-l'Est.
With information from Delphine Belzile