Phone prefixes in Grand Forks, BC
Grand Forks, BC is a rate centre in the Canadian numbering plan. CNAC records 12 in-service prefixes there, held by 9 carriers and spread across 4 area codes (250, 236, 778, 672). With 12 prefixes, Grand Forks is a small rate centre within British Columbia: 54th of 309, holding 0.3% of the province’s prefixes, and 370th of 2,920 rate centres across Canada.
Background reading: Canadian area codes, overlays, and what a 416 number actually tells you · Caller ID spoofing, STIR/SHAKEN, and how to actually block calls in Canada
Where Grand Forks is
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Kootenay Boundary
- Local time
- — Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time
- Nearest rate centres
- Christina Lake (18 km), Greenwood (18 km), Midway (26 km), Rock Creek (40 km), Rossland (45 km)
Divisions and places: Statistics Canada and NRCan. Straight-line distances.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 12
- Telephone numbers covered
- 120,000
- Carriers
- 9
- Area codes
- 4
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- July 13, 2004
- Most recent assignment
- September 6, 2022
Grand Forks’s share of its area codes
Within area code 250, Grand Forks accounts for only 5 of 781 prefixes (0.6%): the code is dominated by Victoria and spread over 268 rate centres. Within area code 236, Grand Forks accounts for only 3 of 745 prefixes (0.4%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 269 rate centres. Within area code 778, Grand Forks accounts for only 3 of 779 prefixes (0.4%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 159 rate centres. Within area code 672, Grand Forks accounts for only 1 of 321 prefixes (0.3%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 109 rate centres.
| Area codes | Prefixes here | Prefixes in code | Share | Range | Largest rate centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 5 | 781 | 0.6 % | 250-442 – 250-666 | Victoria |
| 236 | 3 | 745 | 0.4 % | 236-352 – 236-651 | Vancouver |
| 778 | 3 | 779 | 0.4 % | 778-632 – 778-969 | Vancouver |
| 672 | 1 | 321 | 0.3 % | 672-904 – 672-904 | Vancouver |
Who holds these numbers
Iristel Inc. holds the largest share at 2 prefixes, 16.7% of the total, ahead of 8 other carriers. Code by code: in 250, TELUS leads with 2 of 5 prefixes ahead of 3 others; in 236, Bell West Inc. leads with 1 of 3 prefixes ahead of 2 others; in 778, Iristel Inc. leads with 1 of 3 prefixes ahead of 2 others; Iristel Inc. is the only holder in 672. No carrier holds prefixes in every one of Grand Forks’s 4 area codes, while 7 appear in just one.
| Carrier | 250 | 236 | 778 | 672 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iristel Inc. | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 1 | — | 1 | — | 2 |
| TELUS | 2 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Bell Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Bell West Inc. | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Distributel | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Fido Solutions Inc. | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Shaw Telecom Inc. | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| TELUS Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
Wireless and wireline
5 of Grand Forks’s 12 prefixes (41.7%) are held by carriers whose registered name marks a wireless business: Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless), Bell Mobility, Fido Solutions Inc and TELUS Mobility. Wireline prefixes still outnumber them, carried by Iristel Inc, TELUS, Bell West Inc and Distributel. This is a sort by name, not a licence lookup, and a mobile prefix may have been ported to another network since.
How the allocation was built up
Grand Forks’s dated assignments run from 2004 to 2022. The busiest period was 2005–2009, when 3 prefixes went to 3 carriers. 2 prefixes (17%) carry no date in the register: these are the historic pre-1999 assignments, the wireline bedrock of the rate centre. Since 2020 another 2 prefixes have been added, so the rate centre is still growing.
Grand Forks’s oldest prefixes, the ones the register leaves undated, belong to TELUS: this carrier made up the landscape before competition arrived. The first dated assignment went to Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) in 2004. The most recent arrivals are Bell West Inc. (2020), Shaw Telecom Inc. (2018) and Distributel (2016), a sign that new carriers are still asking for numbers in Grand Forks.
Grand Forks has only 12 prefixes, or 120,000 numbers: a small rate centre, where the arrival of a single new carrier visibly changes the landscape.
No single carrier dominates Grand Forks: the leader, Iristel Inc., holds only 16.7% of the prefixes against 8 competitors, a sign of a highly fragmented market where cable companies, mobility brands and VoIP providers weigh as much as the incumbent.
Demand remains steady: 20.0% of the dated prefixes go back to the last ten years, the most active period being 2005–2009. The rate centre is growing at a regular rather than explosive pace.
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2004 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005–2009 | 3 | 3 |
| 2010–2014 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015–2019 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020–2024 | 2 | 2 |
2 undated in the register.
Dialling a Grand Forks number
Grand Forks is served by 4 overlaid area codes (250, 236, 778 and 672). A 672 number is no more “out of town” than a 250 one; from abroad, dial +1 and the full ten digits.
The numbering neighbourhood
Grand Forks shares area codes 250, 236, 778 and 672 with at least 20 other rate centres, including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Nanaimo, South Kamloops and Prince George. The largest of them, Vancouver, holds 397 prefixes in 236, 672 and 778; the smallest on the list, Campbell River, has just 22.
| Rate centre | Province | Shared codes | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 397 | 19 |
| Victoria | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 169 | 16 |
| Kelowna | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 77 | 14 |
| New Westminster | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 60 | 15 |
| Abbotsford | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 57 | 14 |
| Nanaimo | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 48 | 14 |
| South Kamloops | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 47 | 12 |
| Prince George | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 44 | 11 |
| Cranbrook | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 37 | 12 |
| Vernon | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 36 | 11 |
| Aldergrove | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 35 | 13 |
| North Vancouver | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 31 | 11 |
| Penticton | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 31 | 12 |
| Richmond | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 30 | 15 |
| Fort St. John | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 27 | 10 |
| Duncan | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 26 | 10 |
| Courtenay | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 24 | 8 |
| Newton | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 24 | 13 |
| Parksville | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 23 | 11 |
| Campbell River | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 22 | 11 |
What a Grand Forks number tells you
A number attached to Grand Forks tells you that its prefix was issued to a carrier for this rate centre in British Columbia, most often Iristel Inc.. It does not tell you where the handset is today: a subscriber may have ported the number to any of the 9 carriers present here or to a VoIP service usable anywhere. Nor does it tell you who is calling: caller ID can be spoofed, and a British Columbia area code is easy to borrow to look local.
Reading a register entry for Grand Forks: code 778-901 is recorded for Iristel Inc., so every 778-901-XXXX number (10,000 possible) descends from that assignment. “Grand Forks, British Columbia” there names a rate centre, not a municipality, and several area codes overlay it.
Every Grand Forks prefix
Each row is an in-service central-office code recorded for Grand Forks, with its original holder and year of assignment.
| Prefix | Carrier | Assigned |
|---|---|---|
| 236-352 | Shaw Telecom Inc. | 2018 |
| 236-570 | Distributel | 2016 |
| 236-651 | Bell West Inc. | 2020 |
| 250-442 | TELUS | undated |
| 250-443 | TELUS | undated |
| 250-444 | TELUS Mobility | 2007 |
| 250-584 | Bell Mobility | 2007 |
| 250-666 | Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 2004 |
| 672-904 | Iristel Inc. | 2022 |
| 778-632 | Fido Solutions Inc. | 2012 |
| 778-901 | Iristel Inc. | 2016 |
| 778-969 | Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 2009 |
Had a call from a Grand Forks 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.
Frequently asked
What is the area code for Grand Forks?
Grand Forks does not have one area code but 4: 250, 236, 778 and 672. The best-stocked is 250. All are dialled with ten digits and none is “more local” than another.
Is a call from Grand Forks a cellphone or a landline?
More likely a landline or a VoIP service: mobility brands hold only 41.7% of Grand Forks’s prefixes.
Which carrier is behind a Grand Forks number?
In the register, Iristel Inc. holds the most prefixes in Grand Forks (2 of 12), ahead of 8 other carriers. Code 778-901, for instance, belongs to Iristel Inc..
Is this Grand Forks number a scam?
The register cannot say: it records who a prefix was issued to, not who is calling. Search the full number above to see the reports filed against it.
What is the newest prefix in Grand Forks?
The latest code brought into service is 672-904, assigned to Iristel Inc. on September 6, 2022. At the other end, the oldest dated prefix, 250-666, goes to Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) (July 13, 2004). A number in a recent prefix almost always belongs to a subscriber who signed up after that date.
What time zone is Grand Forks in?
Grand Forks is on Pacific Time (PT, UTC−8), with daylight saving time (UTC−7) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Allocated prefixes
All 12 in-service prefixes, grouped by rate centre.
Grand Forks, BC
236-352 · 236-570 · 236-651 · 250-442 · 250-443 · 250-444 · 250-584 · 250-666 · 672-904 · 778-632 · 778-901 · 778-969
Elsewhere in British Columbia
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chilliwack | BC | 41 | 14 |
| Whalley | BC | 36 | 12 |
| West Vancouver | BC | 31 | 9 |
| Whistler | BC | 28 | 12 |
| Port Coquitlam | BC | 26 | 10 |
| Squamish | BC | 24 | 12 |
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.