Residents in Golden, B.C., are facing changes they did not anticipate. Matt Clifford, a resident of Golden, expressed concerns about the additional challenges this change will bring. The Town of Golden recently announced that after transitioning to mountain standard time on November 1, it will adopt permanent Pacific daylight time, aligning with the majority of B.C. This shift will result in earlier sunrises and sunsets for Golden residents all year round.
This decision follows the provincial government’s move to end biannual time changes and adopt UTC-7. While the Regional District of East Kootenay opted to stay on mountain daylight time, aligning with Alberta, Golden will be on a different time zone. Clifford is worried about the impact of this time zone discrepancy, especially for residents who frequently travel to areas like Cranbrook for various activities.
A public survey conducted over the summer in collaboration with the Regional District of East Kootenay revealed mixed sentiments among Golden residents. Approximately 55% supported aligning with Alberta on mountain daylight time, while 45% favored mountain standard time or Pacific time. Despite the divided opinions within the community, Mayor Ron Oszust and the council voted in favor of transitioning to mountain standard time, citing health data, public safety, and provincial alignment as key considerations.
While acknowledging the community’s split views on the issue, Oszust emphasized that the decision is subject to ongoing discussions and adjustments. Residents have been given until September 9 to voice their concerns through a petition submission to the town.
