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Coordinates: 54°0′0″N 124°0′0″W / 54.00000°N 124.00000°W / 54.00000; -124.00000
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{{short description|Telephone area code serving British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska, US}}
'''Area code 250''' is an [[area code]] for most of the [[Canada|Canadian]] province of [[British Columbia]], including [[Vancouver Island]]. It was created on October 19, 1996 as a split of [[area code 604]], which was retained by the [[Lower Mainland]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NPA Code Search Information|url=http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_query_step2.do?method=displayNpa&npaReportModel.nasNpaId=250|publisher=[[NANPA]]|accessdate=4 August 2011}}</ref>
'''Area code 250''' is a telephone [[area code]] in the [[North American Numbering Plan]] (NANP) for the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[British Columbia]] outside the [[Lower Mainland]], including [[Vancouver Island]]–home to the provincial capital, [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]–and the province's [[British Columbia Interior|Interior region]]. In addition, the numbering plan area extends into the United States community of [[Hyder, Alaska]], located along the [[Canada–United States border]] near the town of [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]]. The [[incumbent local exchange carrier]]s that service the area code are [[Telus]], [[Northwestel]], and [[CityWest]] in the city of [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]].


==History==
The area code also serves the United States community of [[Hyder, Alaska]], which sits along the [[Canada–United States border|border]] near the town of [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]].
{{refimprove|section|date=December 2018}}
Area code 250 was created on October 19, 1996, as a split of [[area code 604]], which was retained by the Lower Mainland.<ref>{{cite web|title=NPA Code Search Information |url=http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_query_step2.do?method=displayNpa&npaReportModel.nasNpaId=250 |publisher=[[NANPA]] |access-date=4 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103080847/http://www.nanpa.com/nas/public/npa_query_step2.do?method=displayNpa&npaReportModel.nasNpaId=250 |archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> Prior to 1996, 604 had been the sole area code in British Columbia for almost half a century. British Columbia would have likely needed another area code in any event because of the province's growth in the second half of the 20th century, but the split was hastened by Canada's system of number allocation. Canada does not use [[number pooling]] as a relief measure. Instead, each [[competitive local exchange carrier]] is allocated blocks of 10,000 numbers (corresponding to a single prefix) in each rate centre in which it plans to offer service, even in the smallest hamlets. Once a prefix is assigned to a carrier and rate centre, it cannot be moved elsewhere even if a rate centre has more than enough numbers to serve its customers. That has resulted in thousands of wasted numbers, a problem that has been exacerbated by the proliferation of fax machines and pagers and then of cell phones.


By the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, 250 was already on the verge of exhaustion, again because of the number allocation problem and the continued proliferation of cell phones, particularly on Vancouver Island and in the larger cities of the interior. Amid projections that 250 would be exhausted by January 2008, the [[Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission]] began considering relief options in early 2007. Proposals included:<ref name="NewDialing">{{cite web|url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/pt2007-2.htm|title=Relief planning for numbering plan area 250 in British Columbia|date=January 11, 2007|publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629062145/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/pt2007-2.htm|archive-date=June 29, 2009|url-status=live|access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref>
The [[incumbent local exchange carrier]]s are [[Telus]], [[Northwestel]] and [[CityWest]] in the city of [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]].


* a geographic split that would have left 250 with the interior and switched Vancouver Island to a new area code
By the mid-2000s, 250 was already on the verge of exhaustion, due primarily to Canada's inefficient system of number allocation. Canada does not use [[number pooling]] as a relief measure; each carrier is allocated blocks of 10,000 numbers in each rate centre where it plans to offer service, even in the smallest hamlets. While most regions don't need nearly that many numbers, once a prefix is assigned to a rate centre, it can't be allocated elsewhere. This resulted in thousands of wasted numbers, a problem exacerbated by the proliferation of cell phones and pagers. Rather than employ another split, it was decided to make [[area code 778|778]], which had been an [[overlay plan|overlay area code]] for [[Metro Vancouver]] and the [[Fraser Valley Regional District|Fraser Valley]], an overlay for the entire province starting on July 4, 2007.<ref>[http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2007/r070607.htm New dialing to come in British Columbia]</ref> Overlays have become the preferred method of area code relief in Canada; no area codes have been split since 1999. However, it is likely that an overlay would have been implemented in any event, as the region's carriers did not want to force their customers (particularly in rural areas) to change their numbers for the second time in a decade.
* expanding [[area code 778]], previously a [[overlay plan|concentrated overlay]] for [[Metro Vancouver]] and the [[Fraser Valley Regional District|Fraser Valley]], to the 250 territory
* concentrated overlays covering part of the 250 territory


Several of the major landline and wireless providers in the 250 territory strongly favoured an overlay and stated that it would be easier to implement than a split. They also wanted to spare themselves and their customers the expense and burden of changing their numbers, which would have required a massive reprogramming of cell phones.<ref name="CRTC">{{cite web |url=https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/dt2007-38.pdf |title=Code relief for area code 250 – British Columbia |date=June 7, 2007 |publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215225253/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/dt2007-38.pdf |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> The proposal for a split would have forced Vancouver Island's residents to change their numbers for a second time in a decade.<ref name="NewDialing" />
==Communities included==
* [[Armstrong, British Columbia|Armstrong]] '''(250)''': 546
* [[Bella Bella, British Columbia|Bella Bella]] '''(250)''': 957
* [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]] '''(250)''': 201 202 203 204 205 286 287 346 504 830 850 895 923
* [[Castlegar, British Columbia|Castlegar]] '''(250)''': 304 365 608 687
* [[Chetwynd, British Columbia|Chetwynd]] '''(250)''': 788
* [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]] '''(250)''': 417 420 421 426 450 464 489 581 919
* [[Creston, British Columbia|Creston]] '''(250)''': 254 402 428 431 435 977
* [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]] '''(250)''': 339 890 941
* [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]] '''(250)''': 207 218 331 334 338 465 585 650 702 703 792 871 897 898
* [[Cowichan valley|The Cowichan Valley]] comprises the following local rate centres:
** [[Chemainus, British Columbia|Chemainus]] '''(250)''': 210 246 324 416 436 533 606
** [[Cobble Hill, British Columbia|Cobble Hill]] '''(250)''': 733 743 929
** [[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]] '''(250)''': 252 466 510 597 701 709 710 715 732 737 746 748 815 856
** [[Ladysmith, British Columbia|Ladysmith]] '''(250)''': 245 912 924
** [[Lake Cowichan, British Columbia|Lake Cowichan]] '''(250)''': 749 932
** [[Youbou, British Columbia|Youbou]] '''(250)''': 745
* [[Cumberland, British Columbia|Cumberland]] '''(250)''': 336
* [[Dawson Creek]] '''(250)''': 219 467 719 782 784 795 806 854
* [[Elkford, British Columbia|Elkford]] '''(250)''': 865
* [[Enderby, British Columbia|Enderby]] '''(250)''': 838
* [[Fernie, British Columbia|Fernie]] '''(250)''': 278 430 946
* [[Fort Nelson, British Columbia|Fort Nelson]] '''(250)''':
* [[Fort St. James, British Columbia|Fort St. James]] '''(250)''': 996
* [[Fort St. John, British Columbia|Fort St. John]] '''(250)''': 224 261 262 263 264 271 329 663 785 787 793 794
* [[Gold River, British Columbia|Gold River]] '''(250)''': 283
* [[Golden, British Columbia|Golden]] '''(250)''': 344 439 272
* [[Grand Forks, British Columbia|Grand Forks]] '''(250)''': 442 443 584 666
* [[Gulf Islands, British Columbia|Gulf Islands]], including [[Galiano Island]], [[Mayne Island]], and [[Saturna Island]] '''(250)''': 222 539
* [[Hazelton, British Columbia|Hazelton]] '''(250)''': 842
* [[Hixon, British Columbia|Hixon]] '''(250)''': 998
* [[Houston, British Columbia|Houston]] '''(250)''': 845
* [[Hudson's Hope, British Columbia|Hudson's Hope]] '''(250)''': 783 903
* [[Hyder, Alaska]] '''(250)''': 234 636
* [[Invermere, British Columbia|Invermere]] '''(250)''': 270 341 342 409 688
* [[Kamloops]] '''(250)''': 214 299 312 314 318 319 320 371 372 374 376 377 434 461 554 571 572 573 574 576 578 579 682 705 819 828 851 852 879
** Surrounding communities:
** [[Barriere, British Columbia|Barriere]] '''(250)''': 672
** [[Clearwater, British Columbia|Clearwater]] '''(250)''': 674
** [[Cache Creek, British Columbia|Cache Creek]] '''(250)''': 313 457
** [[Logan Lake, British Columbia|Logan Lake]] '''(250)''': 523
** [[Savona, British Columbia|Savona]] '''(250)''': 373
* [[Kaslo, British Columbia|Kaslo]] '''(250)''': 353 943
* [[Kelowna]] '''(250)''': 212 215 258 300 317 322 448 450 451 452 454 469 470 491 575 681 712 717 718 760 764 765 769 801 807 808 826 859 860 861 862 863 864 868 869 870 872 878 899 979 980
** Surrounding communities:
** [[Oyama, British Columbia|Oyama]] '''(250)''': 548
** [[Peachland, British Columbia|Peachland]] '''(250)''': 767
** [[West Kelowna]] '''(250)''': 700 707 768
** [[Winfield, British Columbia|Winfield]] '''(250)''': 766
* [[Kimberley, British Columbia|Kimberley]] '''(250)''': 427 432 520 602 908
* [[Kitimat, British Columbia|Kitimat]] '''(250)''': 632 639
* [[Kitwanga, British Columbia|Kitwanga]] '''(250)''': 849
* Rural [[Kootenays]] '''(250)''': 229 357 399 424 429 445 447 529 603 829
* [[Merritt, British Columbia]] '''(250)''': 280 315 378 525 936
* [[Midway, British Columbia|Midway]] '''(250)''': 449 528 605
* [[Nakusp, British Columbia|Nakusp]] '''(250)''': 265
* [[Nanaimo]] is divided into the following local rate centres:
** [[Cedar, British Columbia|Cedar]] '''(250)''': 323 722
** [[Lantzville, British Columbia|Lantzville]] '''(250)''': 390 933
** [[Nanaimo]] '''(250)''': 244 255 268 327 518 585 591 616 618 619 667 668 713 714 716 734 739 740 741 753 754 755 762 796 797 802 816 824
** [[Wellington, British Columbia|Wellington]] '''(250)''': 729 751 756 758 760
* [[Nanoose Bay, British Columbia|Nanoose Bay]] '''(250)''': 468
* [[Nelson, British Columbia|Nelson]] '''(250)''': 352 354 505 509 551 777 825
* [[Parksville, British Columbia|Parksville]] '''(250)''': 228 240 248 586 607 905 927 937 947 951 954
* [[Pender Island, British Columbia|Pender Island]] '''(250)''': 629
* [[Penticton]] '''(250)''': 274 276 328 460 462 482 486 487 488 490 492 493 770 809 817
* [[Port Alberni]] '''(250)''': 206 419 720 723 724 730 731 735 736 913 918
* [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]] '''(250)''': 230 902 949
* [[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]] '''(250)''': 956
* [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]] '''(250)''': 277 301 552 561 562 563 564 565 596 612 613 614 617 640 645 649 906 960 961 962 963 964 970 981
* [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]] '''(250)''': 624 627
* [[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]] '''(250)''': 752
* [[Quesnel, British Columbia|Quesnel]] '''(250)''': 255 316 925 983 985 991 992 747 249 555
* [[Revelstoke, British Columbia|Revelstoke]] '''(250)''': 814 837
* [[Rossland, British Columbia|Rossland]] '''(250)''': 362
* [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]] '''(250)''': 544 654 655 657 665 669
* [[Salmon Arm, British Columbia|Salmon Arm]] '''(250)''': 489 515 803 804 832 833
* [[Salt Spring Island, British Columbia|Salt Spring Island]] '''(250)''': 537 538 653
* [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]] '''(250)''': 652 656
* [[Slocan Valley]] '''(250)''': 355 358 359
* [[Smithers, British Columbia|Smithers]] '''(250)''': 847 877 917
* [[Sooke, British Columbia|Sooke]] '''(250)''': 642 664 867
** [[Jordan River, British Columbia|Jordan River]] '''(250)''': 646
** [[Port Renfrew, British Columbia|Port Renfrew]] '''(250)''': 647
* [[Sparwood]] '''(250)''': 425 910
* [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]] '''(250)''': 636
* [[Summerland, British Columbia|Summerland]] '''(250)''': 404 494
* [[Terrace, British Columbia|Terrace]] '''(250)''': 615 631 635 638 641 892 922 975
* [[Tofino, British Columbia|Tofino]] '''(250)''': 522 725
* [[Trail, British Columbia|Trail]] '''(250)''': 231 364 368 512 521 693 921
** [[Fruitvale, British Columbia|Fruitvale]] '''(250)''': 367
* [[Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia|Tumbler Ridge]] '''(250)''': 242
* [[Ucluelet, British Columbia|Ucluelet]] '''(250)''': 266 726
* [[Union Bay, British Columbia|Union Bay]], including [[Fanny Bay]], [[Denman Island]], and [[Hornby Island]] '''(250)''': 335
* [[Valemount]] '''(250)''': 566
* [[Vanderhoof, British Columbia|Vanderhoof]], '''(250)''': 524 567 570 944
* [[Vernon, British Columbia|Vernon]] '''(250)''': 241 260 275 306 307 308 309 351 503 540 541 542 543 545 549 550 558 907 938
* [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]] '''(250)''': 208 213 216 217 220 294 298 356 360 361 363 370 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 391 405 410 412 413 414 415 418 419 472 474 475 477 478 479 480 483 507 508 514 516 519 532 536 580 588 589 590 592 595 598 634 658 661 686 704 708 721 727 744 800 812 813 818 823 853 857 858 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 888 889 891 893 896 915 920 940 952 953 978 984 995 999
* [[Wells, British Columbia|Wells]] '''(250)''': 994
* [[Williams Lake, British Columbia|Williams Lake]] '''(250)''': 267 302 303 305 392 398 855
* [[Wynndel, British Columbia|Wynndel]] '''(250)''': 866


The CRTC announced on June 7, 2007 that 778 would be expanded to become an overlay for the entire province starting that July 4. On that date, exchanges in 778 became available to Vancouver Island and interior residents, and a [[permissive dialing|permissive dialling]] period began across British Columbia during which it was possible to make local calls with either seven or ten digits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2007/r070607.htm |title=New dialing to come in British Columbia |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090626081224/http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2007/r070607.htm |date=June 7, 2007 |archive-date=June 26, 2009 |publisher=Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission}}</ref> Three CO prefixes in the 250 area code were reserved for use by Northwestel, as 13 of its 15 switches could not then handle multiple area codes, and its system could not accommodate ten-digit-dialling.<ref name="CRTC" />
==Relief planning==
The projected exhaust date of area code 250 was January 2008. The plan recommended by the [[Canadian Numbering Administrator]], to change the boundaries of [[area code 778]] to include the entire province, was approved by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]] (CRTC) on June 7, 2007. Mandatory 10-digit dialing began September 12, 2008.<ref name="crtc200738">{{cite web|title=Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-38|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2007/dt2007-38.htm|publisher=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|accessdate=4 August 2011|date=7 June 2007}}</ref> As this solution was an overlay, the existing telephone numbers in area code 250 remained unchanged. Three CO prefixes in the 250 area code were reserved for use by Northwestel, as 13 of its 15 switches at the time could not handle multiple area codes, and its system could not accommodate 10-digit-dialling.<ref name="crtc200738"/>


The CRTC decided on an overlay after concluding that there was not enough time to implement a split before 250 was due to exhaust in January 2008.<ref name=CRTC/> Effective June 23, 2008, ten-digit dialling became mandatory throughout the entire province, and attempts to make a seven-digit call triggered an [[intercept message]] with a reminder of the new rule. After September 12, 2008, seven-digit dialling no longer functioned.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/ten-digit-dialing-coming-to-all-of-b-c-1.304024 |title=Ten-digit dialing coming to all of BC |date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124250/https://bc.ctvnews.ca/ten-digit-dialing-coming-to-all-of-b-c-1.304024 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 |access-date=December 19, 2018 |url-status=live |publisher=CTV News Vancouver}}</ref> Overlays have become the preferred method of area code relief in Canada, as they are an easy workaround for the number allocation problem, as opposed to a split plan.
'''Area code 236''' was implemented as a distributed overlay of area codes 604, 250, and 778 on 1 June 2013.<ref name="crtc2011451">{{cite web|title=Telecom Decision CRTC 2011-451|url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-451.htm|publisher=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|accessdate=4 August 2011}}</ref>


On June 1, 2013, area code 236 was implemented as a distributed overlay of area codes 250, 604, and 778 and was expected to be exhausted by May 2020.<ref name="crtc2011451">{{cite web |title=Area code relief for area codes 250, 604, and 778 in British Columbia |date=28 July 2011 |url=http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-451.htm |publisher=[[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]]|access-date=4 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220152148/https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-451.htm |archive-date=February 20, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Anchor|672}} As a result, area code 672 was implemented on May 4, 2019, as an additional distributed overlay to relieve area codes 250, 604, 778, and 236.<ref name="crtc2011451" />
'''Area code 672''' has been reserved for British Columbia once area code 236 is exhausted.<ref name="crtc2011451"/>

==Service area and central office codes==
*[[100 Mile House, British Columbia |100 Mile House]]: 395 456 593 396 706
* [[Armstrong, British Columbia|Armstrong]]: 546
* [[Beaverdell, British Columbia|Beaverdell]]: 484
* [[Bella Bella, British Columbia|Bella Bella]]: 957
* [[Bralorne]]: see Bridge River Valley
* [[Brexton]]: see Bridge River Valley
* [[Bridge River, British Columbia|Bridge River Valley]]: 238
* [[Campbell River, British Columbia|Campbell River]]: 201 202 203 204 205 286 287 346 504 830 850 895 923
* [[Castlegar, British Columbia|Castlegar]]: 304 365 608 687
* [[Chetwynd, British Columbia|Chetwynd]]: 788
* [[Christina Lake, British Columbia|Christina Lake]]: 447
* [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]]: 417 420 421 426 450 464 489 581 919
* [[Creston, British Columbia|Creston]]: 254 402 428 431 435 977
* [[Comox, British Columbia|Comox]]: 339 890 941
* [[Courtenay, British Columbia|Courtenay]]: 207 218 331 334 338 465 585 650 702 703 792 871 897 898
* [[Cowichan valley|The Cowichan Valley]] is divided into the following local rate centres:
** [[Chemainus, British Columbia|Chemainus]]: 210 246 324 416 436 533 606
** [[Cobble Hill, British Columbia|Cobble Hill]]: 733 743 929
** [[Duncan, British Columbia|Duncan]]: 252 466 510 597 701 709 710 715 732 737 746 748 815 856
** [[Ladysmith, British Columbia|Ladysmith]]: 245 912 924
** [[Lake Cowichan, British Columbia|Lake Cowichan]]: 749 932
** [[Youbou, British Columbia|Youbou]]: 745
* [[Cumberland, British Columbia|Cumberland]]: 336
* [[Dawson Creek]]: 219 467 719 782 784 795 806 854
* [[Denman Island]]: see Union Bay
* [[Elkford, British Columbia|Elkford]]: 865
* [[Enderby, British Columbia|Enderby]]: 838
* [[Fanny Bay]]: see Union Bay
* [[Fernie, British Columbia|Fernie]]: 278 430 946
* [[Fort Nelson, British Columbia|Fort Nelson]]: 774
* [[Fort St. James, British Columbia|Fort St. James]]: 996
* [[Fort St. John, British Columbia|Fort St. John]]: 224 261 262 263 264 271 329 663 785 787 793 794
* [[Fruitvale, British Columbia|Fruitvale]]: 367
* [[Galiano Island]]: see Gulf Islands
* [[Gold Bridge]]: see Bridge River Valley
* [[Gold River, British Columbia|Gold River]]: 283
* [[Golden, British Columbia|Golden]]: 272 344 439
* [[Grand Forks, British Columbia|Grand Forks]]: 442 443 584 666
* [[Greenwood, British Columbia|Greenwood]]: 445
* [[Gulf Islands, British Columbia|Gulf Islands]]: 222 539
* [[Gun Lake (British Columbia)|Gun Lake]]: see Bridge River Valley
* [[Hazelton, British Columbia|Hazelton]]: 842
* [[Hixon, British Columbia|Hixon]]: 998
* [[Hornby Island]]: see Union Bay
* [[Houston, British Columbia|Houston]]: 845
* [[Hudson's Hope, British Columbia|Hudson's Hope]]: 783 903
* [[Hyder, Alaska]]: 234 636
* [[Invermere, British Columbia|Invermere]]: 270 341 342 409 688
* [[Jordan River, British Columbia|Jordan River]]: 646
* [[Kamloops]] is divided into the following local rate centres:
** [[Chase, British Columbia|Chase]]: 679
** [[Barriere, British Columbia|Barriere]]: 672
** [[Clearwater, British Columbia|Clearwater]]: 674
** [[Cache Creek, British Columbia|Cache Creek]]: 313 457
** [[Kamloops]] 214 299 312 314 318 319 320 371 372 374 376 377 434 461 554 571 572 573 574 576 578 579 682 705 819 828 851 852 879
** [[Logan Lake, British Columbia|Logan Lake]]: 523
** [[Savona, British Columbia|Savona]]: 373
* [[Kaslo, British Columbia|Kaslo]]: 353 943
* [[Kelowna]] is divided into the following local rate centres:
** [[Kelowna]]: 212 215 258 300 317 322 448 450 451 452 454 469 470 491 575 681 712 717 718 762 763 764 765 769 801 807 808 826 859 860 861 862 863 864 868 869 870 872 878 899 979 980
** [[Oyama, British Columbia|Oyama]]: 548
** [[Peachland]]: 767
** [[West Kelowna]]: 700 707 768
** [[Winfield, British Columbia|Winfield]]: 766
* [[Kimberley, British Columbia|Kimberley]]: 427 432 520 602 908
* [[Kitimat, British Columbia|Kitimat]]: 632 639
* [[Kitwanga, British Columbia|Kitwanga]]: 849
* Rural [[Kootenays]]: 229 357 399 424 429 529 603 829
* [[Lillooet, British Columbia|Lillooet]]: 256
* [[Lytton, British Columbia|Lytton]]: 455
* [[Mackenzie, British Columbia|Mackenzie]]: 997
* [[Mayne Island]]: see Gulf Islands
* [[Merritt, British Columbia|Merritt]]: 280 315 378 525 936
* [[Midway, British Columbia|Midway]]: 449 528 605
* [[Nakusp, British Columbia|Nakusp]]: 265
* [[Nanaimo]] is divided into the following local rate centres:
** [[Cedar, British Columbia|Cedar]]: 323 722
** [[Lantzville, British Columbia|Lantzville]]: 390 933
** [[Nanaimo]]: 244 255 268 327 518 585 591 616 618 619 667 668 713 714 716 734 739 740 741 753 754 755 762 796 797 802 816 824
** [[Wellington, British Columbia|Wellington]]: 729 751 756 758 760
* [[Nanoose Bay, British Columbia|Nanoose Bay]]: 468
* [[Nelson, British Columbia|Nelson]]: 352 354 505 509 551 777 825
* [[Oliver, British Columbia|Oliver]]: 485 498
* [[Osoyoos, British Columbia|Osoyoos]]: 495
* [[Parksville, British Columbia|Parksville]]: 228 240 248 586 607 905 927 937 947 951 954
* [[Pender Island, British Columbia|Pender Island]]: 629
* [[Penticton]]: 274 276 328 460 462 482 486 487 488 490 492 493 770 809 817
* [[Port Alberni]]: 206 419 720 723 724 730 731 735 736 913 918
* [[Port Hardy, British Columbia|Port Hardy]]: 230 902 949
* [[Port McNeill, British Columbia|Port McNeill]]: 956
* [[Port Renfrew, British Columbia|Port Renfrew]]: 647
* [[Prince George, British Columbia|Prince George]]: 277 301 552 561 562 563 564 565 596 612 613 614 617 640 645 649 906 960 961 962 963 964 970 981
* [[Prince Rupert, British Columbia|Prince Rupert]]: 624 627
* [[Qualicum Beach, British Columbia|Qualicum Beach]]: 752
* [[Quesnel, British Columbia|Quesnel]]: 249 255 316 747 925 983 985 991 992
* [[Revelstoke, British Columbia|Revelstoke]]: 814 837
* [[Rossland, British Columbia|Rossland]]: 362
* [[Saanich, British Columbia|Saanich]]: 544 654 655 657 665 669
* [[Salmon Arm, British Columbia|Salmon Arm]]: 489 515 803 804 832 833
* [[Salt Spring Island, British Columbia|Salt Spring Island]]: 537 538 653
* [[Saturna Island]]]: see Gulf Islands
* [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]]: 652 656
* [[Slocan Valley]]: 226 355 358 359
* [[Smithers, British Columbia|Smithers]]: 847 877 917
* [[Sooke, British Columbia|Sooke]]: 642 664 867
* [[Sparwood]]: 425 910
* [[Stewart, British Columbia|Stewart]]: 636
* [[Summerland, British Columbia|Summerland]]: 404 494
* [[Terrace, British Columbia|Terrace]]: 615 631 635 638 641 892 922 975
* [[Tofino, British Columbia|Tofino]]: 522 725
* [[Trail, British Columbia|Trail]]: 231 364 368 512 521 693 921
* [[Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia|Tumbler Ridge]]: 242
* [[Ucluelet, British Columbia|Ucluelet]]: 266 726
* [[Union Bay, British Columbia|Union Bay]]: 335
* [[Valemount]]: 566
* [[Vanderhoof, British Columbia|Vanderhoof]]: 524 567 570 944
* [[Vernon, British Columbia|Vernon]]: 241 260 275 306 307 308 309 351 503 540 541 542 543 545 549 550 558 907 938
* [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]]: 208 213 216 217 220 294 298 310 356 360 361 363 370 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 391 405 410 412 413 414 415 418 419 472 474 475 477 478 479 480 483 507 508 514 516 519 532 536 580 588 589 590 592 595 598 634 658 661 686 704 708 721 727 744 800 812 813 818 823 853 857 858 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 888 889 891 893 896 915 920 940 952 953 976 978 984 995 999
* [[Wells, British Columbia|Wells]]: 994
* [[Williams Lake, British Columbia|Williams Lake]]: 267 302 303 305 392 398 855
* [[Wynndel, British Columbia|Wynndel]]: 866
* [[Zeballos, British Columbia|Zeballos]]: 761


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Telecommunications|Canada|Alaska}}
* [[List of NANP area codes]]
*[[Area code 604]]

{{Area code box |State= BC
*[[Area codes 778, 236, and 672]]
*[[List of NANP area codes]]
|This= 250 (overlaid by [[area codes 778 and 236|778]] and [[area codes 778 and 236|236]])
|N= [[Area code 867|867]]
|W= [[Pacific Ocean]], [[Area code 907|907]]
|E= [[Area code 780|780]], [[Area code 403|403]], [[Area code 587|587]]
|S= [[Area code 604|604]]/[[area codes 778 and 236|778]]/[[area codes 778 and 236|236]], [[Area code 360|360]], [[Area code 509|509]], [[Area code 208|208]], [[Area code 406|406]]
|S1= YT |S2= ID |S3= WA |S4= AK}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

* {{cite journal|last=Deak|first=JN|journal=Bellcore Letter|url=http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL%2095-08-007.pdf |format=PDF|title=NANP-Split of 604 (British Columbia) Numbering Plan Area (NPA)|date=17 August 1995|accessdate=4 August 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110629132411/http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL%2095-08-007.pdf| archivedate= 29 June 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}
===Bibliography===
* {{cite web|title=NPA 250/604/778 Relief Planning|url=http://cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/250-604-778/relief_250-604-778.htm|publisher=Canadian Number Administrator|accessdate=4 August 2011}}
* {{cite journal|last=Deak|first=JN|journal=Bellcore Letter|url=http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL%2095-08-007.pdf |title=NANP-Split of 604 (British Columbia) Numbering Plan Area (NPA)|date=17 August 1995|access-date=4 August 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629132411/http://www.nanpa.com/pdf/old_pl/IL%2095-08-007.pdf| archive-date= 29 June 2011 | url-status= live}}
* {{cite web|title=NPA 250/604/778 Relief Planning |url=http://cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/250-604-778/relief_250-604-778.htm |publisher=Canadian Number Administrator |access-date=4 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925030438/http://cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/250-604-778/relief_250-604-778.htm |archive-date=25 September 2011 }}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA250.txt CNA exchange list for area +1-250]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA250.htm CNA exchange list for area +1-250]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA778.txt CNA exchange list for area +1-778]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060813195028/http://www.cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/250/relief_250.htm CNA NPA 250 Relief Planning]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130927091014/http://mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/history/56th-anniversary-areacodes Telecom archives]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/data/COCodeStatus_NPA236.txt CNA exchange list for area +1-236]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/npa_codes/relief/250/relief_250.htm CNA NPA 250 Relief Planning]
* [http://mirror.lcs.mit.edu/telecom-archives/archives/history/56th-anniversary-areacodes Telecom archives]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/area_code_maps/canadian_area_codes.htm Area Code Map of Canada]
* [http://www.cnac.ca/area_code_maps/canadian_area_codes.htm Area Code Map of Canada]
* [https://localcallingguide.com/lca_prefix.php?page=3&npa=250 Area Code 250 with NXX 310 is not a valid NXX]


{{Area code box |State= BC
|This= 250 (overlaid by [[area code 778|778]], [[area code 236|236]], and [[area code 672|672]])
|N= [[area code 867|867]]
|W= [[Pacific Ocean]], [[Area code 907|907]]
|E= [[area code 403|403]], [[area code 780|780]], [[area code 587|587]]/[[Area code 825|825]]/[[Area code 368|368]]
|S= [[area code 604|604]]/[[area code 778|778]]/[[area code 236|236]]/[[area code 672|672]], [[area code 360|360]]/[[area code 564|564]], [[area code 509|509]], [[area codes 208 and 986|208/986]], [[area code 406|406]]
|S1= YT |S2= ID |S3= WA |S4= AK}}
{{coord|54|0|0|N|124|0|0|W|region:CA-BC_scale:7500000|display=title}}
{{coord|54|0|0|N|124|0|0|W|region:CA-BC_scale:7500000|display=title}}


[[Category:1996 introductions]]
[[Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1996]]
[[Category:Area codes in Alaska|250]]
[[Category:Area codes in Alaska|250]]
[[Category:Area codes in Canada|250]]
[[Category:Area codes in Canada|250]]

Latest revision as of 19:28, 15 December 2023

Area code 250 is a telephone area code in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) for the Canadian province of British Columbia outside the Lower Mainland, including Vancouver Island–home to the provincial capital, Victoria–and the province's Interior region. In addition, the numbering plan area extends into the United States community of Hyder, Alaska, located along the Canada–United States border near the town of Stewart. The incumbent local exchange carriers that service the area code are Telus, Northwestel, and CityWest in the city of Prince Rupert.

History

[edit]

Area code 250 was created on October 19, 1996, as a split of area code 604, which was retained by the Lower Mainland.[1] Prior to 1996, 604 had been the sole area code in British Columbia for almost half a century. British Columbia would have likely needed another area code in any event because of the province's growth in the second half of the 20th century, but the split was hastened by Canada's system of number allocation. Canada does not use number pooling as a relief measure. Instead, each competitive local exchange carrier is allocated blocks of 10,000 numbers (corresponding to a single prefix) in each rate centre in which it plans to offer service, even in the smallest hamlets. Once a prefix is assigned to a carrier and rate centre, it cannot be moved elsewhere even if a rate centre has more than enough numbers to serve its customers. That has resulted in thousands of wasted numbers, a problem that has been exacerbated by the proliferation of fax machines and pagers and then of cell phones.

By the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, 250 was already on the verge of exhaustion, again because of the number allocation problem and the continued proliferation of cell phones, particularly on Vancouver Island and in the larger cities of the interior. Amid projections that 250 would be exhausted by January 2008, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission began considering relief options in early 2007. Proposals included:[2]

Several of the major landline and wireless providers in the 250 territory strongly favoured an overlay and stated that it would be easier to implement than a split. They also wanted to spare themselves and their customers the expense and burden of changing their numbers, which would have required a massive reprogramming of cell phones.[3] The proposal for a split would have forced Vancouver Island's residents to change their numbers for a second time in a decade.[2]

The CRTC announced on June 7, 2007 that 778 would be expanded to become an overlay for the entire province starting that July 4. On that date, exchanges in 778 became available to Vancouver Island and interior residents, and a permissive dialling period began across British Columbia during which it was possible to make local calls with either seven or ten digits.[4] Three CO prefixes in the 250 area code were reserved for use by Northwestel, as 13 of its 15 switches could not then handle multiple area codes, and its system could not accommodate ten-digit-dialling.[3]

The CRTC decided on an overlay after concluding that there was not enough time to implement a split before 250 was due to exhaust in January 2008.[3] Effective June 23, 2008, ten-digit dialling became mandatory throughout the entire province, and attempts to make a seven-digit call triggered an intercept message with a reminder of the new rule. After September 12, 2008, seven-digit dialling no longer functioned.[5] Overlays have become the preferred method of area code relief in Canada, as they are an easy workaround for the number allocation problem, as opposed to a split plan.

On June 1, 2013, area code 236 was implemented as a distributed overlay of area codes 250, 604, and 778 and was expected to be exhausted by May 2020.[6] As a result, area code 672 was implemented on May 4, 2019, as an additional distributed overlay to relieve area codes 250, 604, 778, and 236.[6]

Service area and central office codes

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NPA Code Search Information". NANPA. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Relief planning for numbering plan area 250 in British Columbia". Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. January 11, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Code relief for area code 250 – British Columbia" (PDF). Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. June 7, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "New dialing to come in British Columbia". Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. June 7, 2007. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009.
  5. ^ "Ten-digit dialing coming to all of BC". CTV News Vancouver. June 22, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Area code relief for area codes 250, 604, and 778 in British Columbia". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2011.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
British Columbia area codes: 250, 604, 778/236/672
North: 867
West: Pacific Ocean, 907 250 (overlaid by 778, 236, and 672) East: 403, 780, 587/825/368
South: 604/778/236/672, 360/564, 509, 208/986, 406
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut area codes: 867
Idaho area codes: 208/986
Washington area codes: 206, 253, 360, 425, 509, 564
Alaska area codes: 907

54°0′0″N 124°0′0″W / 54.00000°N 124.00000°W / 54.00000; -124.00000

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