Home Business & Economy Digital Tech Adding 257 provides six area codes for phone numbers in BC

Adding 257 provides six area codes for phone numbers in BC

New 257 area code available starting May 24, 2025 in all parts of BC.

new area code 257, BC
The new area code 257 came into effect on May 24, 2025 for use in British Columbia which brings the total to six area codes in the province. [Island Social Trends]
CANADIAN NATIONAL NEWS & ANALYSIS

Sunday May 25, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC

by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends


With the addition of one more area code for BC phone users, there are now six area codes available in this province.

The newest one is 257 which came into effect yesterday and the oldest one is 604, with 250 and then 778 being the most commonly used for many years.

new area code 257, BC
The new area code 257 came into effect on May 24, 2025 for use in British Columbia which brings the total to six area codes in the province. [Island Social Trends]

The new area code will have no impact on existing phone numbers. 

Only 604 is still used in the lower mainland area, where 250 is not used (it is used everywhere outside the lower mainland).

area codes, phones, bc
Distribution of six telephone area codes in BC. [CBC/web]

Here is the full list:

  • 236
  • 250
  • 257 (new May 24, 2025)
  • 604
  • 672
  • 778
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Identifying by area code:

While area codes used to clearly identify the location of the user’s phone, now with modern telecommunications an area code may show the origin of the phone purchase but can be used from anywhere that wireless service is available.

However, some telephone users — particularly businesses – may choose an area code to imply a connection with a particular location, e.g. using 604 would associate a phone user with the core Vancouver area where that was the first area code in BC.

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Why more numbers:

Telephone numbers are a finite resource and critical to our modern communications system.

Due to the emergence of new telecommunications services in recent years (such as Internet of Things applications), and the continued increase in cellphone use, the demand for Canadian telephone numbers is increasing.

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Phones are used for entertainment and in remote locations as well as for individual and business use. [web]

Modern lives depend on having a cell phone with a strong signal not just for voice calls but also video and photography.

Many modern emergency services also rely on the use of digital wireless phone technology.

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Deciding on new codes:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decides on new area codes.

The new 257 code was decided in 2023, after the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) advised that the area codes servicing BC were “projected to exhaust” by May 2026. 

Last month. area code 942 started in service on April 24, 2025 in Metro Toronto Ontario covering the areas already served by area codes 416/473/647.

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Future codes in Ontario:

On May 20, 2025 the CRTC directed CNA to set aside three area codes for future relief of the identified area code complexes in highly populated areas of eastern and southern Ontario:

Area code complexRegionCurrent projected exhaust dateProposed relief area code
367/418/581Eastern QuebecJune 2027273
343/613/753Eastern OntarioMarch 2029871
226/382/519/548Southwestern OntarioJune 2030487
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