BC stays on summer time from November 1 as health authorities and researchers warn of darker mornings
For the first time in over a century, BC will not change its clocks this fall. Vancouver Coastal Health warns morning commutes will be darker and recommends reflective gear.
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Starting November 1, 2026, British Columbia will not set its clocks back, Global News reported on October 29. It is the first time in more than a century that BC has not changed its clocks in the fall. The province stays on the same time as it was all summer.
Vancouver Coastal Health has issued a warning that morning commutes will be darker than usual for the months ahead and could discourage people from walking or cycling to school or work.
What health authorities recommend
Vancouver Coastal Health says people walking or cycling should wear bright colours and reflective gear and make eye contact with drivers. Drivers should slow down and drive for the conditions.
The health authority also notes that morning light plays an important part in setting the body's internal clock. Ralph Mistlberger, a psychology professor at Simon Fraser University who co-authored a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on the risks of permanent summer time, told Global News that pushing morning light later shifts the entire sleep-wake cycle.
"When you move the morning light later, the clock moves later, so what does that mean?" he said. "It's easier to stay up later and it's harder to wake up early."
When a person's work or school schedule doesn't also shift, Mistlberger says, the body and the calendar fall out of step.
Effects on work performance
Patrick Baylis, an economist at the University of British Columbia's School of Economics, told Global News that workers with fixed early start times will feel the most impact. A start time that previously came after sunrise for part of the fall will now arrive before sunrise for longer.
"The rule of thumb is the less flexible your work hours are and the closer that start is to when sunrise would have been, the more effective you are going to be," he said.
The border time difference
After November 1, BC will be one hour ahead of Washington State. Washington State and most of the United States will set clocks back as usual on November 1, while BC will not. Anyone who commutes across the border or has appointments in Washington State should note the one-hour difference.
Alberta and Manitoba have also announced they will end the time change this year. Global News reported on October 29 that Quebec's government also announced it plans to scrap the time change.
People who walk or cycle to school or work in BC can prepare now by getting reflective gear before November 1, and by checking BC Ferries, BC Transit or other services for any schedule updates that account for the new time difference with neighbouring jurisdictions.
Questions this story answers
When does BC stop changing its clocks?
BC will not set its clocks back on November 1, 2026, Global News reported on October 29. It is the first time in more than a century that BC has not changed its clocks in the fall. BC clocks will stay on the same time as they were all summer, which is UTC minus 7 hours.
What does Vancouver Coastal Health warn about BC's permanent summer time?
Vancouver Coastal Health has released a warning that morning commutes will be darker than usual and could discourage people from walking or cycling to school or work, Global News reported on October 29, 2026. The health authority recommends that people walking or cycling wear bright colours and reflective gear, make eye contact with drivers, and that drivers slow down and drive for the conditions.
How will the time change affect sleep?
Ralph Mistlberger, a psychology professor at Simon Fraser University who co-authored a report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on the risks of permanent daylight saving time, told Global News that pushing morning light later shifts the body's internal clock later. When a person's work or school schedule doesn't shift with it, a gap opens between when the body wants to sleep and when it must be awake. 'It's easier to stay up later and it's harder to wake up early,' he said.
Will BC and Washington State be on the same time after November 1?
No. After November 1, 2026, BC will be one hour ahead of Washington State, Global News reported on October 29, 2026. Washington State and most of the United States will set clocks back one hour on November 1, while BC will not. BC residents who commute across the border or have appointments in Washington State should account for the one-hour difference.
What does the time change mean for workers?
Patrick Baylis, an economist at the University of British Columbia's School of Economics, told Global News that the effect depends on how flexible a person's work start time is. Workers with fixed early start times will feel it most: their start time, which previously fell after sunrise for part of the year, will now fall before sunrise for a longer stretch. Workers with flexible hours are less affected.
Have other Canadian provinces scrapped the time change?
Yes. Global News reported on October 29, 2026 that Alberta and Manitoba have announced they will end the time change this year. Quebec's government also announced on October 28 that it plans to scrap the time change. Saskatchewan has not changed its time since 1966, and Yukon ended the practice in 2020.
Where should I check for updates on how the time change affects BC services?
Vancouver Coastal Health's recommendations for morning commuters are that pedestrians and cyclists wear bright colours and reflective gear and make eye contact with drivers, while drivers should slow down. BC Ferries, BC Transit and other services that cross between BC and jurisdictions still changing their clocks may publish updated schedule information on their own websites around November 1, 2026.
What should I do when driving or walking in darker November mornings in BC?
Vancouver Coastal Health recommends that pedestrians and cyclists wear bright colours and reflective gear and make eye contact with drivers, Global News reported on October 29, 2026. Drivers should slow down and drive for the conditions. The health authority says that walking or cycling to school and work will face more risk in darker mornings, so taking extra visibility precautions before leaving home will help.
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