During the winter nights in Metro Vancouver, a peculiar sight has been captivating residents – a mysterious purple haze that has nothing to do with festive decorations or rock legends like Jimi Hendrix.
Cathy Latremouille, a resident of Crescent Beach in Surrey, was taken aback by the unusual phenomenon she witnessed one Friday night. Looking out of her window, she described the sky as resembling a “great big candy floss,” a sight she had never seen before. Speculating on the source of the magenta glow, Latremouille humorously ruled out alien landings, noting that it seemed to be emanating from the greenhouses across Boundary Bay.
The glow, it turns out, was attributed to the colorful LED lights used by various greenhouses in the Lower Mainland. While some residents found the spectacle enchanting, others like Delta Mayor George Harvie have a longstanding history with the issue. Despite past concerns raised about light pollution, particularly at night, the use of these lights is deemed legal and crucial for local food production, as emphasized during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, not everyone is enamored by the luminous display. B.C. Conservative member Ian Paton revealed receiving complaints from residents, including his own family, who live near greenhouses emitting the purple glow. Paton suggested implementing measures like shading to contain the light within the greenhouses, a sentiment echoed by some other residents in the area.
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada shed some light on the technology behind these colorful LEDs, explaining how the lights can benefit plant growth and nutritional quality. Despite initial concerns, residents like Latremouille have come to accept the vibrant display as just another part of the neighborhood’s nightly allure.