After all the Halloween excitement on Saturday, many of us might be looking forward to an extra hour of rest.
It’s that time of year when we remember to check the batteries in our smoke detectors and enjoy those few extra minutes in bed as we “fall back.”
Most areas in Ontario, including Waterloo region, Guelph, and Wellington County, will set their clocks back one hour at 2 a. m. on Sunday (or when we wake up) marking the end of daylight saving time.
This differs from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, parts of northwestern Ontario, Yukon, and Saskatchewan where people no longer change their clocks.
In Quebec, this could be the last time residents there adjust their clocks.
If you’re feeling a bit confused about it all this year, you’re not alone.
Patricia Lakin-Thomas is a biology professor at York University in Toronto and treasurer of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology.
She told CBC K-W’s The Morning Edition that it seems to be a “populist move” that politicians believe will resonate with voters.
LISTEN | Patricia Lakin-Thomas talks about falling back and what to expect:
The Morning Edition – K-W9:11What is happening with daylight saving time?
Time zones in Canada are getting complicated. Just this week it was announced parts of northwestern Ontario will move to permanent daylight saving time as of Nov. 1 to align with Manitoba. Patricia Lakin-Thomas, a biology professor at York University in Toronto and treasurer of the Canadian Society for Chronobiology, discusses the latest changes.
“It sounds really great. Daylight saving time has always had good press. It sounds like daylight is in danger; we have to save it,” she said.
However, she points out that the U. S., Russia, and the United Kingdom have all tried stopping clock changes before but didn’t stick with it.
“After a winter or two of getting up in the dark, it becomes extremely unpopular,” she said.
Lakin-Thomas mentions that when spring comes and people don’t adjust their clocks ahead, they might really feel the effects then.
“People have a really hard time getting up in the dark,” she said. “Trying to get your kids up in the dark, get them to school, get to your job in the dark is really hard on people and we predict it’s going to affect their health negatively.”
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