Residents across most of British Columbia will advance their clocks this Sunday for the final time, aligning permanently with Creston—a town in eastern BC that has observed daylight saving time year-round since 1918. This shift eliminates biannual adjustments, creating a unified Pacific time zone after nearly 70 years.
Provincial Shift to Permanent Daylight Saving
British Columbia’s Premier David Eby announced the policy, stating, “We are done waiting. British Columbia is going to change our clocks just one more time – and then never again.” He expressed hope that American neighbors might follow suit. The decision mirrors Yukon’s approach and responds to widespread public opposition to clock changes.
Public consultations in 2019 showed 93% support for permanent daylight saving time, though the province previously synchronized with the US to ease cross-border trade and travel. Officials now prioritize more evening light during winter months and reduced administrative burdens.
Regional Alignments and Local Choices
The Peace region in northern BC, previously on mountain standard time year-round, joins the rest of the province. Mountain communities that switched between standard and daylight saving times will align in winter but run one hour ahead in summer under the new setup.
Municipalities retain flexibility to select their time zones, potentially creating more isolated areas like Creston. Local governments can opt into the Pacific daylight time zone alongside the province. Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Price noted, “The feedback we’ve received from the public is [that] people want to be on the same time as the rest of British Columbia.”
Business Concerns Over Cross-Border Impacts
Industry leaders voice frustration. Bridgitte Anderson, president and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, warned, “The unilateral change in time is an unwelcome distraction that will make it more difficult to attract and retain businesses in British Columbia.” She highlighted added challenges for operations spanning the US border.
The Vancouver airport authority plans to assess scheduling and passenger effects from the uncoordinated shift with neighboring regions.
