East Kootenay residents in British Columbia will no longer have to adjust their clocks as the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board voted 12-3 to make mountain daylight time permanent. This decision aligns the region with Alberta’s time system rather than following the majority of British Columbia. The debate over which time zone to adopt was settled after the province announced an end to seasonal time changes and left it up to mountain time communities to decide for themselves.
Initially, the RDEK board had voted to move the affected areas to year-round mountain standard time, but this decision was later reversed due to public opposition and calls for further consultation. A regional survey was conducted to gather input, with over 14,000 responses received. The survey revealed that 89% of respondents preferred to stop changing clocks twice a year and 66% favored permanent mountain daylight time.
RDEK board chair Rob Gay mentioned that the survey played a significant role in their decision-making process, along with considerations for residents’ ties to Alberta, health, business schedules, public safety, and school activities. Many residents expressed a desire for more daylight in the evenings to engage in outdoor activities after work and school.
Residents like Frederick Riedel acknowledged the dual connections the region has with both British Columbia and Alberta, foreseeing that people will adapt to the change easily. The decision means that when clocks would typically fall back in November, they will remain unchanged in the RDEK. Neighboring local governments in Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A will also need to determine their time observance in light of this decision. Despite potential disagreements, East Kootenay residents can look forward to a fall season without the hassle of changing their clocks.