B.C. is getting another area code this weekend.
Beginning Saturday (May 24), people or businesses opening a new phone line may receive one with the area code 257. A release from Telecommunications Alliance Tuesday (May 20) said that the new area code will be introduced gradually.
The new area code comes after a decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission due to increasing demand for phone numbers.
B.C. is currently served by five other area codes: 604, 250, 778, 236 and 672.
New phone lines with those area codes may still be assigned to new customers until the supply runs out. However, existing numbers keep the same area code.