It's a small milestone, but an important one: as of March 8, the sun set in Ottawa at 6:59 PM, and it won't dip below the horizon before 7 PM again until October.
The Light Is Back
For anyone who's been counting down the days since the dark, cold months of January and February, this is the moment you've been waiting for. The evening light is back, the days are getting noticeably longer, and that familiar spring energy is starting to build across the city.
With daylight saving time kicking in on Sunday, Ottawa clocks jumped forward, meaning evening light will stretch even further this week. Suddenly, after-work walks, patio dinners, and outdoor activities feel possible again.
What This Means for Ottawa
Ottawa winters are no joke. Temperatures can be brutal, snowfall is heavy, and by February, even the most dedicated outdoor enthusiasts are starting to daydream about patios and bike rides. The return of longer evenings is more than just a change on the clock. It's a psychological shift that the whole city feels.
Expect the Rideau Canal path, the Ottawa River parkways, and neighbourhood streets to fill up with joggers, cyclists, and dog-walkers taking full advantage of the extra light.
Spring Checklist
This is the time to dust off the bike, plan that weekend hike, make reservations at a patio before they fill up, and start thinking about the Tulip Festival in May. Ottawa in spring is genuinely one of the best things about living here, the city comes alive in a way that makes the long winter feel worth it.
Summer Is Coming
The sun won't set before 7 PM again until October. That's months of evening light ahead. Take advantage of it, Ottawa.
Source: @ottawalist on Instagram
