These Are Best Places In Canada To See The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

This year, Canada will be treated to a rare celestial event that you won't want to miss.

A total solar eclipse will be visible from the country on April 8, 2024, and for some, it will be their only chance to ever see it.

To make the most of your eclipse experience, we've laid out the best places in Canada for viewing the total solar eclipse. With watch parties and week-long celebrations announced across Canada, you'll want to start planning where you'll be watching it from.

What is the 2024 total solar eclipse?

The total solar eclipse will be an event you won't want to miss. On April 8, 2024, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun.

When this happens, the sky will darken for a few minutes as if it were dawn or dusk.

The solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for some -- according to the Canadian Space Agency, Quebec hasn't witnessed a total solar eclipse in over 50 years (1972), and it will be over 80 years before the next one (2106).

However, not everyone in Canada will be treated to a total solar eclipse -- the path of totality (aka where you'd need to be to see the sun fully eclipse by the moon) will pass through only a few provinces in the country, and not every city in these provinces will get a full eclipse.

Outside of areas where there will be totality, viewers will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse.

Best places to see the total solar eclipse in Canada

Here are the provinces set to be in the path of totality, and which cities within them offer some of the best viewing opportunities:

Ontario

Several Southern Ontario cities are set to be in the path of totality. Niagara Falls will be one of the best places in the region to watch the eclipse, with the duration of totality set to be 3 minutes and 32.4 seconds, one of the longest in the province, according to Eclipse2024.org.

To celebrate, Niagara Parks is planning a multi-day event featuring interactive talks with experts from NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, a mobile planetarium, and more special programming and activities.

Waverly Beach in Fort Eerie will have the longest duration of totality, with the total eclipse set to last for 3 minutes and 45 seconds, making it a great spot for getting the full experience of the eclipse.

According to Destination Ontario, other prime viewing spots in the province include Point Pelee National Park, which is square in the path of the eclipse, and will be one of the first communities to see the eclipse.

Hamilton will also be a good viewing spot, where the shadow will pass over the southeastern reaches of the city at 3:18 p.m., and Kingston, which is preparing three viewing locations where visitors can enjoy on-site activities and even get free solar eclipse glasses.

Unfortunately for those in Toronto, the city won't be in the path of totality. However, a partial eclipse of the sun will be visible at 3:19 p.m.

Quebec

Plenty of cities in Quebec will be in the path of totality. In Montreal, only those in the downtown area will be in the path of totality. according to Space.com.

In the city, Parc Jean Drapeau is planning a free watch event for the eclipse, with experts from the Planetarium and Space for Life in attendance to educate and distribute 150,000 free solar glasses to the public.

Montrealers and those from the Greater Montreal Area are also invited to watch the eclipse for free at the Montreal Science Centre.

The eclipse will begin in Montreal at 2:15 p.m., with totality lasting for 1 minute and 25.8 seconds, according to Eclipse2024.org.

Sutton, in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, will have one of the longest durations of totality, with the eclipse set to last 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The area is full of beautiful hiking trails and lookouts where you can watch the eclipse.

Mont-Mégantic National Park will also be in the path of totality, and will be hosting a ticketed event with entertainment and a live broadcast of the eclipse on a giant screen and telescopes with solar filters available to observe the sun during the partial eclipse phase.

Other regions in Quebec that will be in the path of the totality include Sherbrooke, Victoriaville, Montpellier and Saint Georges, according to Great American Eclipse.

Nova Scotia

Although Nova Scotia is almost totally out of the path of totality, some areas will still be able to experience the total solar eclipse.

One of them is Meat Cove on Cape Breton Island. A detour off the Cabot Trail, Meat Cove is the most northern settlement in Nova Scotia.

Its remoteness makes for some incredible wilderness, with untouched beaches and stunning mountaintops. You can hike here or camp at the Meat Cove Campground, which offers magnificent views. Totality will take place over Meat Cove at 4:39 p.m. AT and last for 1 minute and 30 seconds, according to the Canadian Space Agency.

Other regions in the path of totality in Nova Scotia include Bay St. Lawrence, Black Point, Capstick, and Saint Margaret Village.

Prince Edward Island

Many Prince Edward Island communities and towns will be in the path of totality, however, they will mostly be in western P.E.I.

According to Tourism PEI, those in areas from Bedeque to North Rustico or anywhere to the west will see the full effect of the eclipse.

As for noteworthy watching spots, the iconic Green Gables will be a great place to watch the eclipse, with totality set to begin at 4:37 p.m. and last for 1 minutes and 7 seconds.

The beautiful Cavendish Beach in Prince Edward Island National Park will also be a great place to experience totality, with the eclipse set to begin at 16:37 and last for 1 minute and 12 seconds, according to Eclipse2024.org

Alberton, a small town with just over 1,100 residents, will have one of the longest durations of totality, with the eclipse lasting 3 minutes and 3 seconds.

In Saint Chrysostome, which is also in the path of totality, you can watch the eclipse with the company of gentle and friendly beach goats on a quiet corner of the island's south coast.

New Brunswick

Many cities and towns in New Brunswick will have a great view of the total solar eclipse, with many set to be able to experience totality for more than 3 minutes.

Among them are Baie-Sainte-Anne, Wakefield, Digby Corner, Kouchibouguac and many more.

In Fredericton, the total eclipse will be visible for 2 minutes and 12 seconds, and the city is planning a week-long event to celebrate.

EclipseFest will take place from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8, 202, with exhibits, special programming and presentations, crafts, food and more.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada New Brunswick Centre will host a public observing session at the event with telescopes, exhibits, and safety information, and solar eclipse glasses will be available to visitors free of charge.

Miramichi, which will be able to see the eclipse for 3 minutes and 8 seconds, will also be hosting a week-long celebration from April 3-8 with art installations, music, and a drone light show.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland's southwest coast will be the best place to watch the total solar eclipse.

Totality will be visible in the areas of Stephenville and across central Newfoundland through Terra Nova Park and Gander.

Gander will be holding a solar eclipse viewing party on April 8, 2024, and a science festival in the days before the eclipse in partnership with professors from Memorial University.

Unfortunately, St. John's lies just outside the path of totality. However, the city will still be able to experience a partial solar eclipse.

You can search for your city to see if it will be in the path of totality on Eclipse2024.org.