The transition to one year-round time zone began on Sunday, March 8, 2026, when clocks moved ahead by one hour. This was the final time change in British Columbia. People and businesses will have eight months to prepare for Nov. 1, 2026, when clocks would usually be turned back but will now remain the same. At that point, the transition to Pacific time, the name of B.C.’s new time zone, will be complete. For the majority of people in B.C., there are no immediate actions. Many clocks automatically “sprung forward” an hour as usual on Sunday, March 8, 2026. On Nov. 1, 2026, when previously clocks would have been turned back an hour, no change will be made, and the adjustment will not be required. Pacific time will be set seven hours behind coordinated universal time (UTC-7), matching the current offset used during daylight saving time.
Why permanent DST makes sense for B.C.
In summer 2019, the Province conducted a public engagement on time observance that saw participation from a record 223,000 people, with 93% supporting adopting year-round DST. Similarly, across all industry groups and nearly all occupational groups, support for year-round DST observance was higher than 90%. Evidence suggests there are many benefits to ending the seasonal time change, including:
- more consistency and fewer disruptions to sleep patterns, school schedules, and daily routines
- more usable light in the evenings in winter, allowing more leisure time, participation in outdoor activities and consumer activity
- reduced administrative burden for small businesses and service providers who may require less system reprogramming, schedule shifts and operational resets every spring and fall
- more consistency for planning across transportation and technology services
How the change is being made
The Interpretation Amendment Act, the legal framework enabling the Province to adopt permanent DST, became law in 2019. At the time, the government chose not to bring it into force in order to coordinate timing with neighbouring U.S. states in the same time zone. Actions from the U.S. have shifted how B.C. approaches decisions that merit alignment, including on time zones. Making this change reflects the current preferences and needs of British Columbians, and helps ensure the province is well-positioned to thrive, even when circumstances across the border evolve. Regulation has brought the amendments into effect on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Government will work closely with organizations, small businesses, and public-sector partners between March and November 2026 to ensure a smooth, well-co-ordinated transition to permanent DST.
