Ottawans reminisce about the 2003 blackout 20 years to the day
CTV
It's been two decades since Ottawa experienced its largest blackout on Aug. 14, 2003. The massive power outage, stretching from Ontario to Illinois, left the capital in darkness.
It's been two decades since Ottawa experienced its largest blackout on Aug. 14, 2003. The massive power outage, stretching from Ontario to Illinois, left the capital in darkness.
The memories of Ottawa's blackout remain vivid. Airports shut down, traffic lights stopped working, and homes were without power until the following day.
Catherine Beaudet remembers the day as if it was yesterday.
"It was an experience. It felt like we were camping half the time," she said."We had the barbecue out; grilling, flipping burgers, whatever we could find that could fit on the barbecue," says Beaudet. "We were bringing out the fondue sets, the ones that weren’t electric, just to be able to boil some water for coffee or make some soup."
However, Beaudet says the blackout was not without challenges.
"Everything that was in the fridge. That was total loss."
