--- title: "BC stays on summer time from November 1 as health authorities and researchers warn of darker mornings" description: "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." canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-time-change-scrapped-health-safety-warning-november-2026" last_updated: "2026-10-29T11:09:55.979Z" --- 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. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.