Travelling to exotic destinations often involves a time change, but did you know that the maritime regions of Québec span several time zones? You don’t have to travel far to experience the effects of time difference. Here’s a quick guide, so you can avoid missing the ferry in Québec by the Sea!

1. Eastern Time

The most common time zone in Québec, Eastern Time covers Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and most of Côte-Nord. Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) is used from November to March, and Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4) is used the rest of the year. For the record, this wasn’t always the case: Gaspésie was on Atlantic Time until 1969. Imagine a world where there’s an hour’s time difference between Rimouski and Matane!

2. Atlantic Time

An isolated island region, the Îles de la Madeleine are located at the same longitude as Canada’s Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). Not surprisingly, the archipelago is also on Atlantic Time and is therefore always an hour ahead of the rest of Québec. Atlantic Standard Time is used in the winter (UTC-4), while Atlantic Daylight Time is used in the summer (UTC-3).

3. Lower North Shore time

Did you know that Côte-Nord has more time zones than China? As Québec’s easternmost area, the Lower North Shore (from Kegaska to Blanc-Sablon) is on Atlantic Time (UTC-4) year-round. In fact, it’s the only place in Québec where there’s no time change in the spring and fall, which means that the Lower North Shore is on the same time as the rest of mainland Québec from March to November but an hour ahead for the rest of the year.

4. La Baie-des-Chaleurs time

If you look at the time on your cell phone as you drive along Chaleur Bay in Gaspésie, you may notice that time is passing surprisingly quickly. Wasn’t it an hour earlier just a few minutes ago? No, you haven’t accidentally fallen into a space-time rift! Because the La Baie-des-Chaleurs sector is so close to New Brunswick, mobile devices frequently pick up cell networks in this Maritime province, which is an hour ahead of Québec. Don’t worry, only your phone has changed time zone!

While travelling in the maritime regions of Québec may mean navigating between several time zones, we bet you’ll be having so much fun you’ll constantly feel like time is flying!