East Kootenay residents have a new change for their fall agenda – the end of biannual clock adjustments. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board made a significant decision on Friday with a 12-3 vote to adopt mountain daylight time permanently, aligning the region with Alberta’s time zone instead of following the majority of British Columbia.
After considerable debate and public input, the board’s initial decision in March to switch affected areas to year-round mountain standard time was later revoked due to community opposition and requests for further consultations. A non-binding regional survey gathered over 14,000 responses, revealing that 89% of participants favored ending seasonal clock changes and sticking to a single time throughout the year, with 66% preferring permanent mountain daylight time.
RDEK board chair, Rob Gay, emphasized that while the survey influenced the decision, other factors were also taken into account. The board considered various aspects such as residents’ ties to Alberta, health implications, business operations, public safety, and school schedules before reaching a final verdict.
Gay explained that the survey indicated a desire for more daylight in the evenings, particularly for outdoor activities popular in the region post-work or school hours. The general sentiment from residents was a weariness of adjusting their clocks, leading to the unanimous agreement to cease the practice.
Residents in the RDEK can anticipate a seamless transition as November approaches, where instead of changing the clocks back, they will remain consistent. The RDEK plans to inform neighboring local governments in Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Electoral Area A about their decision, allowing these areas to determine their time observance independently.
While acknowledging that not everyone may agree with the outcome, Gay reiterated the board’s thorough consideration of the matter. As fall progresses, East Kootenay inhabitants can look forward to engaging in seasonal activities without the added task of adjusting their clocks.
