Residents of East Kootenay no longer need to adjust their clocks 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 with Alberta’s time system instead of following the majority of British Columbia.
The decision comes after a period of debate following the province’s announcement that most of B.C. would cease seasonal clock changes, leaving mountain time communities to determine their own time observance. Initially, the RDEK board had voted to transition affected areas to year-round mountain standard time, but this decision was reversed due to public opposition and calls for increased consultation.
A regional survey conducted by the region received over 14,000 responses, with 89% of participants in favor of eliminating biannual clock changes and 66% preferring permanent mountain daylight time. RDEK board chair Rob Gay emphasized that while the survey played a significant role in the decision-making process, other factors were also considered.
Many East Kootenay residents and businesses have strong connections to Alberta, particularly in regions like the Elk Valley and Crowsnest Pass. Health, business schedules, public safety, and school schedules were among the considerations before finalizing the decision. The survey also revealed a desire for more daylight later in the day to facilitate outdoor activities after work and school.
Moving forward, residents in the RDEK area will maintain their current time setting when clocks would typically fall back in November. The decision will be communicated to neighboring local governments for their own time observance determinations. While not everyone may agree with the outcome, come November, East Kootenay residents can skip changing their clocks and focus on other fall tasks.
