East Kootenay residents no longer need to worry about adjusting their clocks this fall as the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board has decided to make mountain daylight time permanent. In a 12-3 vote on Friday, the board chose to align the region with Alberta’s time system instead of following the majority of British Columbia.
The decision comes after months of deliberation following the province’s announcement that most of B.C. would stop seasonal time changes, leaving mountain time communities to determine their time observance independently.
Initially, the RDEK board had voted to transition affected areas to year-round mountain standard time, but this decision was reversed due to public backlash and requests for further consultation. A regional survey was conducted, receiving over 14,000 responses, with 89% of participants expressing a desire to end biannual clock changes and 66% preferring permanent mountain daylight time.
RDEK board chair Rob Gay acknowledged that the survey played a significant role in the decision-making process, along with considering factors such as residents’ ties to Alberta, health implications, business operations, public safety, and school schedules.
Residents in the region, known for their outdoor lifestyle, emphasized the importance of having more daylight in the evenings for recreational activities like sports, fishing, and hiking. Despite differing opinions within the community, the consensus was clear: the ongoing clock changes were no longer desired.
Looking ahead, when clocks would traditionally “fall back” in November, East Kootenay residents will maintain their current time setting. The RDEK plans to inform neighboring local governments in Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A, allowing them to determine their own time observance.
While the decision may not please everyone, Gay acknowledged the seriousness with which residents and the board approached the matter. With the change finalized, East Kootenay residents can look forward to a fall season free from the hassle of adjusting their clocks.
