Residents of East Kootenay 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 instead of moving in sync with most of British Columbia. The move follows extensive discussions and a regional survey that garnered over 14,000 responses, with 89% of participants in favor of ending biannual clock changes and 66% preferring permanent mountain daylight time.
Initially, the RDEK board had considered transitioning to year-round mountain standard time, aligning with most of B.C. However, after facing public resistance and calls for further consultation, the decision was revisited. Factors such as residents’ ties to Alberta, health considerations, business operations, public safety, and school schedules were crucial in the final decision-making process.
RDEK board chair Rob Gay highlighted the community’s desire for more daylight in the evenings to engage in outdoor activities post-work and school hours. The unanimous sentiment across the region was a collective weariness of changing the clocks, leading to the resolution to cease the practice. While opinions were varied, with some residents acknowledging the dual connections to B.C. and Alberta, many expressed optimism about adapting to the new time system seamlessly.
As the region moves forward with permanent mountain daylight time, neighboring local governments in Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A are yet to finalize their time observance decisions. Although the board anticipates differing opinions and potential disappointment among some residents, the transition signifies a significant change in the fall routine for East Kootenay residents, eliminating the need for clock adjustments when November arrives.