You may have heard the phrase “spring forward, fall back”. Alberta follows this pattern every year. This means you change your clocks ahead 1 hour in the spring, and change it back 1 hour in the fall.
When is the Next Time Change in Alberta?
The next Alberta Time Change is on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2:00 am. Clocks will be set back by one hour.
Alberta changes its clocks twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. The springtime shift (often called “spring forward”) happens on the second Sunday in March, while the fall shift (known as “fall back”) occurs on the first Sunday in November.
From March to November, Alberta observes Daylight Savings Time (DST), also known as Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). The rest of the year, the province follows Mountain Standard Time (MST), meaning the time zone shifts by one hour between these periods.
Is Alberta Mountain Time?
Yes, Alberta is Mountain Time. Alberta is in the Mountain Time Zone.
This means that the time in Alberta will always be GMT-7 during MST (Mountain Standard Time), and GMT-6 during MDT (Mountain Daylight Savings Time).
Learn More about Mountain Time
Is Alberta Getting Rid of Daylight Savings Time?
No, Alberta is not ending Daylight Savings Time. At least that is the current situation in 2024. There was a recent vote on the matter, that was confusing to some, and debated by many.
News Article about the Alberta Time Change Vote in 2021:
EDMONTON –
A tiny majority of Albertans voted against the province adopting year-round daylight time in the referendum by Alberta’s United Conservative government.
Less than 3,000 votes separated the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ camps, results released Tuesday morning show. Across the province, 50.2 per cent of voters voted ‘no,’ while 49.8 per cent voted ‘yes.’
When Are Alberta and Saskatchewan on the Same Time?
Alberta and Saskatchewan are in different time zones but occasionally align depending on the time of year.
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During Daylight Savings Time (MDT in Alberta), from March to November, Alberta is one hour behind Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan follows Central Standard Time (CST) year-round and does not observe Daylight Savings Time. So, during these months, when Alberta “springs forward” to MDT (GMT-6), Saskatchewan remains on CST (also GMT-6).
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During Standard Time (MST in Alberta), from November to March, Alberta and Saskatchewan are on the same time. Alberta shifts back to Mountain Standard Time (MST) (GMT-7), which aligns with Saskatchewan’s year-round CST.
This can lead to some confusion for those living near the border or coordinating activities between the provinces, as the time difference fluctuates depending on the season.
Alberta Time Change and Timezone Information Summarized
- The next Alberta Time Change is on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2:00 am. Clocks will be set back by one hour.
- Spring forward 1 hour in the spring, and fall back 1 hour in the Fall
- Time changes are always 2nd Sunday in March, and 1st Sunday in November (at 2am)
- The current plan in Alberta is to keep the daylight savings time changes
