Southern Canadians have enjoyed sporadic displays of vibrant neon colors in the night sky over the past couple of years due to heightened solar activity. However, as the sun enters a calmer phase of its 11-year cycle, the northern lights spectacle will diminish.
The prime locations to witness the shimmering lights will continue to be in the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut, where the auroral oval, a luminous ring encircling the magnetic poles, is most prominent. Ethen Sun, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Toronto’s David A. Dunlap astronomy and astrophysics department, emphasized that sightings of auroras in southern Canada, including parts of Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, will become less frequent as solar activity decreases.
The sun undergoes periods of intense solar maximum and subdued solar minimum. According to Sun, the current phase is transitioning from the peak towards the minimum, expected around 2031. Although the sun is still relatively active due to its position in the cycle, it is gradually declining.
During the solar maximum, characterized by coronal mass ejections, flares, sunspot increases, and geomagnetic storms, the northern lights exhibit vivid displays. However, auroras can be observed almost nightly around the 60th parallel, irrespective of solar activity levels.
The optimal time to witness the auroras is between September and April, with particularly dazzling shows around the spring and autumn equinoxes. Despite being within the auroral oval, the heightened intensity experienced in recent years is likely to diminish as solar activity diminishes.
Tourism in the Yukon has capitalized on the solar maximum period between 2023 and 2025, with the northern lights serving as a significant draw for tourists, especially from the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia. The territory’s tourism sector generated $484 million in revenue in 2025, as per government data.
Aaron Ratko, a board member of the Wilderness Tourism Association of Yukon, noted that visitors are attracted to the region for various experiences, including winter aurora viewing at sub-zero temperatures. Repeat visitors often explore different seasons, such as the milder fall auroras, emphasizing the diversity of day tours and activities available.
Alex Stubbing, CEO of Travel Nunavut, highlighted that Nunavut focuses on showcasing Inuit culture, natural landscapes, and wildlife, with aurora viewing being an added attraction rather than the primary draw. However, as the solar activity decreases and the three territories emerge as premier aurora destinations, Nunavut may consider promoting itself as a key location for northern lights enthusiasts.
In the Northwest Territories, the northern lights are a frequent nightly occurrence, with Yellowknife boasting up to 240 aurora nights annually, according to the government’s tourism website. Approximately 41% of tourists visit N.W.T. specifically for the northern lights, as per the Tourism in the NWT report.
Marie-Soleil Lacoursière, operations manager at Aurora Village in Yellowknife, emphasized the economic significance of the northern lights in filling accommodations, restaurants, and local businesses. The company closely monitors the solar cycle to inform visitors about the optimal viewing opportunities in the Northwest Territories.
Despite the changing solar cycle, the tourism industry remains resilient, with visitors often delighted by the unpredictable and awe-inspiring nature of the auroras.