THE BIG BLACK-OUT WAS WHEN?

Hard to believe that the big black-out in Toronto -- and much more than just Toronto -- was ten years ago. August 14th, 2003 was a day most of us of a certain age will not forget. I remember what I was doing when the lights, and machinery, at my place of work shut off. My co-worker and I were tending to a specific job in-house; "clunk"; "not this again" (our building typically had unscheduled moments of power loss); a minute later, as my partner and I stood in our original positions and readied to pick-up when electricity was restored, our boss walked out onto the floor and said, "the power's off on the whole eastern part of North America" (not terribly inaccurate as it turned out).

Word came to us shortly after that the black-out could last some time. Since my method of getting home was the TTC, specifically the subway, I ended up walking home. At that time I worked downtown, so it was not a big deal to walk -- besides, I've always liked walking. Not five minutes into my stroll I bumped into a friend who's place of work was not far from me.

It was a nice walk.

Later that evening I decided to survey Bloor Street around Spadina and St. George Street: "Shadow People!" Actually, they were ordinary folk just hanging out on patios, but what a passerby heard was a wash of whispery voices emanating from undefined figures.

Power came back on in my neighbourhood at 10:29 that night.