{
  "id": 17410826,
  "title": "B.C.’s new time zone could cause confusion, from calendars to medical appointments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/b-c-s-new-time-zone-could-cause-confusion-from-calendars-to-medical-17410826",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T12:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/10/31/b-c-s-new-time-zone-could-cause-confusion-from-calendars-to-medical-appointments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "British Columbia has chosen to permanently observe daylight saving time, prompting concerns from IT experts about potential consequences. When the rest of North America returns to standard time, B.C. will remain on Pacific Time. This shift could lead to a host of problems for organizations that depend on scheduling software. The Vancouver Coastal and Island health authorities advise patients to verify their appointments, as they may have been altered by an hour. Universities such as the University of Victoria and University of B.C. warn that staff meetings scheduled on or after the change could display incorrect times if they were initially set before the update. While major tech firms like Microsoft and Google have updated their software to accommodate B.C.'s new time zone, appointments set prior to the update may require manual adjustment. IT professional M3 Sweatt anticipates practical and operational difficulties, particularly for travelers and businesses operating between Washington state and B.C. \"They'll need to account for the time differences when doing something as simple as moving across the border, scheduling a meeting over the phone, or planning day-to-day items on their calendar,\" he stated. Teams and Outlook events might not automatically adjust, and people should double-check the times of recurring meetings. Microsoft and Google have both updated their software, but calendar events created in specific time zones may appear one hour late on and after Sunday. These tech companies have urged users to enable software updates, as devices such as Android phones and smartwatches may revert to the previous time. B.C.-based IT firm Coleman Technologies predicts that calendar issues will be widespread. Scheduling software stores meetings with the time zone in which they were created, so patches are needed to ensure the computer recognizes the new time zone. One employee of Coleman Technologies commutes from Washington state to B.C., experiencing different time zones at the beginning and end of his workday. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority has updated its time zone database to reflect the change, but older systems may not automatically update. Door access systems, security cameras, and certain point-of-sale systems could also be impacted, potentially hindering employees' access to office buildings or causing missed meetings.",
  "summary": "Missed surgeries, late deliveries and muddled meeting times are among the issues that could arise as a result of British Columbia's decision to stay permanently on daylight saving time, information technology experts have cautioned.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "B.C.’s new time zone could cause confusion, from calendars to medical appointments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/b-c-s-new-time-zone-could-cause-confusion-from-calendars-to-medical",
        "published": "2026-10-31T12:00:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}