B.C.'s new time zone (Pacific time)

Pacific time (PCT) is the name of the time zone associated with B.C.’s year-round single time standard.

On this page

• About Pacific time (PCT)
• Why Pacific time makes sense for B.C.
• How the change is being made
• Locations continuing to use mountain time

About Pacific time (PCT) 

B.C. has adopted permanent year-round daylight saving time, or Pacific time (PCT), to improve people’s overall health, reduce disruptions for families, simplify scheduling and provide an extra hour of evening light during the winter months.  

The transition to one year-round time zone began on March 8, 2026, when clocks moved ahead by one hour. This was the final time change in British Columbia. People and businesses need to prepare for November 1, 2026, when clocks would usually be turned back, but now will remain the same. At that point, the transition to Pacific time, the name of B.C.’s new time zone, will be complete. PCT is the accompanying abbreviation. PCT replaces the former seasonal abbreviations PST (Pacific standard time) and PDT (Pacific daylight time). 

For the majority of people in B.C. there are no immediate actions. Many clocks automatically “sprung forward” an hour as usual on March 8, 2026. On November 1, 2026, when previously clocks would have been turned back an hour, no change will be made.

Pacific time operates at seven hours behind co-ordinated universal time (UTC-7), matching the current offset used during daylight saving time. 

Why Pacific time makes sense for B.C.

In summer 2019, the Province conducted a public engagement on time observance that saw participation from a record 223,000 people, with 93% supporting adopting year-round DST. Similarly, across all industry groups and nearly all occupational groups, support for year-round DST observance was higher than 90%. 

Evidence suggests there are many benefits to ending the seasonal time change, including: 

• More consistency and fewer disruptions to sleep patterns, school schedules, and daily routines 
• More usable light in the evenings in winter, allowing more leisure time, participation in outdoor activities and consumer activity 
• Reduced administrative burden for small businesses and service providers who may require less system reprogramming, schedule shifts and operational resets every spring and fall 
• More consistency for planning across transportation and technology services 

How the change is being made

The Interpretation Amendment Act, which is the legal framework that enables the Province to adopt PCT, became law in 2019. At the time, government chose not to bring it into force in order to co-ordinate timing with neighbouring U.S. states in the same time zone. However, making this change in March 2026 reflects the current preferences and needs of British Columbians.

Regulation brought the amendments into effect on March 8, 2026. 

Government will work closely with organizations, small businesses, and public-sector partners to ensure a smooth, co-ordinated transition to PCT. 

Locations continuing to use mountain time

Parts of northeastern and southeastern B.C. use a different time zone than the rest of the province. Local governments can determine what time zone they use. Those regions will continue using their current time zone.  

As a result of PCT, many of these communities will use the same time as the rest of British Columbia. 

Northeastern B.C.

People in northeastern B.C. (Peace River region and the northern Rocky Mountains) who currently use mountain standard time (MST) (UTC-7) year round will continue to do so. 

This means their time will match the rest of B.C. in PCT, though they do not need to use that specific label. This includes: 

• Dawson Creek
• Fort St. John 
• Fort Nelson (and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality)
• Chetwynd 
• Hudson's Hope
• Taylor
• Tumbler Ridge

Fort Ware (Kwadacha Nation) is an exception, using PCT. 

Southeastern B.C.

People in southeastern B.C. (East Kootenay) currently switch between MST and mountain daylight time (MDT), in line with Alberta. On November 1, 2026, Alberta will not switch times and will use MDT (UTC-6) year round. 

Under the new system, people in these regions will remain aligned with Alberta and use MDT (UTC-6) year round. This includes: 

• Cranbrook
• Fernie
• Sparwood
• Invermere
• Kimberley
• Radium Hot Springs
• Elkford

Golden, B.C. is an exception. Golden will make their last time change on November 1, 2026 to MST (UTC-7) and use it year round.