Daylight Savings Information people should know!
What is Daylight Savings?
Daylight savings is coming up, but what exactly does this mean? Well, the purpose of participating in daylight savings is that clocks are set an hour ahead of standard time, meaning one hour in the day is skipped. It encourages everyone to be more efficient during the daytime since more daylight is out!
When does Daylight Savings start?
Daylight savings will always begin the second Sunday in March in Canada. For the year 2023, this is supposed to take place Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 2 am. Clocks are supposed to “spring forward” one hour on Saturday night, so people either lose one hour of sleep or lose 1 hour of their work shift if they have a graveyard shift!
Why do we choose to participate in Daylight Savings?
Many people have participated in Daylight savings, but why do we do it? This was first implemented in 1885 by George Hudson, an entomologist. His main goal was wanting a two-hour time shift to have more after-work hours of sunshine during the summer season.
The German Government revisited this idea in 1915 because they needed new ideas to save energy for battle during the first world war. Eventually, two years into the first world war was when daylight savings began in Germany. As a result, many countries soon followed this method. Canada followed Germany’s steps in 1918 when the Canadian Government formally introduced Daylight savings to increase production during wartime.
While this is a method we still use today, there are some advantages and disadvantages to using daylight savings:
Advantages:
- Longer evenings
- Less artificial light
- Safety
- Good for economy
- Promotes an active lifestyle
Disadvantages
- Use up more energy due to electricity
- Make others sick
- Costs money
- Could cause sleep deprivation
Areas that are not affected by daylight savings
Believe it or not, some areas in Canada choose not to change their clock as they believe that is the better thing to do. Here are some of the following areas that do not participate:
- Yukon
- Most of Saskatchewan except Creighton, Denare Beach and Lloydminster
- Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality in Quebec
- British Columbia (Chetwynd, Creston, Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson and Fort St, John)
- Southampton Island in Nunavut
- Ontario (Pickle Lake, Atikokan)
To know or learn more, click here for more specific details.
The world doesn’t fully agree if daylight savings should be around anymore. There are advantages and disadvantages no matter how you look at it. Regardless of your participation, make the most of your day since an extra amount of sunlight is always needed!
Sources: Daylight Saving Time 2023: When Does the Time Change? | The Old Farmer’s Almanac How Does Daylight Saving Time Work? The History of Daylight Saving Time | University Canada West. The Pros and Cons of Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time Pros and Cons – Top Advantages and Disadvantages Daylight Saving Time 2023 in Canada
