Ontario marks first ever Nikola Tesla Day

QUEEN’S PARK — A small ceremony was held on the lawn of Queen’s Park Saturday to honour the prolific Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla on the day of his birth, marking Ontario’s first annual Nikola Tesla Day, to be celebrated on July 10 after the passage of a private member’s bill introduced by NDP MPP Tom Rakocevic (Humber River–Black Creek).

“Tesla’s creation of the polyphase alternating current production and long-distance transmitting system in 1888 had world-changing impacts, and his invention of the alternating current system and hydro power is directly tied to the history of Ontario, used in the creation of the world’s first hydroelectric power plant at Niagara Falls,” said Rakocevic. “Within 25 years, every major municipality and township in Southern Ontario had access to electric power.

“Sir. Adam Beck has been rightfully recognized for his promotion of publicly owned electricity grids and the development of transmission lines, but far too many people are unaware of Tesla’s innovations that made it all possible.”

Rakocevic was joined on the lawn of Queen's Park by Dejan Ralevic, the Ambassador of the Republic Serbia to Canada, Vasilije Petkovic, the Consul-General of the Republic of Serbia, representatives of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, the Nikola Tesla Educational Corporation, and members of various Serbian-Canadian organizations.

Ontario is now the largest jurisdiction in the world to officially recognize Nikola Tesla Day.

Background:

• In addition to the AC and hydroelectric system that we all use today, Nikola Tesla developed many other important patents that ushered in twentieth century technology such as the electric motor, radio, remote control, robotics, x-rays, radar, laser and many more. A true visionary and futurist, Tesla raised concerns with the use of fossil fuels. He also dreamed of free and renewable energy.
• Hamilton was the first city in Ontario to receive hydroelectric power in 1898 using power from the DeCew Falls Power generating station nearly 40km away. The DeCew Falls power generating station is still in operation today and is the oldest continuously operation power generating station in the world.
• In 1906, Toronto became the first Canadian city to receive hydroelectric power transmitted from Niagara Falls.
• Nikola Tesla Day has been recognized in Niagara Falls, Ontario since July 10, 2003 on the 60th anniversary of Tesla’s passing.
• A statue of Nikola Tesla was unveiled in Victoria Park in Niagara Falls in 2006 to commemorate Tesla’s 150th anniversary.
• In 2016, the city of Hamilton renamed a section of Burlington Street Nikola Tesla Blvd., in recognition of Tesla’s many contributions to the history of the city.