NEW! The Parc national du Mont-Mégantic is proud to be associated with the creation of the first International Dark Sky Reserve officially acknowledged by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), an independent organization that is accepted as an authority in this matter.

This dark-sky reserve, which includes the territories of the Granit and Haut- Saint-François MRCs (regional county municipalities), as well as the City of Sherbrooke, was set up in order to preserve the quality of the dark sky, an essential factor for the continuity of the research and educational activities in astronomy being carried out at the Observatory and ASTROLab of Parc du Mont-Mégantic.
 
In a broader sense, the creation of this Reserve will contribute toward enhancing the beauty of the night landscape for all of the area's population and visitors wishing to rediscover the beauty of a starry canopy.

It was possible to secure such certification thanks to the adoption of several innovative measures in the management of night lighting. The regulations adopted by the 34 municipalities included in the Reserve contributed to halt the progression of light pollution, which has more than doubled in the course of the past 20 years. Also, the grants given by the three government levels and Hydro-Québec made it possible to
replace more than 2,500 lighting fixtures and considerably reduce the rate of light pollution recorded at the Mt. Megantic Observatory and to restore the quality of the night sky that prevailed in 1979 when the Observatory was founded.

The Park wishes to underline the invaluable support that was given to the project by the population. As a matter of fact, the great majority of the regional population agreed to replace the fixtures of their residences, businesses, industries, institutions and municipalities—a clear reflection of their attachment to the Observatory and Park.

With this project, the Eastern Townships become a model for the whole of the industrialized countries wishing to reconcile lighting needs with the concerns for energy efficiency and the conservation of the night landscape.

The creation of the Reserve serves to remind everyone of the importance of protecting a natural heritage that is disappearing—the starry canopy, our window to the Universe!

Pierre Goulet
Director
Parc national du Mont-Mégantic