The Night the Lights Went Out
It's hard to imagine that five years ago the city was swallowed by darkness when the blackout crippled Toronto. It stopped traffic lights, stalled elevators and thousands of people frantically tried to find a way to get home -- no one saw it coming.
Where were you when the blackout hit?
The effects were immediate and stunning. But in the midst of the darkness and the chaos, we stumbled upon the neighbours we never talked to, the stars that you could never see at night and the feeling of being away from the energy-sucking conveniences that had become staples of modern life.
In celebration of the blackout, the people of Kensington Market helped others re-live the magic by hosting their 5th Anniversary Blackout Party, a series festivities meant to take back the night.
The celebrations began as the sun slept soundly beneath the horizon. And when the moon and stars came out to play, so did we. I rode through a sea of bikes in vibrant vintage colours and others with spunk and local flavour equipped with charming bells and whistles.
The experience was breathtaking. Surprisingly, Toronto police were extremely courteous in helping to guide the party through the city streets. In our auto-addicted culture, it was a nice change of pace to see the streets flooded with bikes.
Likewise, people came prepared with party streamers, glow sticks, boom boxes and crazy costumes, while performers on stilts and batons of fire stole the show. It was a musical paradise as the sounds of our cabaret danced through the night with a rousing cheer of "the streets are for people."
The 2003 blackout has become symbolic of how we take electricity for granted. And while some of us vowed to change our lifestyles by unplugging more often, have we actually followed through?
While there are many stories of inconvenience and frustration from the day, there are even more of friendships struck, helpful strangers and challenges overcome. It was this kindness and compassion we found in the dark that exemplifies Toronto the Good.
Photos by foxy_moron and Garry Choo
Comments (31)
I was waiting for a streetcar after work on Spadina. We waiting knew something was up as the streetcar was stopped at the stop before us, and wasn't moving...
I was at work when it happened, had to walk home but thank god I didn't live too far.
I fell in love with my neighbourhood all over again that night. Walking down Queen East with my dog to keep her cool was awesome. Everything was so alive in the darkness and it really showed how people can come together and help each other.
I know this is un-blackout related, but I feel like we get a little taste of the feeling of community that came out during the big dark when we get a big dump of snow in the winter. I tend to meet more neighbours when shoveling out than any other time; and everyone seems to be in the mood to talk.
I was home and having an afternoon nap. The smoke detector beeping awoke me and the air conditioner juddered off.
We in this building were without power for 22 hours.
Sadly, I had to pitch out more than $40 of special cheddar cheese. I had also stocked up on yogurt,ice cream and frozen orange juice.
*Sigh* All for nought, it seems.
i'd just passed over into the area that was uneffected on my way to boston, i had no idea anything had even happened until we checked into our hotel that evening. a big part of me still wishes i hadn't missed it.
I was at work. My Dad had gotten called in a day early for a by-pass operation so by the time of the black out, instead of being on the table he was in his room. They wouldn't let anyone in though so I managed to find my husband and walk home from Dundas and Yonge to Jane and Bloor.
I was living in Florida and wondered why all my northeast friends suddenly dropped off instant messenger.
I was napping too! I thought the radio station I was listening too was having technical difficulties until I heard some neighbours outside my window talking about it. Our power came back pretty quickly, but I did score some free soy ice cream from the health food store down the street. Good times.
DennisHarvey - Huh? Just 22 hours and you started pitching food? If you leave a fridge closed (preventing most of the cool air from escaping) when the power's closed, things inside can at least last that long.
I was on my way to the airport, to fly to Vancouver. It took me four days to get there. We had almost no gas, so we waited until all the traffic went away, waited in line for ~30 minutes to get gas, only to have it run out when we were third in line, and then made it to safety Hamilton on the last fumes in the tank.
I was at Union, trying to get on a train to Montreal that we were all told was still "on schedule" despite the power failure. it obviously didn't happen and i had to go the next weekend.
I had just finished a mind-cripplingly dull shift at the factory and was home unwinding when the power went out. I lived out in rural Ontario at the time so we already knew our neighbours. Why couldn't the power have gone out an hour into work, instead of an hour after? Damn you, blackout!
I had a party - to eat all my frozen food before it melted and drink my beer before it got warm!
I was on King and Dufferin when the streetcar stopped. Sat there for 15 minutes before realising it was permanent. Walked all the way to Dundas St. West subway, and luckily flagged a cab there. I'm British (moved here in 2000) but said I was a lost tourist, so got to Islington for $12, not bad. Sat on the patio drinking warm beer and watching the last of the commuters get home.
I was watching tennis at the Rogers Cup tournament, suddenly the scoreboards died, the umpire's microphone stopped working, and the background music in the grounds stopped. People shortly heard about the blackout and the night session was cut short.
My favourite blackout memory is the footage mass exodus walking up the closed-to-traffic DVP... even though I was actually up in the suburbs stargazing around a campfire :)
I was at work, up at Yonge & Sheppard, wondering when the power would come back on. Driving home on the 401 past the pitch black city was very cool. Later, we went outside and lay down on the front lawn to look at the stars. Mars was very bright that night!
I was on a streetcar with an armload of groceries, about half a block from my stop. The car drifted to a stop at my corner, and stayed there for 2 days.
We had a little blackout anniversary flashback here in SW scarborough this morning, power conked out for about an hour. Back on now though (obviously :p).
I was working with a friend in a room with NO windows. So when the lights went off we were stuck completely in pitch black. And this room happened to be inside a huge factory also with no windows... going down those rickety stairs was pretty intense!
I remember watching the ice melt in our refrigerator hoping that the food wouldn't go bad. The night was amazing, especially if you got to experience it from your rooftop.
I was still in the southwestern US preparing to make good on my promise: "If the Republicans get any worse we're moving to Canada..." I'm sorry I missed it.
I was working at a hospital at the time, and we couldn't leave for a short while until it was known whether extra help would be needed with patients (I was not a medical worker). Then I walked home, which I regularly did anyway, and then went to play a scheduled ultimate frisbee game up the street. The rest of the evening was rather relaxing with no tv, radio, lights, etc. The next morning the power was still out, but some friends and I had already planned to head to the cottage, so I wasn't really hugely affected. I actually kind of wish we could have a blackout once/year.
This communique was passed on to me by the group responsible for last night's action at Bloor and Spadina. they are calling themselves the Public Squares. I forward it to you.
August 14th - Blackout Anniversary
Five years ago the lights went out on some 100 million people. We spilled out of our home-box, work-box, shopping and car boxes. We stepped away from computers, microwaves and TV's. The streets became our living rooms as we shared the good company of friends and strangers alike. We rediscovered the power and vitality of the commons.
Last night's temporary reclamation of Bloor & Spadina is a festive demonstration of how our city could evolve. The streets and avenues are the veins and arteries of the city. Great intersections like this one are vital organs where people are drawn to work, eat, play and commune. This connection of citizens creates a livable city in a way that an easy left turn never will. See for yourself how this thousand square feet of pavement can better serve us all.
"Get out of your box and into the square."
- the Public Squares
@ Michael J: I referenced the community as a whole. But to go into more specifics as to who was involved, here is the list: Streets are for People!, New Mind Space, Promise,Reclaim the Streets, Drummers in Exile, Bike Pirates, Take the Tooker, Bells on Bloor, Urban Repair Squad, Samba Elegua and the Kensington Horns.
@ KL: That is amusing that they made you continue writing the exam, but what could you do.
@ Danielle: Those were good times. Life really poured out onto the streets of Toronto during the course of that week.
I was at work at a veterinary clinic and ended up hitching a ride home with the clinic doctor. It was a nightmare for me. I had $3000 worth of animal serums and vaccines that never would have stayed cold in our tiny fridge to drag home, whioh I loaded into my dad's deep freezer overnight to avoid losses. My dad, stepmother and brothers went to their summer place for the weekend and since I was seldom home, they'd taken any food that could spoil (and thus, anything I could eat without power to cook it) with them. I ate a can of tuna and crackers for dinner and a bit of cold slaw. Because I'm not one to carry much cash (I spend it faster) and I had no car, I couldn't even try and buy chips from a store or anything. I had $3 on me.
I was in Mississauga and there was no community gathering in our area like the Toronto core experienced. It was hell.
My friend and I walked around the Scarborough Malvern area. I was lucky. I didn't have to work that day. We walked through the park. We ended up back at his house and played Magic: The Gathering by candle light the rest of the evening.
I was in the shower (in the basement!) and I swear the lights went out just as I turned off the water. A surreal moment.
I was at work at Yonge & Bloor, working at the Condom Shack when all the lights went out, free condoms for everyone! All I could hear in the darkness was the buzzing of vibrators...so surreal. Looking outside I saw random people directing traffic....What an amazing experience............
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