This Dark Sky community in Alberta offers the perfect stargazing sights

Bon Accord is the perfect place for budding astronomers. It’s one of the many dark sky communities and preserves located in Alberta. Folks will be able to get the perfect view of the constellations scattered above in this beautiful town.

Just north of Edmonton, you’ll be able to drive into Bon Accord. According to the Town of Bon Accord, this spot began with a rich history in agriculture going back as far as the 1800s. Since then, it’s continued to be a thriving agricultural community, slowly growing from village status in 1964 and finally becoming the town we know today in 1979.

It’s developed majorly, with a major focus on environmental sustainability. However, you will be able to see its agricultural roots. They remain distinctly evident in the surrounding landscape, visible heritage, and character of its residents.

As the town has more recently taken action on protecting and preserving the local environmental areas for future generations, it’s become one of the well-known Dark Sky communities across Canada.

How did Bon Accord become a Dark Sky community?

This charming town, according to the Dark Sky Association, was the first in Canada and the 11th in the world to receive International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) status. If you don’t know what this means, I’ll give you a rundown.

According to the IDA themselves, an IDA International Dark Sky Community is any type of municipality or community that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education and citizen support of dark skies.

Through Bon Accord’s sustainability efforts, including the installation of IDA-approved lighting, the establishment of lighting “zones” throughout the town, as well as getting resident participation on a major scale, they were able to accomplish what no other community in Canada had done before.

What to know before visiting Bon Accord

Before you head into the town, you might want to read up on the community’s Dark Sky brochure online. It provides a lot of great information about the effects of light pollution and how to help prevent it from getting worse.

There are two particular spots the town points out for stargazing with a telescope. You’ll want to visit one of these two places:

• 54th Avenue and 53rd Avenue, West of Lilian Schick School
• West of the Bon Accord Arena parking lot, near the south entrance

Besides stargazing hotspots, you also might want to check out the Jurassic Forest hidden in the trees. There’s so much more to do, so don’t keep yourself limited. It’ll definitely be a visit to remember.

Bon Accord, Alta.

Where: Directions

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