Most people know how exhausting it is to reset our clocks twice a year, but finding a universal time zone everyone can agree on might prove equally tiresome.
Traditionally, Albertans would spring forward one hour to observe Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and fall back one hour to Mountain Standard Time (MST).
Beginning Nov. 1, Alberta will adopt permanent Alberta Time (ABT), previously known as Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
The new time zone will align with Saskatchewan’s central time, year-round.
Deniz Top, an associate professor in the department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta who specializes in circadian rhythms, agrees on a permanent time zone rather than changing clocks twice a year to avoid jet lag.
“Ideally, though, if we had gone to standard time, it would have brought us a little closer to when the sun is rising,” said Top in an interview with the Calgary Journal. “Subconsciously, we are trained to wake up at a certain time and get ready for work. Our brains allow our entire body to remain in sync with light-dark cycles.”
“When you’re awake, you are eating, so your digestive system needs to boot up. At night, your body needs to boot down so we can conserve energy. But you also have to keep in synchrony with the outside world too,” added Top.
UCP says changing time cuts red tape
The province says it adopted its permanent time after engaging with key stakeholders and industries. Notably, in a referendum five years ago, 50.2 per cent of Albertans voted in favour of continuing to change their clocks twice a year.
When the Official Time Act passed, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally said MDT will bring more light to the end of the day rather than the morning, according to CBC News
Most agricultural producers support permanent daylight saving time because of animal feeding schedules and the strain it puts on the body, according to an executive director of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture.
The president of an oil well service company, Renown Down Hole Solutions, says time differences can lead to costly delays in Saskatchewan. He hopes aligning clocks will simplify operations.
History of time zones
Before time zones existed, every town used a “local solar time” when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. The introduction of trains created a need for everyone to have the same standard time, according to an article on Canada’s history of time zones.
Time zones are split every 15 degrees of longitude according to Geo. Alberta’s geography aligns with Mountain Standard Time, primarily between the 100th and 120th meridians west.
This means the sun is at its highest in Calgary and Edmonton around lunchtime, or solar noon.
“Alberta time is moving east a little bit more now that we’re observing daylight saving time,” said Top. “If you look at a map, you’ll find that Grande Prairie sits further west than Los Angeles, so we’re actually further west than we give ourselves credit for.”
Pros and cons of changing the clock
Although year-round benefits include uninterrupted clock changes, economic boosts, and longer daylight, Albertans may also face winter darkness until 10 a.m., safety risks, and disrupted circadian rhythms.
In 1973, the U.S. approved year-round daylight saving time, but ultimately repealed it after public backlash and increased traffic incidents, killing several schoolchildren across the country, according to History. Most of the United States is still on seasonal clock changes.
Other provinces will not change their bi-annual clocks, including British Columbia, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories, all remaining on daylight saving time. Yukon stopped springing forward or falling back in 2020.
The move to permanent daylight time, Top said, is waking people up 4 hours before their bodies are ready.
“If I’m waking up at 6 AM when the sun is up around 10 AM, it can leave someone tired with increased risk of blood pressure and cardiovascular strain. The body’s blood vessels may not yet be prepared for daytime activity.”
People with families may want to spend more time with them during the day, but from a mental health and physiological standpoint, being in sync with the sun’s rising is much more beneficial for your body.
Top says if we were to avoid mental and physiological health complications, seasonal affective disorder lamps may help, although everyone is different. Consequently, standard time would bring early summer sunrises, which can shorten sleep without blackout curtains.
The governing UCP says it plans to monitor the transition to permanent Alberta Time and gather feedback after the first full year of operating on permanent Mountain Daylight Time to ensure the change is functioning as intended.
