Phone prefixes in Prince George, BC
Prince George, BC is a rate centre in the Canadian numbering plan. CNAC records 45 in-service prefixes there, held by 12 carriers and spread across 5 area codes (250, 778, 236, 672, 257). With 45 prefixes, Prince George is a mid-sized rate centre by British Columbia standards: 12th of 309, holding 1.3% of the province’s prefixes, and 70th 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 Prince George is
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Census division
- Fraser-Fort George
- Local time
- — Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time
- Nearest rate centres
- Vanway (8 km), Pineview (14 km), Salmon Valley (18 km), Red Rock (28 km), Giscome (32 km)
Divisions and places: Statistics Canada and NRCan. Straight-line distances.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 45
- Telephone numbers covered
- 450,000
- Carriers
- 12
- Area codes
- 5
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- August 14, 2000
- Most recent assignment
- April 15, 2026
Prince George’s share of its area codes
Within area code 250, Prince George accounts for only 19 of 781 prefixes (2.4%): the code is dominated by Victoria and spread over 268 rate centres. Within area code 778, Prince George accounts for only 10 of 779 prefixes (1.3%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 159 rate centres. Within area code 236, Prince George accounts for only 8 of 745 prefixes (1.1%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 269 rate centres. Within area code 672, Prince George accounts for only 7 of 321 prefixes (2.2%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 109 rate centres. Within area code 257, Prince George accounts for only 1 of 18 prefixes (5.6%): the code is dominated by Vancouver and spread over 15 rate centres.
| Area codes | Prefixes here | Prefixes in code | Share | Range | Largest rate centre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | 19 | 781 | 2.4 % | 250-277 – 250-981 | Victoria |
| 778 | 10 | 779 | 1.3 % | 778-281 – 778-983 | Vancouver |
| 236 | 8 | 745 | 1.1 % | 236-331 – 236-792 | Vancouver |
| 672 | 7 | 321 | 2.2 % | 672-215 – 672-997 | Vancouver |
| 257 | 1 | 18 | 5.6 % | 257-882 – 257-882 | Vancouver |
Who holds these numbers
TELUS holds the largest share at 13 prefixes, 28.9% of the total, ahead of 11 other carriers. Code by code: in 250, TELUS leads with 11 of 19 prefixes ahead of 5 others; in 778, TELUS Mobility leads with 2 of 10 prefixes ahead of 7 others; in 236, Iristel Inc. leads with 2 of 8 prefixes ahead of 5 others; in 672, TELUS Mobility leads with 3 of 7 prefixes ahead of 2 others; Fibernetics Corporation is the only holder in 257. No carrier holds prefixes in every one of Prince George’s 5 area codes, while 4 appear in just one.
| Carrier | 250 | 778 | 236 | 672 | 257 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TELUS | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 13 |
| TELUS Mobility | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | — | 8 |
| Iristel Inc. | — | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | 7 |
| Bell Mobility | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 |
| Videotron Ltd. | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | 3 |
| Bell West Inc. | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Shaw Telecom Inc. | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| Comwave Networks | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Fibernetics Corporation | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Fido Solutions Inc. | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Navigata Communications Limited | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
Wireless and wireline
15 of Prince George’s 45 prefixes (33.3%) are held by carriers whose registered name marks a wireless business: TELUS Mobility, Bell Mobility, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) and Fido Solutions Inc. Wireline prefixes still outnumber them, carried by TELUS, Iristel Inc, Videotron Ltd and Bell West Inc. 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
Prince George’s dated assignments run from 2000 to 2026. The busiest period was 2010–2014, when 8 prefixes went to 7 carriers. 11 prefixes (24%) carry no date in the register: these are the historic pre-1999 assignments, the wireline bedrock of the rate centre. Since 2020 another 9 prefixes have been added, so the rate centre is still growing.
Prince George’s oldest prefixes, the ones the register leaves undated, belong to TELUS, TELUS Mobility and Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless): these carriers made up the landscape before competition arrived. The first dated assignment went to TELUS Mobility in 2000. The most recent arrivals are Fibernetics Corporation (2026), Videotron Ltd. (2018) and Comwave Networks (2014), a sign that new carriers are still asking for numbers in Prince George.
Prince George’s 45 prefixes provide 450,000 numbers, which corresponds to a mid-sized city or a well-established suburb that every major carrier wants a slice of.
No single carrier dominates Prince George: the leader, TELUS, holds only 28.9% of the prefixes against 11 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: 26.5% of the dated prefixes go back to the last ten years, the most active period being 2010–2014. The rate centre is growing at a regular rather than explosive pace.
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–2004 | 5 | 4 |
| 2005–2009 | 5 | 5 |
| 2010–2014 | 8 | 7 |
| 2015–2019 | 7 | 4 |
| 2020–2024 | 8 | 4 |
| 2025–2029 | 1 | 1 |
11 undated in the register.
Dialling a Prince George number
Prince George is served by 5 overlaid area codes (250, 778, 236, 672 and 257). A 257 number is no more “out of town” than a 250 one; from abroad, dial +1 and the full ten digits.
The numbering neighbourhood
Prince George shares area codes 250, 778, 236, 672 and 257 with at least 20 other rate centres, including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Nanaimo, South Kamloops and Cranbrook. The largest of them, Vancouver, holds 400 prefixes in 236, 257, 672 and 778; the smallest on the list, Salmon Arm, has just 22.
| Rate centre | Province | Shared codes | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | 236, 257, 672, 778 | 400 | 19 |
| Victoria | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 169 | 16 |
| Kelowna | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 77 | 14 |
| New Westminster | BC | 236, 257, 672, 778 | 61 | 15 |
| Abbotsford | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 57 | 14 |
| Nanaimo | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 48 | 14 |
| South Kamloops | BC | 236, 250, 257, 672, 778 | 48 | 13 |
| Cranbrook | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 37 | 12 |
| Vernon | BC | 236, 250, 257, 672, 778 | 37 | 12 |
| Aldergrove | BC | 236, 672, 778 | 35 | 13 |
| North Vancouver | BC | 236, 257, 672, 778 | 32 | 11 |
| Richmond | BC | 236, 257, 672, 778 | 32 | 15 |
| Penticton | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 31 | 12 |
| Fort St. John | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 27 | 10 |
| Duncan | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 26 | 10 |
| Newton | BC | 236, 257, 672, 778 | 25 | 13 |
| Courtenay | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 24 | 8 |
| Parksville | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 23 | 11 |
| Campbell River | BC | 236, 250, 778 | 22 | 11 |
| Salmon Arm | BC | 236, 250, 672, 778 | 22 | 11 |
What a Prince George number tells you
A number attached to Prince George tells you that its prefix was issued to a carrier for this rate centre in British Columbia, most often TELUS. It does not tell you where the handset is today: a subscriber may have ported the number to any of the 12 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 Prince George: code 250-561 is recorded for TELUS, so every 250-561-XXXX number (10,000 possible) descends from that assignment. “Prince George, British Columbia” there names a rate centre, not a municipality, and several area codes overlay it.
Every Prince George prefix
Each row is an in-service central-office code recorded for Prince George, with its original holder and year of assignment.
Had a call from a Prince George 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 Prince George?
Prince George does not have one area code but 5: 250, 778, 236, 672 and 257. The best-stocked is 250. All are dialled with ten digits and none is “more local” than another.
Is a call from Prince George a cellphone or a landline?
More likely a landline or a VoIP service: mobility brands hold only 33.3% of Prince George’s prefixes.
Which carrier is behind a Prince George number?
In the register, TELUS holds the most prefixes in Prince George (13 of 45), ahead of 11 other carriers. Code 250-561, for instance, belongs to TELUS.
Is this Prince George 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 Prince George?
The latest code brought into service is 257-882, assigned to Fibernetics Corporation on April 15, 2026. At the other end, the oldest dated prefix, 250-617, goes to TELUS Mobility (August 14, 2000). A number in a recent prefix almost always belongs to a subscriber who signed up after that date.
What time zone is Prince George in?
Prince George 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 45 in-service prefixes, grouped by rate centre.
Prince George, BC
236-331 · 236-423 · 236-494 · 236-550 · 236-601 · 236-612 · 236-765 · 236-792 · 250-277 · 250-301 · 250-552 · 250-561 · 250-562 · 250-563 · 250-564 · 250-565 · 250-596 · 250-612 · 250-613 · 250-614 · 250-617 · 250-640 · 250-645 · 250-649 · 250-960 · 250-961 · 250-981 · 257-882 · 672-215 · 672-224 · 672-225 · 672-385 · 672-983 · 672-996 · 672-997 · 778-281 · 778-349 · 778-497 · 778-510 · 778-675 · 778-693 · 778-763 · 778-764 · 778-890 · 778-983
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 |
| Langley | BC | 23 | 8 |
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.