Daylight saving time soon ends in Ontario

With the days growing shorter, the leaves changing and the air turning crisp, it’s that time of year to prepare for the end of daylight saving time in Ontario.

Daylight saving time means moving the clocks forward an hour each spring for longer evenings and then setting them back in the fall to catch a bit more morning light before winter sets in.

Most of Canada, including Ontario, sets clocks forward in spring and back in fall, though some provinces skip the switch. Yukon, most of Saskatchewan and parts of B.C. and Quebec stay on standard time year-round.

This year, the end of daylight saving time is 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3—about a week away!

It might feel like an extra hour of sleep is on the way, though residents are reminded to manually adjust clocks that aren’t connected to the internet like wall clocks, ovens and microwaves.

However, changing the clocks isn’t just about an extra hour of sleep. Research from Johns Hopkins suggests that the time shift can lead to higher stress, disrupted sleep and even a temporary increase in car accidents.

Aware of these risks, Ontario passed a bill in 2020 to make daylight saving time permanent, though it remains on hold until Quebec and New York State decide to make the same change—a commitment neither has made yet.

So for now, mark your calendar and get ready to turn back the clocks on Nov. 3.

—With files from Karen Longwell.