Area code 236
Area code 236 holds 745 in-service central-office prefixes in the CNAC register, covering roughly 7,450,000 telephone numbers. They are split between 17 carriers and 269 rate centres. The largest is Vancouver. Recorded assignments run from April 19, 2013 to June 9, 2026. That ranks it 25 of 55 Canadian area codes by prefix count.
Background reading: Caller ID spoofing, STIR/SHAKEN, and how to actually block calls in Canada · Canadian area codes, overlays, and what a 416 number actually tells you · One-ring scams and the Caribbean area codes that look Canadian
Area code 236 at a glance
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Main rate centres
- Vancouver, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Victoria, New Westminster
- Local time
- — Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time — also: Mountain Time, Mountain Standard Time
- In service since
- June 1, 2013
- Split or overlaid from
- 604
- Number format
- 236-NXX-XXXX · +1 236 NXX XXXX
Sources: CNAC, NANPA (September 25, 2026), Statistics Canada.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 745
- Telephone numbers covered
- 7,450,000
- Carriers
- 17
- Rate centres
- 269
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- April 19, 2013
- Most recent assignment
- June 9, 2026
Who holds these numbers
Navigata Communications Limited holds the largest share at 144 prefixes, 19.3% of the total, ahead of 16 other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share | First assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navigata Communications Limited | 144 | 19.3 % | 2016 |
| Iristel Inc. | 112 | 15.0 % | 2013 |
| Distributel | 66 | 8.9 % | 2016 |
| TELUS | 57 | 7.7 % | 2013 |
| Videotron Ltd. | 56 | 7.5 % | 2018 |
| Bell West Inc. | 45 | 6.0 % | 2017 |
| TELUS Mobility | 44 | 5.9 % | 2013 |
| Fibernetics Corporation | 39 | 5.2 % | 2020 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 38 | 5.1 % | 2013 |
| Shaw Telecom Inc. | 38 | 5.1 % | 2014 |
| Bell Mobility | 34 | 4.6 % | 2014 |
| IXICA Communications Inc. | 23 | 3.1 % | 2018 |
| ISP Telecom Inc. | 19 | 2.6 % | 2020 |
| Fido Solutions Inc. | 11 | 1.5 % | 2016 |
| Comwave Networks | 8 | 1.1 % | 2014 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Cable) | 7 | 0.9 % | 2017 |
| Zayo Canada Inc. | 4 | 0.5 % | 2014 |
Where these numbers land
Prefixes in 236 serve 269 rate centres. A rate centre is the billing area a prefix is attached to, not where the handset is.
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | 142 | 13 |
| Kelowna | BC | 19 | 10 |
| Abbotsford | BC | 16 | 8 |
| Victoria | BC | 16 | 9 |
| New Westminster | BC | 11 | 7 |
| Nanaimo | BC | 10 | 7 |
| Richmond | BC | 10 | 4 |
| Aldergrove | BC | 9 | 6 |
| North Vancouver | BC | 9 | 5 |
| Penticton | BC | 9 | 5 |
| West Vancouver | BC | 9 | 5 |
| Chilliwack | BC | 8 | 6 |
| Cranbrook | BC | 8 | 5 |
| Prince George | BC | 8 | 6 |
| Salmon Arm | BC | 8 | 5 |
| Fort St. John | BC | 7 | 5 |
| South Kamloops | BC | 7 | 5 |
| Vernon | BC | 7 | 4 |
| Duncan | BC | 6 | 3 |
| Gulf Islands | BC | 6 | 6 |
| Hope | BC | 6 | 6 |
| Midway | BC | 6 | 3 |
| Parksville | BC | 6 | 5 |
| Quesnel | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Whistler | BC | 6 | 3 |
| 100 Mile House | BC | 5 | 3 |
| Campbell River | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Mission | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Williams Lake | BC | 5 | 3 |
| Courtenay | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Fernie | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Nelson | BC | 4 | 4 |
| Newton | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Pender Island | BC | 4 | 4 |
| Port Hardy | BC | 4 | 4 |
| Saanich | BC | 4 | 4 |
| White Rock | BC | 4 | 4 |
| Whonnock | BC | 4 | 4 |
| Agassiz | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Armstrong | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Boston Bar | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Bowen Island | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Britannia Beach | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Burns Lake | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Chetwynd | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Cloverdale | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Comox | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Creston | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Grand Forks | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Haney | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Ladner | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Langley | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Lillooet | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Oliver | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Pitt Meadows | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Port Coquitlam | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Port Moody | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Powell River | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Princeton | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Revelstoke | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Rosedale | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Sardis | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Sooke | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Sparwood | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Terrace | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Yale | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Yarrow | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Aspen Park | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Bella Coola | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cache Creek | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Castlegar | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Chase | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Chemainus | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Christina Lake | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cobble Hill | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cortes Island | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cumberland | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Fort Langley | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Fort St. James | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Ganges | BC | 2 | 2 |
How the allocation was built up
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2014 | 29 | 8 |
| 2015–2019 | 484 | 13 |
| 2020–2024 | 201 | 11 |
| 2025–2029 | 31 | 4 |
Overlay area codes
236 shares its rate centres with 250, 778, 672, 604, 257. Overlay codes cover the same ground, which is why ten-digit dialling is required: two neighbours on one street can hold different area codes.
What people check and report about 236 numbers
Searches typed into this site's lookup form since July 28, 2026, plus the verdicts and moderated reports visitors left. A search usually follows a missed call.
- Checks
- 66
- Different numbers
- 61
- Different people
- 65
3 verdicts and 1 report
2 scam, 1 nuisance, 0 safe. Too few to show shares yet.
Report types: Scam (1).
| Number | Verdicts | Reports | People checking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 236-800-7355 | 1 scam | 1 | 1 |
Phone and text fraud in British Columbia
In 2024 the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 1,754 fraud reports from British Columbia where the first contact was a phone call (1,290) or a text (464); 1,082 came from victims, who reported $18.7 million lost. The most common types were service, bank investigator, phishing.
January to September 2025: 1,171 reports (-6% on the same months of 2024) and $13.8 million reported lost (+9%).
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre open data (Open Government Licence – Canada), current to September 29, 2025. These are province-wide figures, not specific to one area code, and only a fraction of fraud is ever reported. Dataset
Had a call from a 236 number?
No clear pattern in reports on these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they are your bank, the Canada Revenue Agency, a courier or your phone company, hang up and call the organization on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
- Report the fraud
Report the call or text to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501. If you lost money or gave out personal details, tell your bank first, then your local police.
- Register on the National Do Not Call List
Registering a landline or mobile on the National DNCL is free. Registered charities, political parties, newspapers and companies you already do business with may still call.
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726
Forward a scam or spam text to 7726 (SPAM on the keypad). It's free, and your carrier uses it to block the sender. Don't tap links or reply.
Area code 236: questions and answers
Where is area code 236?
236 serves British Columbia. Its 745 in-service prefixes belong to 269 rate centres, mainly Vancouver, Kelowna, Abbotsford and Victoria.
What time zone is area code 236 in?
It depends on the exchange: 213 rate centres are on Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time; 16 rate centres are on Mountain Time (MT), UTC−7; UTC−6 in daylight saving time; 15 rate centres are on Mountain Standard Time (MST), UTC−7, no daylight saving time.
When did area code 236 start?
236 has been in service since June 1, 2013; it was created from 604. It shares its territory with 250, 257, 604, 672 and 778, so a new number there can get any of these codes.
Which carriers hold 236 numbers?
The CNAC register lists 17 carriers with prefixes in 236; the largest are Navigata Communications Limited (19.3%), Iristel Inc. (15%) and Distributel (8.9%). Numbers can be ported, so the original carrier may not be the current one.
Are calls from 236 numbers scams?
Visitors have left 3 verdicts on 236 numbers (2 scam, 1 nuisance, 0 safe) and 1 moderated reports. That covers the numbers people looked up, not all of 236: most belong to ordinary households and businesses, and scammers can display a local number.
Is phone fraud rising in British Columbia?
In the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's open data, call and text fraud reports from British Columbia went from 1,243 in January–September 2024 to 1,171 in the same months of 2025 (-6%). Reported losses went from $12.7 million to $13.8 million.
How do I report a scam call from a 236 number?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501). If you lost money, call your bank first, then your local police. Unwanted telemarketing goes to the National Do Not Call List, and spam texts can be forwarded to 7726.
Allocated prefixes
Showing 263 of 745 prefixes, largest rate centres first.
Vancouver, BC
236-200 · 236-202 · 236-203 · 236-234 · 236-247 · 236-259 · 236-268 · 236-298 · 236-299 · 236-308
Kelowna, BC
236-338 · 236-361 · 236-420 · 236-457 · 236-492 · 236-499 · 236-588 · 236-595 · 236-633 · 236-763
Abbotsford, BC
236-232 · 236-233 · 236-242 · 236-258 · 236-380 · 236-458 · 236-483 · 236-493 · 236-602 · 236-603
Victoria, BC
236-237 · 236-239 · 236-240 · 236-336 · 236-464 · 236-470 · 236-475 · 236-478 · 236-491 · 236-508
New Westminster, BC
236-416 · 236-428 · 236-453 · 236-545 · 236-812 · 236-880 · 236-881 · 236-883 · 236-895 · 236-900
Nanaimo, BC
236-238 · 236-362 · 236-415 · 236-462 · 236-496 · 236-544 · 236-628 · 236-821 · 236-897 · 236-953
Richmond, BC
236-235 · 236-245 · 236-246 · 236-266 · 236-305 · 236-454 · 236-616 · 236-807 · 236-856 · 236-857
Aldergrove, BC
236-206 · 236-260 · 236-332 · 236-359 · 236-360 · 236-460 · 236-632 · 236-761 · 236-898
North Vancouver, BC
236-304 · 236-465 · 236-481 · 236-551 · 236-636 · 236-646 · 236-813 · 236-874 · 236-875
Penticton, BC
236-422 · 236-498 · 236-500 · 236-519 · 236-564 · 236-590 · 236-687 · 236-700 · 236-853
West Vancouver, BC
236-264 · 236-323 · 236-506 · 236-566 · 236-663 · 236-706 · 236-707 · 236-708 · 236-814
Chilliwack, BC
236-436 · 236-510 · 236-522 · 236-615 · 236-804 · 236-861 · 236-892 · 236-908
Cranbrook, BC
236-302 · 236-303 · 236-363 · 236-486 · 236-490 · 236-505 · 236-629 · 236-703
Prince George, BC
236-331 · 236-423 · 236-494 · 236-550 · 236-601 · 236-612 · 236-765 · 236-792
Salmon Arm, BC
236-209 · 236-431 · 236-586 · 236-631 · 236-832 · 236-834 · 236-835 · 236-836
Fort St. John, BC
236-309 · 236-349 · 236-358 · 236-365 · 236-630 · 236-753 · 236-893
South Kamloops, BC
236-252 · 236-313 · 236-425 · 236-546 · 236-565 · 236-597 · 236-852
Vernon, BC
236-426 · 236-497 · 236-504 · 236-599 · 236-600 · 236-768 · 236-873
Duncan, BC
236-594 · 236-667 · 236-800 · 236-801 · 236-864 · 236-894
Gulf Islands, BC
236-413 · 236-549 · 236-681 · 236-823 · 236-824 · 236-920
Hope, BC
236-314 · 236-355 · 236-442 · 236-617 · 236-620 · 236-644
Midway, BC
236-201 · 236-204 · 236-213 · 236-354 · 236-584 · 236-701
Parksville, BC
236-463 · 236-649 · 236-859 · 236-884 · 236-936 · 236-973
Quesnel, BC
236-301 · 236-424 · 236-587 · 236-709 · 236-713 · 236-799
Whistler, BC
236-563 · 236-637 · 236-762 · 236-764 · 236-773 · 236-774
100 Mile House, BC
236-378 · 236-593 · 236-712 · 236-796 · 236-977
Campbell River, BC
236-244 · 236-472 · 236-507 · 236-635 · 236-854
Mission, BC
236-437 · 236-618 · 236-621 · 236-827 · 236-909
Williams Lake, BC
236-300 · 236-307 · 236-433 · 236-645 · 236-802
Courtenay, BC
236-255 · 236-337 · 236-489 · 236-655
Fernie, BC
236-526 · 236-692 · 236-705 · 236-870
Nelson, BC
236-243 · 236-430 · 236-640 · 236-972
Newton, BC
236-263 · 236-418 · 236-592 · 236-598
Pender Island, BC
236-414 · 236-847 · 236-923 · 236-944
Port Hardy, BC
236-319 · 236-641 · 236-849 · 236-925
Saanich, BC
236-653 · 236-682 · 236-916 · 236-946
White Rock, BC
236-265 · 236-502 · 236-547 · 236-876
Whonnock, BC
236-267 · 236-461 · 236-503 · 236-906
Agassiz, BC
236-435 · 236-469 · 236-614
Armstrong, BC
236-340 · 236-548 · 236-940
Allocation source: Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNAC), the registry that records which carrier a central-office code was originally issued to. An allocation says who was issued the prefix, not who serves the number today: numbers can be ported between carriers, and caller ID can be spoofed outright.