Area codes 905, 289, and 365
Area codes 905, 289, and 365
Area codes 905, 289, and 365 are area codes in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) in the Golden Horseshoe region that surrounds Lake Ontario in Southern Ontario, Canada. It covers (clockwise) the Niagara Peninsula, the city of Hamilton, the regional municipalities of Halton, Peel, York, Durham, and parts of Northumberland County, but excludes the City of Toronto. 905 is the main area code, while 289 and 365 are overlay codes covering the same territory.
Area code 905 was assigned on October 4, 1993, as a split from area code 416. After 289 was overlaid on June 9, 2001, all local calls required ten-digit dialling. On April 13, 2010, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) introduced the overlay area code 365,[1] which became operational on March 25, 2013.[2][3] The three area codes are expected to become exhausted by March 2025.[4]
The plan area surrounds the overlay area codes 416/647/437, which cover the city of Toronto, leading residents to popularly coin suburban Toronto as "the 905". It is bound by area code 519/226/548 in the west, 705/249 in the north, 613/343 in the east, and New York State area code 716 on the eastern prong of the Niagara Peninsula. The incumbent local exchange carrier for these area codes is Bell Canada.
History
Area code 905 was once used as a routing prefix for calls from the United States to Mexico during a period when Mexico was expected to become a member of the North American Numbering Plan Administration and international calls otherwise would have been placed through a switchboard operator. However, Mexico decided to establish its own numbering plan as an independent administration. The use of 905 was discontinued by February 1, 1991.
By October 1991, area code 905 had been assigned to relieve exchanges in the Greater Toronto Area—which, then as now, was Canada's largest toll-free calling zone. While the Golden Horseshoe's explosive growth in the second half of the 20th century would have made another area code necessary in any event, the timetable was moved up significantly due to Canada's inefficient system of number allocation. Canada does not use number pooling as a relief measure. Each CLEC is assigned blocks of 10,000 numbers for every rate centre where it plans to offer service, no matter how small. While most rate centres don't need nearly that many numbers, a number is unavailable for reassignment elsewhere once assigned to a CLEC and rate centre. This resulted in thousands of unallocated numbers.
The problem was not as severe in the Golden Horseshoe as in the rest of Canada; then as now, numbers tended to be used up fairly quickly. However, the proliferation of cell phones, pagers, fax machines, and dial-up Internet connections made it apparent that the Golden Horseshoe needed another area code.
Automatic number identification (ANI) in some central office switching systems in the numbering plan area started operation on October 11, 1992. The new area code entered service on October 11, 1993. Permissive dialing of 416 continued across the Golden Horseshoe until January 1, 1994.
Five years after its introduction, 905 was close to exhaustion far sooner than anticipated. By 1999, the CRTC had established an ad-hoc committee to study NPA relief planning for area code 905. A split of the NPA was considered, with various options presented:
a geographic split by municipality (either two-way or three-way)
a geographic split of concentric rings around Toronto
re-aligning NPA boundaries (some areas retain 905, others acquire a new NPA); that is, a municipality and exchange split
a distributed overlay
The overlay option was chosen because it would cause the least disruption; it would require no changes for existing customers in the 905 area. It would also be far easier to implement technically. Bell and the other carriers in the area were especially supportive of an overlay. Not only would it have forced customers to change their numbers for the second time in less than a decade, but it would have forced en masse reprogramming of cell phones. For the same reason, Toronto itself was overlaid with area code 647 (and later 437).
The 289 NPA overlay was approved by the CRTC on August 15, 2000 (Order CRTC 2000-772). Earlier that month, Toufic Saliba, consultant and technical engineer at the Commission, directed the addition of area code 289 in the 905 area code region. In doing so, Saliba directed that all carriers put in place a 10-digit dialing plan for all local calls. In this order, the Commission directed Bell Canada to implement the 10-digit local dialing plan.[5] 289 came into service on April 7, 2001, and was in full operation by June 9, 2001.
905 officially became exhausted in November 2005. All new central office prefixes are assigned in 289, as there are no longer any available prefixes in 905. Part of the problem stemmed from the creation of single-tier "megacities" across Ontario at the turn of the millennium. Many of these enlarged cities are split between multiple rate centres which have never been amalgamated. An example is Hamilton, Canada's 10th-largest city; it is split between nine rate centres. Another example is Vaughan, which is split between three rate centres and part of a fourth; the city is not even listed in the phone book, but the various rate centres are listed separately. This also applies to newer cities created in the 1970s prior to the introduction of the 905 code. For example, Mississauga, the largest city in the NPA—and the sixth-largest city in all of Canada—is split between five rate centres, even though it has been a single municipality since 1974.
Due to the fact that this is a large and rapidly growing region, area code 365 was assigned for further relief on March 25, 2013, and has been set aside for further relief as the area is expected to exhaust by 2036 at current growth rates.[6]
In popular culture
The term the 905 or the 905 belt is used to describe the suburban areas of the Greater Toronto Area,[7] while Toronto proper is referred to as the 416. The term 905er is often used pejoratively by Toronto residents to refer to suburban residents outside the city.[8] Canadian rapper Maestro rendered homage to the area code in his song "416/905 (TO Party Anthem)". In June 2015, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment announced the formation of an NBA Development League team for the Toronto Raptors based in Mississauga called Raptors 905.
The term has been used in the context of Canadian politics, where the 416 is a stronghold of Liberals and NDP, whereas the 905 historically had strong ties to the Progressive Conservative Party. The region has, however, backed opposition parties as a protest vote, including both the NDP in the 1990 provincial election and the Liberals in the 2003 provincial election, as a backlash to the incumbent government. In both cases, the opposition party was elected to government with strong backing of the 905 region. The 2011 federal election saw the 905 region become entirely represented by candidates of the Conservative Party of Canada, save a single riding, while one third of the 416 ridings were won by Conservatives, many through vote splitting between the Liberals and NDP.
Rate centres and central office codes
Ajax-Pickering: (289)-200 224 229 255 275 277 314 315 372 387 388 403 417 422 423 460 482 484 533 539 545 591 608 624 631 660 733 734 744 882 892 913 915 923 980 986 987 988, (365)-275 300, (905)-231 239 250 391 409 420 421 422 423 424 426 427 428 492 509 550 619 621 622 626 683 686 706 744 767 831 837 839 903 995 999
Aurora: (289)-221 258 380 466 552 614 648 796 802 840 879 894 984 995, (365)-500, (905)-222 395 503 713 717 726 727 750 751 758 841 900
Beeton: (289)-415 899 970, (365)-560 901, (905)-724 729 748 801 909
Bethesda: (289)-262 615, (365)-501, (905)-504 888
Blackstock: (289)-702, (365)-408, (905)-986
Bowmanville: (289)-223 276 513 626 703, (365)-401, (905)-419 623 697
Bradford: (289)-464 831, (365)-266 900 (905)-551 775 778
Brampton is divided into the following local rate centres: Brampton (289)-201 233 298 323 325 401 406 410 418 498 499 505 541 544 569 632 654 720 747 748 752 764 801 864 889 900 901 946 948, (905)-216 226 230 291 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 463 487 488 494 495 497 499 500 595 598 654 759 781 782 783 789 790 791 792 793 794 796 798 799 840 846 861 863 866 867 872 874 901 965 970 Castlemore: (289)-324 749 916, (365)-201, (905)-200 204 794 913 915 Snelgrove: (289)-954, (365)-203, (905)-843 996
Burlington: (289)-208 230 245 266 288 293 313 337 348 419 427 598 635 636 707 714 741 745 787 798 812 816 828 861 938 962 977 983, (365)-999, (905)-220 315 319 320 331 332 333 335 336 340 407 592 630 631 632 633 634 635 637 638 639 681 802
Caledon: (289)-824 908 961 966, (365)-200, (905)-584 586 587 588 757 838 843 860 996 Bolton: (289)-206 461 487 503 616 651 875 906, (365)-502, (905)-533 857 951 Palgrave: (289)-546 594, (365)-516, (905)-583 880 Victoria: (289)-955 967, (365)-204, (905)-838 998
Caledonia: (289)-284 285 523 528 751 757 960, (905)-765
Campbellville: (289)-458 630 692, (365)-304, (905)-854
Castleton: (905)-344
Cayuga: (289)-370 516 603 736, (905)-772
Claremont: (289)- 462, (365)-503 650, (905)-408 490 649
Cobourg: (289)-215 251 252 435 677 691 771 829, (365)-400, (905)-207 269 372 373 375 376 377 396
Colborne: (289)-265, (905)-355
Cold Springs: (905)-342
Dunnville: (289)-209 330 331 332 369 377 381 433 518 604 738 761 972 973, (365)-651, (905)-229 701 774
Fisherville: (289)-601, (905)-779
Fort Erie is divided into the following local rate centres: Fort Erie (289)-250 303 320 321 322 476 599 762 (365)-801, (905)-871 991 992 993 994 Ridgeway: (289)-876 (905)-894 Stevensville: (289)-397, (905)-382
Garden Hill: (905)-797
Georgetown: (289)-344 349 428 642 694 790 839 890 891 924 935, (365)-302, (905)-702 703 873 877
Gormley: (289)-486 746, (365)-504, (905)-284 400 534 887 927
Grafton: (905)-349
Grimsby: (289)-205 235 336 447 455 493 754 770 797, (905)-309 945
Hagersville: (289)-282 283 524 758 784, (905)-768
Hamilton is divided into the following local rate centres: Ancaster: (289)-204 239 346 443 445 450 495 515 735 739 855 902, (905)-304 648 Binbrook: (289)-286 287 424 522 568 743 756, (905)-692 Dundas: (289)-238 345 446 494 517 737 753 858, (905)-627 628 Freelton: (289)-609 679 693, (365)-301, (905)-659 Hamilton: (289)-237 244 246 253 260 263 308 309 335 339 358 382 389 391 396 408 425 426 439 440 441 442 456 489 492 520 527 551 556 639 659 667 674 678 680 682 683 684 689 698 700 750 755 766 768 769 773 774 775 776 778 779 780 788 799 808 827 860 877 880 887 919 920 921 922 925 931 933 941 949 975 978 994, (365)-317 888, (905)-218 253 296 297 308 312 314 317 318 379 381 383 385 387 388 389 390 393 481 496 512 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 531 536 537 538 540 541 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 560 561 570 572 573 574 575 577 578 581 645 661 667 719 730 741 745 746 769 777 807 818 865 869 870 902 906 912 920 921 923 928 929 961 962 963 966 971 972 973 974 975 977 978 979 981 Mount Hope: (289)-280 281 491 525 759 791 866, (905)-679 Stoney Creek: (289)-203 448 490 526 656 760 765 792 965, (905)-594 636 662 664 930 Waterdown: (289)-352 431 619 718 767 895, (905)-689 690 Winona: (289)-649 794, (905)-643
Hampton: (289)-706, (365)-403, (905)-263 445
Keswick: (289)-528, (365)-505, (905)-476 535 656 700 989
King Township is divided into the following local rate centres: King City: (289)-207 467 530 618 621 874 907, (365)-506, (905)-539 833 Nobleton: (289)-463 542 620 658 664, (365)-514, (905)-558 859 Schomberg: (289)-318 557 592, (365)-520, (905)-590 939
The Town of Lincoln is divided into the following local rate centres: Beamsville: (289)-432 566 602, (905)-563 Vineland: (289)-567 605, (905)-562
Markham is divided into the following local rate centres: Markham: (289)-301 306 307 378 451 469 507 554 661 666 800 818 846 859 872, (365)-509 654 655, (905)-201 202 205 209 294 350 471 472 554 910 Thornhill (partly within the City of Vaughan): (289)-390 459 472 502 510 514 561 588 597 695 807 843 857 982, (365)-523, (905)-326 370 418 482 530 532 593 597 660 669 695 707 709 731 738 739 747 760 761 762 763 764 771 879 881 882 886 889 907 Unionville: (289)-333 392 473 563 577 584 789 806 844 884, (365)-525, (905)-248 258 300 305 307 316 413 415 470 474 475 477 479 480 489 513 604 752 754 917 940 943 944 946 947 948 968 969
Milton: (289)-230 270 350 409 412 429 627 655 670 728 862 851 878 930 971, (365)-303 355, (905)-299 462 514 636 691 693 699 749 805 864 875 876 878
Mississauga is divided into the following local rate centres: Clarkson: (289)-299 326 373 420 628 727 825 826 849 898 945, (905)-254 403 491 822 823 855 916 919 Cooksville: (289)-232 261 327 360 362 374 421 444 454 497 521 565 628 633 722 724 777 785 805 883 951, (905)-206 210 212 214 219 232 238 241 247 267 268 270 272 273 275 276 277 279 281 282 283 290 306 361 366 402 501 502 507 566 568 602 614 615 624 625 629 712 755 756 766 803 804 848 890 896 897 949 Malton: (289)-247 328 359 384 548 562 623 625 721 729 804 865 904 944 988, (905)-234 255 256 293 298 362 364 405 461 564 565 612 670 671 672 673 676 677 678 694 696 698 740 795 908 956 Port Credit: (289)-297 329 643 822 847 953, (365)-202, (905)-221 271 274 278 486 891 990 Streetsville: (289)-290 305 334 375 457 540 652 719 726 814 848 896 914 957 997 998 999, (905)-236 285 286 288 301 302 363 369 412 542 567 569 593 600 601 603 606 607 608 609 785 812 813 814 816 817 819 820 821 824 826 828 858 997
Mount Albert: (289)-465 534 662, (365)-510, (905)-473 557
Newcastle: (289)-629 708, (365)-404, (905)-446 987
Newmarket: (289)-231 264 279 319 338 340 366 383 395 453 470 500 504 535 663 716 730 763 803 841 903 909 926 934, (365)-340 512, (905)-235 251 252 392 657 710 715 716 806 830 836 853 868 895 898 952 953 954 955 960 967
Newtonville: (289)-709 964, (365)-405, (905)-786
Niagara Falls: (289)-248 257 271 292 294 296 302 341 361 402 477 547 932, (365)-666, (905)-262 295 351 353 354 356 357 358 371 374 394
Niagara-on-the-Lake: (289)-272 413 646 672 868, (365)-667, (905)-468
Oakville: (289)-218 219 242 243 259 291 295 300 351 363 386 400 430 529 644 681 715 725 740 772 795 813 815 817 834 835 837 838 856 881 885 888 863 910 936 937 940 952 981 993, (365)-777, (905)-208 257 287 330 334 337 338 339 399 464 465 466 467 469 483 484 510 580 582 599 616 617 618 808 815 825 827 829 842 844 845 847 849 901
Orono: (289)-710, (365)-406, (905)-485 983
Oshawa: (289)-222 240 254 274 312 316 355 356 385 404 405 481 512 600 634 658 671 675 676 685 688 701 712 731 830 869 886 918 927 928 939 943 979 991 992 996, (365)-800, (905)-213 215 233 240 242 243 244 245 259 260 261 404 410 429 431 432 433 434 435 436 438 439 440 441 442 443 447 448 449 498 571 576 579 644 674 675 718 720 721 723 725 728 743 809 914 922 924 925 926
Pelham: (289)-650 897, (905)-892
Port Colborne: (289)-478 836, (905)-834 835
Port Hope: (289)-436, (905)-800 885
Port Perry: (289)-225 354 485 653 713 912, (365)-407, (905)-982 985
Queensville: (289)-549, (365)-529, (905)-478 589
Richmond Hill: (289)-269 317 353 379 399 452 475 496 506 537 538 550 637 666 699 809 819 833 842 867, 870, 947, (905)-224 237 292 508 737 770 780 784 787 881 883 884 918 Oak Ridges: (289)-210 234 471 543 573 665 854, (365)-515, (905)-223 313 398 505 506 559 773
Roseneath: (905)-352
Selkirk: (905)-776
St. Catharines-Thorold: (289)-213 214 219 228 241 267 273 362 364 398 407 434 438 460 479 501 606 668 669 686 687 690 696 697 723 781 782 783 786 929 931 968 969 974 990, (365)-383 653 668 880, (905)-225 227 228 246 280 321 322 323 324 325 327 328 329 341 345 346 347 348 359 360 378 380 397 401 641 646 650 651 658 680 682 684 685 687 688 704 708 931 932 933 934 935 937 938 941 964 980 984 988 Port Robinson: (289)-376, (905)-384
Stouffville: (289)-212 508 558 612 617 853, (365)-521, (905)-591 640 642
Sutton: (289)-559 576 871, (365)-522, (905)-596 722
Toronto (former Pickering Township only): (905)-509
Tottenham: (289)-850, (365)-540 (905)-406 936
Uxbridge: (289)-394 564 595 640 852, (365)-444 526, (905)-852 862 904
Vaughan is divided into the following local rate centres: Kleinburg: (289)-202 216 531 873, (365)-507, (905)-552 893 Maple: (289)-217 304 342 357 463 468 532 553 832 917 963, (365)-508, (905)-303 417 553 585 653 832 Woodbridge: (289)-236 245 256 268 371 393 474 536 596 622 641 657 845, (365)-527, (905)-264 265 266 417 605 652 663 850 851 856 893 553
Wainfleet: (905)-899
Welcome: (905)-753
Welland: (289)-347 414 449 480 488 673 820 821 823, (365)-652, (905)-414 714 732 733 734 735 736 788
West Lincoln: (289)-560 793 956, (905)-957
Whitby: (289)-220 278 483 509 638 717 732 893 985 989, (905)-217 430 444 493 556 665 666 668 Brooklin: (289)-227 645 704, (365)-402, (905)-425 620 655
See also
List of North American area codes