The province of British Columbia is officially ending seasonal time changes across the province, adopting a permanent daylight saving time (DST) year-round. This means when the clocks spring forward an hour on Sunday, March 8, it’s never going back.
Announcing the change, the province said permanent DST aims to improve people’s overall health, reduce disruptions for families, simplify scheduling and provide an extra hour of evening light during winter months.
“British Columbians have been clear that seasonal time changes do not work for them,” said Premier David Eby in a statement. “This decision isn’t just about clocks. It’s about making life easier for families, reducing disruptions for businesses and supporting a stable, thriving economy. I am hopeful that our American neighbours will soon join us in ending disruptive time changes.”
Researchers from around the world have been studying the effects of DST and seasonal time changes on the body’s circadian rhythms and people’s overall health. An article from the American Heart Association, cited scientific studies that show a notable increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following DST change. This includes one study, published in the Open Heart journal, that found a 24 per cent increase in heart attacks on the Monday following a DST time change.
An analysis by Stanford Medicine researchers in 2025 cited long-term hazards of the twice-yearly time adjustments, stating that a permanent standard time would be healthier and benefit most people. Through its modeling study of light exposure, circadian impacts and health characteristics, the researchers estimated about 300,000 cases of strokes could be prevented and 2.6 million fewer instances of obesity could be achieved by adopting permanent standard time.
A position statement published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in January 2024 advocated for the elimination of seasonal time changes. It noted that existing evidence supports the adoption of year-round permanent standard time and aligns best with human circadian biology.
A public engagement initiative conducted by the province in 2019 showed an overwhelming number of BC residents, about 93 per cent, support adopting permanent DST.
More information about the province’s shift to year-round DST can be found here.