Hours changing at B.C. border entries ahead of potentially confusing time zone change
On Nov. 1, Washington State will fall back one hour, but B.C. will not, which has prompted the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to adjust opening and closing hours at border entry points.
In case you missed it, B.C. has established a new time zone code, PCT, and the province is done with yearly time changes.
We previously published a story on how Bellingham residents were feeling about the time shift, which some who travel between regions suggested would be a pain in the a**.
For folks who do travel across the B.C. border to the States frequently, the CBSA has released some information that will be important to you.
CBSA says it’s adjusting its opening and closing hours to “maintain alignment with hours at the neighbouring U.S. ports of entry.”
“Since the United States will continue to change its clocks seasonally, adjusting the operating hours at the BC ports of entry in the fall and spring means alignment of service hours between Canada and the U.S. will be maintained year-round at these nine sites.”
The new hours come into effect on Nov. 1 at 2 a.m., remaining in place until the spring forward time change (for the States, not B.C.) on March 14, 2027.
The hours are as follows:
- Aldergrove – Travellers and commercial: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week
- Carson – Travellers: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
- Cascade – Travellers: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
- Chopaka – Travellers: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
- Fraser – Travellers and commercial: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week
- Midway – Travellers: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
- Nelway – Travellers: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
- Pleasant Camp – Travellers and commercial: 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week
- Waneta – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week
- Commercial: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (except holidays)
“These adjustments in hours of operation will allow for better coordination between Canada and the U.S., including in cases where a traveller is inadmissible and is directed to return immediately to the country they came from. It will also mean greater clarity for all travellers as to when the ports of entry are operating,” CBSA adds.