B.C. Adding New Area Code Starting This Week

A new area code is set to launch in British Columbia this week.

Starting Saturday, May 24, the 257 area code will be added to regions already served by area codes 236, 250, 604, 672, and 778. Traditionally, the area code 250 represents Vancouver Island and 604 for the Lower Mainland, but times sure have changed.

The new area code is being introduced to keep up with the rising demand for phone numbers across the province. The change was approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

“The introduction of a new area code creates millions of additional telephone numbers without affecting the existing numbers,” said Kelly T. Walsh, Program Manager of the Canadian Numbering Administrator, last October. “The new 257 area code will be added to the current area codes already in use and will cover the same geographic area.”

The 257 code will be rolled out gradually. After May 24, people getting a new phone number may receive one with the new area code.

There will be no changes to how calls are made—local and long-distance dialing stays the same, and services like 911 remain unaffected. The new code simply adds more number options within the existing coverage areas.

It’s not just B.C. getting new area codes. Last month, Toronto launched a new area code to keep up with growing demand for phone lines.