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Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday at 2 a.m.

Nelson Daily Staff
By Nelson Daily Staff
March 5th, 2015

And everyone was just getting used to light during the early morning hours of the day on the way to work.

Sunday (March 8) at 2 a.m., everything changes as Canadians join many other countries — but not all — around the world as Daylight Saving time begins.

The practice, when time springs forward at 2 a.m. Sunday, occurs the second Sunday in March.

Previously, Canada had observed Daylight Saving Time from the first Sunday in April until the last Sunday in October.

However, through legislation passed in 2006, Daylight Saving Time now begins three weeks earlier, on the second Sunday in March, ending on the first Sunday in November.

Daylight saving time began in Europe in 1916 to minimize the use of artificial lighting in order to save fuel for the war effort during World War I — Germany was the first country to implement DST on April 30, 1916 when the clocks were set forward at 11 p.m. (23:00).

Some Canadian Cities followedas well as parts of the United States followed 1918 when the policy was signed it into law to support the war effort during World War I.

In 1942, DST was instituted year round.

The reason for daylight saving time is to reduce electricity uses for lighting and appliances in the evening, as the sun sets an hour later. DST also allows people to stay outside later as the sun sets later.

DST is now in use in more than 70 countries over the world, affecting more than a billion people every year.

Some countries that do not observe DST include China — which quit the change the clocks in 1991 — Russia, the northern part of Australia as well part of the continents of Asia, South America, and northern and southern tip of Africa.

Areas of Canada are not using daylight saving time as well: Fort St. John, Charlie Lake, Taylor and Dawson Creek in British Columbia, Creston in the East Kootenays, and most of Saskatchewan. 

Although the Mayor of Creston proposed the idea in the spring of 2014 of the town joining the rest of their East Kootenay neighbours in the Mountain Time Zone.

Other places that do not participate in DST are Arizona and Hawaii — along with the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

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