Residents of East Kootenay can mark one task off their autumn checklist: adjusting the clocks. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board made a decisive 12-3 vote on Friday to discontinue the biannual clock changes and embrace mountain daylight time permanently. This choice aligns the region with Alberta’s time system instead of following the majority of British Columbia.
The decision comes after a period of deliberation regarding the time standard for East Kootenay following the provincial announcement that most of B.C. would cease seasonal time changes, leaving mountain time communities to determine their time observance independently.
Initially, in March, the RDEK board had approved a shift to year-round mountain standard time for affected areas, which would have synchronized the region with most of B.C. However, this decision was revoked after facing opposition from the public and calls for more engagement.
A regional survey was launched, receiving over 14,000 responses, with 89% expressing a desire to end the biannual clock changes and adhere to a consistent time throughout the year. Of those respondents, 66% favored permanent mountain daylight time. RDEK board chair Rob Gay highlighted that while the survey was influential, it was not the sole factor considered by the directors.
Gay emphasized the strong connections between East Kootenay residents and businesses with Alberta, particularly in regions like the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass. The board also took into account health considerations, business schedules, public safety, and school schedules in making the final decision.
Residents’ preference for more daylight in the evening was evident in the survey results, with many residents valuing the additional light for post-work and post-school activities such as sports, fishing, and hiking. The unanimous sentiment across the region was a weariness of clock changes, prompting the move towards a permanent time standard.
Looking ahead, East Kootenay residents will maintain their clocks in November when the time change typically occurs. The RDEK will communicate its decision to neighboring local governments in Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A, allowing them to determine their time observance independently.
While the decision may not please all residents, Gay acknowledged the seriousness with which the matter was approached by both the public and the board. Come November, East Kootenay residents may find themselves engaging in traditional fall activities but will no longer have to adjust their clocks.
