Hundreds of thousands of Ontario residents lost power—in some cases for day—when a (new word alert!) derecho storm system swept across the southern half of that province May 21.  Our writers past have had the lights go out on them, too.

Who pulled the switch?  Shannon Maguire describes the cause and effects of the (then) largest blackout in North American history, in August 2003.  “The actual cause of the blackout was traced back to three failed transmission lines in northern Ohio, but experts still do not know how the situation escalated beyond those three lines.”  Lights Go Out in Ontario and North-Eastern United States, August 20, 2003.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton.  Debbie Jabbour relates a recent storm-related power outage, and points out that individual preparedness only goes so far.  “It’s fairly easy to cope on a small scale – bring out the candles, cook supper on the barbeque, etc.; but it’s quite another matter when companies that supply us with the ‘necessities’ of life lose their power too. ”  From My Perspective – And then the lights went out!, August 20, 2003.