Lights on for Canada’s FIRST DARKSKY-approved sports facility

A small university in Nova Scotia, Canada, is setting an example for how facility managers can light their sports fields for safer play while protecting neighbours and the night sky

Université Sainte-Anne in Nova Scotia recently made history by opening Canada’s first DarkSky-certified outdoor athletic facility. The football field and running track completed a two-phase certification process from DarkSky International, a global non-profit organisation, to ensure the facility meets strict DarkSky Approved Outdoor Sports Lighting Program standards for minimizing glare, light trespass, and light pollution.

Protecting the Night Sky

Nestled between St. Mary’s Bay and an Acadian scenic roadway, the university is a model for sustainable practices. Its athletic facility was originally built without lights, but a busy schedule of pickup games, high school sports and other activities kept the field in use for long hours. Given its location within the Acadian Skies and Mi’kmaw Lands Starlight Reserve – with important habitat for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway – the university committed to using lighting technology that minimizes environmental impact while providing safer play at night.

Achieving DarkSky Certification

Sainte-Anne worked with its consultants to include DarkSky Approved Outdoor Sports Lighting Program certification criteria in its bid (tender) documents. The successful bidder chose to partner with SAPCA member Musco Lighting, a company that has specialised in light control for nearly 50 years and has helped many customers achieve DarkSky certification.

Musco’s Total Light Control – TLC for LED technology provides high-quality, uniform illumination while virtually eliminating glare and preventing light from spilling beyond the edges of the property. The DarkSky team reviewed and approved the lighting design for Phase 1 certification, then later conducted an expert on-site evaluation for Phase 2.

“Our intention is for the campus to be a bit of a showcase for responsible lighting,” said Julien Comeau, Director of Facility Management at Université Sainte-Anne. “We’re one of the biggest employers in our community and we like to set an example for what can be achieved.” ● [www.musco.com](http://www.musco.com/)