Equinox marks start of fall in Saskatchewan

With Friday marking the first official day of fall, people are getting ready to face colder weather.

Sept. 22 is the autumnal equinox for 2017, when the sun passes over the equator resulting in a day and night of equal length. Days will get shorter and nights longer until the trend reverses starting on the winter solstice Dec. 21.

While the movement of the sun marks fall on the calendar, Saskatoon’s Chris Phenix said his family recognizes the beginning of the season in a much more Canadian way.

“We saw a little frost on the window; time to get those vehicles in the garage,” he said, as he made his way across the University of Saskatchewan campus.

Phenix said he’d be spending the coming days clearing out the remnants of his summer woodworking hobby from the garage to make room.

Meanwhile, Eric Price, who moved to Saskatoon last year, said he was looking past the changing leaves with an eye towards the winter to come.

“I made it through last winter okay – but people keep telling me that last winter was very mild.”

Price added that his upbringing in Victoria had left him somewhat unprepared for his first prairie winter.

“(Last year) wasn’t horrible. But it wasn’t what I’d consider ‘mild’ coming from the West Coast,” he said with a chuckle.

While the arrival of fall had many thinking of chores and the imminent arrival of winter, Bonnie Moser said she was looking forward to the season.

“I love it. I love the crispness of the air. Working outside is more comfortable. You have to layer up, but I really enjoy the feel of fall.”

—with files from Céline Grimard