A generation ago, most Canadians could match area codes to their regions without hesitation—416 meant Toronto, 604 was British Columbia, and 403 pointed to Alberta. But those days are long gone. As of this month, Canada is about to reach 55 area codes, with Toronto adding its fourth—942—and British Columbia preparing for its sixth: 257.
The rapid expansion of area codes has become a sign of the times, fueled not just by population growth but by the increasing number of devices requiring unique phone numbers. Everything from smartphones and tablets to smart cars and even traffic lights now claim a piece of the number pool.
“It’s not just all the people using these up. It’s a lot of technology that’s using these numbers as well,” said Kelly Walsh, a program manager with the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), the agency responsible for managing area codes across the country. “Anything that communicates wirelessly may potentially be using up a number.”
That growing demand has created new business opportunities. Sean Iovacchini, who runs a Toronto-based company called Number Shack, makes a living selling recycled phone numbers—especially the coveted 416 codes. “If it’s a new startup business and you have a 416, people assume you’ve been around for a while,” he said. A standard 416 number might sell for around $50, but rare and easily memorable ones can command thousands. One recent listing for 416-287-0000 had a price tag of $4,450.
Still, not everyone is thrilled about the area code inflation. On the streets of Toronto, reactions to the new 942 code were mixed. Some residents shrugged it off, while others said it didn’t sound like it belonged in the city. “They’re adding so many that it’s kind of lost its aura,” one person told CTV News. “Each code has lost its uniqueness.”
Back in 1993, Canada had just 15 area codes. Now with 55 and counting, some are beginning to wonder if we’re headed toward a saturation point. According to Walsh, North America could run out of new 10-digit number combinations by 2054 or 2061, at which point the system may need to shift to 11-digit dialing—or more.
Until then, Canadians will continue to adjust to the expanding landscape of area codes, even if it means occasionally Googling a number to figure out where it came from.