Quick, what time is it?
For those of you who answered one hour too early, you’re clearly not yet adjusted to daylight saving time (DST).
Despite an attempt for businesses around North America to have all their clocks fall in line, and making sunrise and sunset times in regions further south a bit more palatable, would it perhaps be in the best interest of many Canadian residents if DST were scrapped?
Let’s take a look at sunrise and sunset times in Canada: On Jan. 1, the sun comes up at 8:40 a.m. in Cochrane and sets at 4:40 p.m.
During the summer months (or more specifically, on July 1), the sun rises at 5:26 a.m. and goes down at 9:54 p.m.
By comparison, Toronto is not drastically different. The sun comes up at 7:51 a.m. and goes down at 4:51 p.m. Jan. 1, and again, rises at 5:40 a.m. and sets at 9:03 p.m. July 1.
What if we were to abandon falling back one hour in October, and keep those clocks where they were for the summer?
Well, the sun would set at a more reasonable 8:54 p.m. in Cochrane. Putting the kids to bed (and many weary parents for that matter) would prove much easier.
Nighttime ambiance would also drastically improve. Who wants to go to the movies, a play or a romantic dinner out when the sun is still shining? Outdoor concerts bring that special something when darkness falls, as do many of summer’s outdoor activities, like the possible mini-golf course we may see open Canada Day weekend in town. There’s something romantic about playing mini-golf under the stars, something daylight cannot provide.
One drawback would be that sunrise during the summer months would be quite early, with the sun peaking over the horizon at 4:26 a.m.
However, anyone who was reading the above complaint that it stayed light out too late during the summer months to go to bed at a reasonable hour, and was yelling at their copy of the Eagle to just buy better blinds that block the sunshine, could do just that for that early-morning sunrise.
We certainly couldn’t stick to our summer hours in the winter. That would mean a winter sunset of 5:40 p.m. — which would be fantastic because it would no longer be dark when people got off work at 5 p.m. — but more importantly, the sun wouldn’t rise until 9:40 a.m., far too late in the day for daylight to arrive, particularly for school kids.
Proponents of DST point to several benefits of leaping forward one hour every March, including energy savings, increased public safety and a healthier lifestyle (longer daylight hours equals more outdoor activity).
Opponents say these benefits are minimal, and, when the drawbacks of moving the time back and forth every spring and fall are taken into account, there is not a justifiable reason for implementing DST.
Some studies have shown that during the days following the clocks being moved forward for DST, people are more likely to be involved in a traffic accident and are less productive at work. Time changes also throw children, who rely heavily on routine.
Basically, what it comes down to is personal preference.
People involved in sports, tourism and retail business owners tend to support DST, as more sunlight offers more time to play, travel and sell their products. The entertainment business, transportation companies and many who simply get annoyed by losing or gaining an hour twice a year, argue against the practice.
Maybe Saskatchewan has it right; the majority of the province leaves their clocks alone.
Or maybe they simply wanted to be diplomatic with their east and west neighbours, sharing a time with Manitoba during the winter and with Alberta for the summer.
