In commemoration of the power failure that blacked out large parts of northern-eastern Canada and the U.S. for up to three days during August five years ago, Mississauga-based Blackout Day Group had 38 municipalities turning off their lights for Blackout Day 2008 on Aug. 14.
The event had a significant power reduction that was equivalent to removing a city the size of Orillia off the Ontario grid.
Caroline Reilly, director of the Blackout Day Group said, "It's taken more than a month for the results from the Blackout Day 2008 Challenge to come in, but it seems a lot of Ontarians in 38 municipalities found ways to have fun with the lights off."
"Even though it was a few days before the official Black Out Day and it rained it was still very successful," said Reilly about the street party on Falconer Dr. in Streetsville. "(Blackout Day Group) originated from this neighbourhood. It was a day where neighbours met each other for the first time and from that day, started a tradition.
"Every year they pick a day in August, they power down and have a pot luck on their lawns," she adds.
On the Blackout Day Group's website, www.blackoutday.ca, they show many ways to have fun without lights for individuals, businesses, schools and municipalities. They encourage everyone to hold parties to get to know one another.
Reilly said she's already making proposals to the City to make sure more Mississauga residents can participate in next year's Blackout Day.
jle@mississauga.net
