Eganville – Bonnechere Valley staff will be working from home when a total eclipse of the sun passes over Ontario on April 8.

Locally it is classified as a partial solar eclipse with just a smidge of the sun not covered. It is scheduled to begin at 2:10 pm, with the maximum at 3:23 and ending at 4:34. The magnitude locally is about 0.974 with almost the entire of the sun covered at the height of the eclipse.

In her report to council last Tuesday afternoon, CAO Annette Gilchrist noted any exposure to the sun causes eye damage immediately and the township is directly in the path of the eclipse.

“Basically, outside work should be avoided in the afternoon,” she said. “Whether there is snow clearing, whether there are things to be done in the afternoon. Staff should be inside.”

The CAO said she was unaware of what other municipalities were doing but said BV could close for the day or close at noon.

“People won’t be able to drive home at the time, because it will still be in the eclipse,” she said.

If it is snowing, public works staff would have to come back later to do that work, she said.

“I am recommending we close the offices and facilities that day for the health and safety of our staff,” she wrote in her report to council. “Staff that have the ability can still work from home answering emails or attending meetings on Zoom. Should infrastructure maintenance be required, staff could work outside, however outside work should be avoided in the afternoon. The morning and evening should be fine.”

While the area will be in a partial eclipse, it appears the total will be seen in the Toronto-Kingston-Montreal corridor. Maps show a partial eclipse will start in western Ontario at 12:54 and end in Quebec at 4:36. The total eclipse starts at 3:12 near Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve and ends at 3:27 near Curry Hill, Ontario. While most calendar years have two solar eclipses, this is the first one in this area since the 1970s.

“The last one was in 1979,” Mayor Jennifer Murphy told council. “I remember it well.  Tracy (Councillor Sanderson) would remember it well, being in school.

“We are actually closing our shop that day,” the mayor said. “I think it is prudent. Why take the chance?”

She pointed out this is the Monday after Easter Monday, so it would be two Mondays in a row with a long weekend.

“I see no reason to come in and try to hurry home,” she said.

“We will post notice we will be closed that day,” Mrs. Gilchrist said.

There may be events going on that day, she said.

Councillor John Epps asked if staff could still work from home since it is not a statutory holiday.  He was told certain staff members can, including administrative staff, but others would not be able to.

Mrs. Gilchrist said since council made the decision to close the office, staff will still be paid. They would have the option of taking the day off, she said. There are staff members who can work from home, answering emails and doing other duties, including herself.

“It is not that I won’t be working,” she said.

Mayor Murphy said this is about safety. It is about the office being closed, not the day being a day off.

“Don’t drive home. Don’t drive into work,” she said.

Mrs. Gilchrist pointed out the Renfrew County Catholic District School Board and the Renfrew County District School Board have moved the planned PA Day from April 26 to April 8 because of the eclipse and teachers are told to be working from home that day. School buses will not be running that day or for any rentals.