Clocks will spring forward one hour early Sunday morning, and stay there for the foreseeable future with no November 'fall back' planned. (Image Credit: Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

time change

Final ‘spring forward’ to bring new routines and challenges for B.C.

Mar 7, 2026 | 9:10 AM

NANAIMO — Clocks are about to change in B.C. for the final time in the foreseeable future.

The annual spring forward time change, into Daylight Saving Time, will happen at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8 with the new time to be dubbed ‘Pacific Time’ and remain in place for B.C. year-round.

Premier David Eby made the announcement on Monday, March 2, citing a more stable schedule for families and businesses instead of changing clocks back again in November.

Despite a vast majority of people in the province being in favour of remaining in Daylight time permanently, not coordinating the effort with neighbours to the east and the south is likely to cause some issues.

Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ Ryan Mitton said the changes will cause some disruptions come November, ahead of the familiar fall back.

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“If you’re a software consulting firm, for example, your morning meeting where you lay out plans could suddenly look a lot different. Having a lack of coordination with other jurisdictions could cause some uncertainty and disruption and that’s our primary concern.”

Mitton said the surprise announcement goes against what CFIB heard during a survey of small businesses across the country.

They suggested any sort of move away from seasonal time change should be a universal effort.

“If we end the time change, it should be coordinated with other jurisdictions. That means other provinces across Canada, but also, north-south jurisdictions like California and Washington state.”

Under the new time, the latest the sun will rise will be in mid-December, at around 9:08 a.m., while the earliest sunrise in the summer is just after 5 a.m.

Staying on standard time year round, previously in place from November to March, would see the run rise around 4 a.m. in the peak summer months, and 8 a.m. in the dead of winter.

Regardless of the impacts beginning November, the annual spring forward can lead to people being less alert and feeling more fatigued due to the hour less of sleep.

Road Safety At Work’s Trace Acres said the impacts can last several days.

“We’re only losing an hour of sleep, but I think you could think of it like a mini jet lag. Maybe not as long as if you’re coming from the east or coming back from Europe, but it still does affect our rhythms…not only the day after the time change, but in the days following as well while your body adjusts to the new time.”

They’re asking those on the roads next week to treat the time as a “high-risk period” over multiple days.

Acres said being a safe driver this time of year begins at home.

“Make sure that you’re continuing to get a good night’s sleep, going to bed early, not staying up late and binge watching something. This is the time to really listen to your body and to make sure that you’re treating it well, so that you’re not contributing through fatigue to any additional risks on the road.”

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