Knowhow-Now Article

On Sunday 11 March, 2012 Daylight Saving Time began in many parts of Canada. Currently, some 1.5 billion men and women are enjoying an extra hour at the end of each day.

In Canada, Daylight Saving Time is something of a complicated issue. For a start, there are still parts of the country that don't observe it. Areas of Quebec east of 63 degrees West longitude and pockets of Ontario and British Columbia stick to Atlantic Standard Time all year round.

And for those that do, the dates keep changing. After legislation passed in 2006, Daylight Saving Time, which used to begin on the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, moved back 3 weeks to fall in line with the United States.

Turning the clocks forward in the springtime means an hour less sleep, and many of us feel that loss keenly. A Swedish study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2008, suggests that disrupting one's finely-tuned body clocks can have alarming consequences, and sleep deprivation can do more than make someone feel a bit groggy. Scientists found a measurable increase in the rates of health problem, just after the clocks go forward, such as high blood pressure, depression and heart attacks. There also tends to be a peak of occupational accidents, particularly in high risk industries such as mining.

On the flip side, many welcome longer evenings where they can make the most of the balmy weather. Springtime in Canada is the perfect time to explore. From the beautiful cherry blossoms in British Columbia in March to the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa in May and the ski season in full tilt, there's nothing like seeing things come into bloom after a long, cold winter.

So on balance, is Daylight Saving Time a good thing? A market research survey suggests that it is. Despite the loss of shuteye, 44% of respondents prefer gaining the extra hour of spring sunshine (compared with just 14% that preferred putting the clocks back in autumn, increasing the light in the mornings). To the statement, 'It's a good thing that most of Canada have adopted Daylight Saving Time', the majority (57%) of those questioned either agree or strongly agree. Although, 30% of respondents were unsure or didn't know; perhaps this indifference hints at the mixed feelings involved with balancing hours of sleep with extra sunlit hours. Very few disagreed, and interestingly, around 10% felt that it should be up to the individual whether or not it was officially observed.

Daylight Saving Time was first introduced during the First World War in order to conserve energy. In these days of increased consciousness of green issues, some groups are pushing for Daylight Saving Time to come into play all year round. Lighter Later, a campaign in the UK, suggests that clocks should always be put forward an hour so that come springtime, there would effectively be 2 extra hours of sunlight in the evenings. These extra hours of light would significantly cut down energy consumption, as well as increasing road safety and touristic opportunities.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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