B.C. skips Sunday's time change as Whistler Blackcomb plans a later lift start

WHISTLER, B.C. —

Clocks go back an hour early Sunday in parts of Canada, but not in British Columbia. The province moved its clocks ahead for the last time on March 8 and is now on year-round daylight time, which it calls Pacific time, or PCT. ¹⁵

For most people in B.C., there is nothing to do: on Nov. 1, when clocks would have been turned back, no change will be made. Pacific time is seven hours behind co-ordinated universal time (UTC-7). ¹

What changes for travellers

B.C. is not alone this year. Alberta will stay on Alberta Time, or UTC-6, year-round from Nov. 1, so Calgary and Edmonton remain one hour ahead of Vancouver all winter. Manitoba's clocks will also not go back on Nov. 1. ¹²³

Pacific time is aligned with Yukon year-round, and from March to November with Washington, Oregon and California, the B.C. government says. ⁵

Some B.C. communities keep their own time. Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and the rest of the northeast stay at UTC-7, which now matches the rest of the province. Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere and other East Kootenay communities stay aligned with Alberta at UTC-6. Golden makes one last change on Nov. 1, to UTC-7. ¹

Alberta says most phones, computers and other connected devices should update automatically, but some older devices may need to be set by hand. ²

Whistler's opening plans

In Whistler, the resort is targeting Friday, Nov. 20, as opening day for Whistler Mountain, Blackcomb Mountain, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and the Creekside Gondola, subject to weather and conditions. ⁴

Pique Newsmag reported in August that Whistler Blackcomb plans to run most valley and alpine lifts from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from opening day through Jan. 15, instead of the traditional 8:30 a.m. start. Most Snow School programs will shift 30 minutes later until mid-February. ⁴

The usual 8:30 a.m. hours are expected to return around B.C. Family Day and Presidents' Day. The resort's own hours page still lists winter hours as to be determined, so visitors should check it and the lift status page before heading up. ⁴

A new quad chairlift replaces the Showcase T-Bar on Blackcomb, improving access to Horstman Glacier and Blackcomb Glacier terrain. Breakfast returns at Dusty's, and Pika's Traverse Restaurant at the Roundhouse has been renovated with a coffee bar. ⁴

Last season, Blackcomb opened on Nov. 21 with limited terrain and Whistler Mountain followed on Nov. 26. Winter tire rules are already in effect on Highway 99. ⁴

Sources

1. Government of British Columbia: B.C.'s new time zone (Pacific time) (Sept. 17, 2026)
2. Government of Alberta: Alberta's new time system (ABT)
3. Government of Manitoba: Manitoba Will Move to Permanent Daylight Saving Time (Sept. 17, 2026)
4. Corridor 99 (Daniel Deighton): Whistler Blackcomb targets November 20 opening, with a later lift start planned (Oct. 19, 2026)
5. BC Gov News: Adopting permanent daylight saving time (March 2, 2026)

This article was reported and written by Ethan Clarke and edited by Daniel Okafor. It draws on the sources above, which are credited in the text. Our standards · Report an error