Here's where to get free solar eclipse glasses in Montreal before the big event

Are you ready to watch the rare — and likely spectacular — solar eclipse on April 8? The answer can only be "yes" if you have special protective glasses that will allow you to stare directly at the sun without damaging your eyes.

"Even a brief look at the partly eclipsed Sun can result in harm to the eyes," the Canadian Association of Optometrists says. The organization's optometrists stress that regular sunglasses are not enough to protect your eyes from temporary or permanent damage. They suggest solar eclipse viewers with filters that meet the "international standard ISO 12312-2 for safe viewing."

Thankfully, there are a number of places you can grab up-to-standard solar eclipse glasses for free in Montreal before the big event so you can safely witness this unique astronomical phenomenon.

Montreal Libraries

As of March 18, Montrealers can get a free pair of eclipse glasse from any of the city's 45 libraries. The libraries are stocked with around 50,000 pairs. However, you will want to move quickly because they are only dishing them out while supplies last.

You can find your nearest library by scanning the list of libraries on the City of Montreal's website.

University Campuses

Many of the city's universities are planning to distribute free solar eclipse glasses.

From March 11 onward at the Université de Montréal (UdeM), students and staff can pick up protective eyewear at 20 pickup points across all campuses including FAECUM counters, libraries, bookstores and service counters. The full list is available on the UdeM's solar eclipse website.

Anyone who participates in upcoming events and public activities with the UdeM's Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (iREx), such as the Grande Conference de l’iREx on March 27, can get themselves a free pair of glasses there.

HEC Montréal and Polytechnique de Montréal are also distributing glasses to their communities, according to iREx.

Free Viewing Events

Another surefire way to get your hands on free eclipse glasses is by attending a free viewing event.

You could check out McGill University's TSI Eclipse Fair and Viewing Party — free and open to the public — where glasses will be handed out on site.

Alternatively, join in The Montréal Science Centre's "Total Solar Eclipse" event presented by Cirque du Soleil in the Old Port, which will have limited pairs of free glasses on offer, or celebrate with Espace pour la vie and Société du parc Jean-Drapeau at a viewing party on Île Sainte-Hélène, which is equipped with over 150,000 free protective eclipse glasses to give out.

Remember that while all of these events are free, they may require advanced registration.