East Kootenay votes to adopt permanent daylight time, staying on Mountain daylight time year‑round
East Kootenay votes to keep Mountain daylight time year‑round after 89% of 14,000 people backed permanent daylight time, aligning clocks with Alberta.
RDEK board votes to end seasonal clock changes
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) voted 12–3 to stop changing clocks twice a year and to permanently observe Mountain daylight time. The board said the decision follows extensive public engagement and will align the district’s timekeeping with neighbouring Alberta.
The move means communities across the district, including the Columbia Valley and the city of Cranbrook, will not set clocks back in autumn or forward in spring going forward. The board characterized the change as a response to clear public preference revealed through recent consultations.
Public survey showed overwhelming support for permanent daylight time
RDEK officials reported that roughly 14,000 residents and stakeholders completed a survey, with 89 per cent supporting a move away from biannual clock changes. About two‑thirds of respondents specifically chose to remain on Mountain daylight time rather than switch to another option.
Board Chair Rob Gay said the volume and clarity of responses made the direction apparent to directors, and that elected officials had supplemented the survey with their own research and outreach. The district framed the vote as following the public will while seeking greater consistency for residents and visitors.
Local business owners and visitors cite cross‑border convenience
Business owners in tourism‑dependent towns welcomed the decision, saying alignment with Alberta reduces confusion for visitors and improves operational planning. An Invermere business owner told the district she supported permanent daylight time because many customers travel from Alberta and the extra evening light benefits local commerce.
Motel operators and hospitality businesses in Radium Hot Springs and other centres said eliminating the clock change removes a recurring inconvenience. Operators noted practical benefits such as eased scheduling for staff and guests, and fewer timing conflicts for medical appointments or services provided across the provincial border.
Voices of dissent and indifference among residents
Not all local residents were motivated to support the change; some declined to participate or called the debate a low‑priority issue. A Cranbrook resident interviewed by the district described the discussion as a distraction from other municipal concerns and questioned the practical significance of altering clock conventions.
The board’s 12–3 vote, however, shows a clear majority among elected directors in favour of the measure despite pockets of indifference. Officials acknowledged differing views and indicated the decision reflects a balance between democratic input and regional coordination.
Connection to provincial and Alberta time‑zone changes
The RDEK decision follows broader regional shifts in time policy. British Columbia’s provincial government moved last year to end seasonal clock changes for much of the province by establishing a permanent “Pacific Time,” while Alberta passed legislation this past June to adopt permanent Mountain daylight time under Bill 31.
Alberta’s change, which the province plans to call “Alberta Time,” prompted officials to coordinate with international time‑zone authorities and device manufacturers to prevent automatic fallbacks on consumer electronics. RDEK leaders said the district has been working with neighbouring eastern B.C. jurisdictions to create consistency where the provincial decision did not directly apply.
Next steps: notifying neighbours and implementation logistics
The board said it will inform adjacent local governments, including Golden and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (Area A), that they must independently decide their own observance. Local officials stressed that formal coordination is necessary so residents, businesses and service providers can adjust schedules and communications across municipal boundaries.
Operational implementation will require administrative steps such as advising provincial agencies, updating municipal systems and notifying service providers to avoid automatic time changes on electronic devices. RDEK indicated staff will prepare guidance for residents about transition details and possible impacts on transit, health appointments and interprovincial travel.
East Kootenay’s vote marks a localized resolution to a broader, province‑wide debate over clock changes, and is designed to reduce scheduling friction for communities that maintain close economic and social ties with Alberta. The district emphasized the change was driven by public input and seeks to provide consistency for residents and visitors alike.
