B.C.’s new area code comes into effect this week

A person uses a cell phone in Ottawa on Monday, July 18, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Get ready to say hello to a new area code in British Columbia.

Starting Saturday, new phone numbers issued in the province can begin with 257. The code is B.C.’s sixth, adding to 604, 250, 778, 236 and 672.

Additional area codes add millions of possible phone numbers when the supply of combinations with the old three-digit headers are in danger of running out.

The introduction of 257 does not affect existing phone numbers and ones with the older codes can still be given out until they are exhausted.

Until the late 90s, 604 was the only area code in B.C., with 250 being added in 1996 and 778 in 2001. Codes 236 and 672 were introduced in 2013 and 2019, respectively.

Canada had just 15 area codes in the mid 90s and now has more than 50.