On a moonlit trail, a wolf pack marks its territory along the forest floor in Mont-Tremblant National Park. Under that same cloak of darkness, a family of red foxes groom before setting out to hunt for prey. Canadian beavers continue their never-ending quest to build and maintain their lodges.

While the park hosts snowshoeing, fat biking, crosscountry skiing and other activities throughout the winter days, it is during the nights that the park comes alive. Over two hundred species, including forty mammals, call the park home, and the majority of them are nocturnal. It is in the darkness that this vast 1,510 square kilometres of wild territory thrives.

The diligent four-year quest to protect the evening hours was rewarded when Mont-Tremblant National Park was certified as an International Dark Sky Park by Dark Sky International in August. Not only has the designation created a stargazing paradise, it offers a haven for biodiversity in our backyard.

An essential part of the eco-corridors linking parts of our region, the park is one of just three International Dark Sky Parks in Canada, joining Quetico Provincial Park on the Ontario-Minnesota border, and Waterton Glacier International Peace Park in Alberta.

Making the world a darker place

While one generally thinks of celestial contemplation as the primary reason for addressing the need for fewer man-made lights, the benefits of an environment without light pollution are numerous and go far beyond stargazing.

Just as humans need the cycles of light and dark to control our natural circadian rhythm, animals and plants require the same. In fact, Marie-Lyne Després-Einspenner, the executive director of Éco-corridors laurentiens, tells us that “light pollution is the main threat to biodiversity.”

Després-Einspenner is delighted with the park’s Dark Sky designation, saying, “this is just the first step,” as she and her team of biologists continue to work with local communities in the Laurentians to support our natural darkness. It is not just the park itself: identification of safe corridors for wildlife to pass in the night is vital to migratory patterns, breeding habits and the overall health and well-being of a number of diverse species.

Indeed, our region is working to embrace an unpolluted night sky. In line with its energy management goals, the City of Mont Tremblant last month announced another similar initiative. Over the course of the next year, over seven-hundred street lights will be replaced by LED technology.

In addition to significant energy and maintenance cost savings, the new lights will provide a considerable reduction in our light pollution. Certified Dark Sky, the lighting will be directional and limit intrusive light in living environments.

Embrace the darkness

Our early winter nights in the Laurentians allow us to pause and look to the stars in awe and inspiration as we ponder our place in the universe.

Després-Einspenner reminds us that each of us can do our part to help preserve our nighttime sky. Simple steps will help preserve our ability to stargaze from the park or our backyard, and will benefit and protect the diverse species in our communities.

Use outdoor lighting only when and where needed. Use a motion detector so lights only illuminate as required. Shield and direct light downward instead of toward the sky. Close window shades and curtains at night, and keep your light inside.

Rather than being a threat or inconvenience, darkness needs to be recast in our minds as a resource that must be preserved.

Cast a spotlight on the threat of light pollution by turning your lights off.

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