Area codes 613 and 343

History

The 613 area originally covered all of Ontario with the exception of the Golden Horseshoe, which was in area code 416. The area code has been split twice. In 1953, the Southwestern Ontario portion of 613 was combined with the western portion of 416 to become 519. In 1957 the vast northwestern portion of 613 was combined with the northern portion of 519 to become area code 705. Since 1957, 613 covers only Eastern Ontario, an area extending from Brighton and Deep River eastward to Saint Regis, Quebec.

Ottawa and its twin city in Quebec, Gatineau fall on the boundary between 613 and Quebec's area code 819. However, they share the same local calling area. As a result, local calls could be completed between Ottawa and Hull with only seven digits. A similar situation prevailed in the Washington metropolitan area across three jurisdictions--Washington itself and parts of Maryland and Virginia.

While there are fewer than two million people in the geographic area covered by 613, the bulk of that population lives in the Ottawa area. To preserve seven-digit dialling between Ottawa and Hull, an exchange code protection scheme was implemented so that the same seven-digit local number could not be assigned on both sides of the National Capital Region. Technically, it was only necessary that no two prefixes within the same local calling area be duplicates, but the code protection as implemented reserved the numbers across an entire area code. This meant that if a 1-819 number was being used in Hull, the corresponding 1-613 number could not be used anywhere in eastern Ontario, even in areas a safe distance from the National Capital Region such as Brighton. Similarly, if a 1-613 number was being used in Ottawa-Carleton, the corresponding 1-819 number could not be used anywhere in western Quebec. Federal government offices in Hull duplicated their entire allocation of multiple exchanges worth of numbers available in 613 as part of a "dual dialability" scheme.

By the turn of the century, both 613 and 819 were close to exhaustion due to Canada's inefficient number allocation system. Every competitive local exchange carrier received blocks of 10,000 numbers in every rate centre in which it planned to offer local service, no matter how small. A tiny unincorporated village (like Odessa, Ontario, with no telephone central office but still listed as a rate centre) usually received multiple 10,000 number blocks. Larger municipalities have multiple rate centres and multiple competing carriers in each. Ottawa, now one municipality, has 11 rate centres (plus portions of other rate centres primarily located beyond the city limits) - most with very similar local calling areas - which were never amalgamated. The "Ottawa-Hull" exchange only covers the area that was the city of Ottawa prior to the 2001 amalgamation, plus the former suburbs of Nepean (central part) and Vanier and small sections of other urban communities. Once a number is assigned to a rate centre and CLEC, it is unavailable for use elsewhere, even in cases when a rate centre has more numbers than it needs.

These factors resulted in thousands of wasted numbers, and the proliferation of cell phones and pagers only magnified the problem. By 2006, the only remaining unassigned exchange prefixes in the entire 819 region were numbers which could not be assigned to the Quebec side of the Ottawa-Hull area without breaking seven-digit dialling between Hull and Ottawa.

Ten-digit dialling in 613 and 819 became mandatory on October 21, 2006. Intraprovincial calls from rate centres with no local calling beyond a small fragment of their own area code were returning intercept messages if dialled as seven digits. Exchange protection in the National Capital Region was ended, except for the "dual dialability" scheme for government numbers on both sides of the river.

Within two years, it became apparent that a new area code was necessary due to the continued number allocation problem--an issue exacerbated by the proliferation of cell phones and pagers. A geographic split was quickly ruled out. Local telephone companies did not want the expense and burden of changing existing customers' numbers, which would have required en masse reprogramming of cell phones. As a result, overlay area codes were proposed for both 613 and 819.

Area code 343, an overlay proposed in 2007 and approved by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on September 10, 2008, was activated for the region on May 17, 2010, several years earlier than originally anticipated.

Carriers

The main incumbent local exchange carrier in 613 is Bell Canada, although there are some five independent companies serving rural exchanges—the Lansdowne Rural Telephone Company serving Lansdowne; the North Frontenac Telephone Company serving Sharbot Lake and Parham; the North Renfrew Telephone Company serving Beachburg, Westmeath, and the area outside of Pembroke; the Roxborough Telephone Company serving Moose Creek; and the Westport Telephone Company serving Westport.

Also served by area code 613 and Bell Canada is Saint Regis, Quebec, a native reservation bordering Fort Covington, New York which straddles the Ontario-Québec-New York border. St. Regis - Fort Covington is a local call, despite being international.

Further west, Rapides-des-Joachims, Quebec shares an exchange with adjacent Rolphton, Ontario.

Central office codes and communities in area code 613

Adolphustown (Greater Napanee) - (613): 373

Addington Highlands (township): see Denbigh, Northbrook

Alexandria (North Glengarry) - (343)- 432 474, (613): 525, 642

For the municipality "Alfred and Plantagenet", see Alfred and Plantagenet

Alfred (Alfred and Plantagenet) - (343): 371 691, 789, (613): 605, 679, 708

Almonte - (343) 372, 760, (613): 256, 461

Arden (Central Frontenac) - (343): 268, (613): 335

Arnprior - (343) 373, 761, (613): 622, 623, 626

Athens - (613): 924, 927

Avonmore (North Stormont) - (343): 433, (613): 346

Bancroft - (343): 269, 357, 401, 476, 943, (613): 202, 303, 318, 332, 334, 412, 442, 553, 630

Barry's Bay - (613): 756

Bath (Loyalist Township) - (613): 351, 352, 881

Beachburg (Whitewater Region) - (613): 582

For the municipality of Belleville, see Belleville and Thurlow (former township now in the city)

Belleville - (343): 261, 263, 270, 355, 362, 600, 645, (613): 210, 242, 243, 391, 403, 438, 480, 554, 661, 689, 707, 743, 771, 779, 813, 827, 847, 848, 849, 885, 902, 919, 920, 921, 922, 961, 962, 966, 967, 968, 969, 970

Bloomfield (Prince Edward County) - (613): 393

Bourget - (343) 374, 762, (613): 426, 487, 603

Brighton - (343): 271, (613): 439, 475, 481, 814

Brockville - (343): 225, 264, 300, 320, 327, 480, (613): 213, 246, 340, 341, 342, 345, 349, 423, 498, 499, 556, 640, 704, 802, 803, 865

Calabogie (Greater Madawaska) - (613): 752

Cardiff (Highlands East) - (613): 338

Cardinal (Edwardsburgh/Cardinal) - (613): 655, 657, 671

Carleton Place - (343) - 213, 285, 375, 503, 763, (613): 250, 251, 253, 257, 418, 434, 451, 452, 456, 492, 508, 621, 964

Carp - (343) 376, 764, (613): 470, 839

Casselman - (343) 377, 765, (613): 427, 764

Central Frontenac (township): see Arden, Parham

Chalk River - (613): 589

Chesterville (North Dundas) - (343) 378, 766, (613): 436, 448

For the city "Clarence-Rockland", see Clarence Creek and Rockland

Clarence Creek (Clarence-Rockland) - (343) 379, 767, (613): 420, 488

Cobden - (613): 646, 647

Coe Hill (Wollaston) - (613): 337

Constance Bay (Ottawa) - (343) 380, 768, (613): 578, 832

Cornwall - (343): 288, 301, 330, 356, 370, 431, 444, 475, 585, 885, (613): 209, 330, 360, 361, 362, 363, 505, 551, 571, 577, 662, 703, 861, 870, 930, 931, 932, 933, 935, 936, 937, 938

Crysler (North Stormont) - (343) 381, (613): 987

Cumberland - (343) 382, 769, (613): 467, 517, 573, 833, 892

Deep River - (613): 584

Delta - (613): 616, 928

Denbigh (Addington Highlands) - (613): 333

Deseronto - (343): 265, (613): 309, 396

Douglas (Admaston/Bromley) - (613): 649

East Hawkesbury (township): see St. Eugene

Edwardsburgh/Cardinal (township): see Cardinal, Spencerville

Eganville - (613): 628

Elgin (Rideau Lakes) - (613): 359

Embrun - (343) 383, 770, (613): 370, 443, 557

Enterprise (Stone Mills) - (613): 358

Finch (North Stormont) - (343): 434, (613): 984

Foymount - (613): 754

Frankford (Quinte West) - (613): 398, 486

For the municipality of Frontenac Islands, see Wolfe Island, Kingston

Gananoque - (343): 479, (613): 381, 382, 463, 718, 815

Gilmour (Tudor and Cashel) - (613): 474

Glen Robertson (North Glengarry) - (343): 435, (613): 874

Gloucester (Ottawa) - (343) 384, 771, (613): 425, 455, 502, 822

Golden Lake (North Algona Wilberforce) - (613): 625

For Greater Madawaska (township), see Calabogie

For the municipality "Greater Napanee", see Adolphustown, Napanee, Selby

Harrowsmith - (613): 372

Hawkesbury - (343): 500 (613): 306, 307, 632, 636

Ingleside (South Stormont) - (343): 436, (613): 522, 537

Inverary (South Frontenac) - (613): 353, 653

Iroquois (South Dundas) - (343): 437, (613): 652, 669

Jockvale (Ottawa) - (343): 212, 303, 385, 772, (613): 440, 459, 512, 823, 825, 843

Kanata-Stittsville (Ottawa) - (343): 359 386 667 690, 773, (613): 254, 270, 271, 280, 287, 383, 435, 457, 509, 519, 576, 591, 592, 595, 599, 609, 663, 801, 831, 836, 886, 895, 963, 974, 977

Kemptville (North Grenville) - (343) 387, 774, (613): 215, 258, 713

Killaloe - (613): 757

Kingston - (343): 266, 290, 302, 333, 344, 358, 363, 364, 422, 477, 884, 989, (613): 214, 217, 305, 328, 329, 331, 344, 384, 389, 417, 449, 453, 483, 484, 507, 514, 530, 531, 532, 533, 536, 539, 540, 541, 542, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 561, 572, 583, 634, 650, 766, 767, 770, 776, 777, 817, 840, 856, 876, 877, 887, 888, 893, 900, 929, 985

L'Orignal (Champlain Township) - (343): 438, (613): 675

Lanark Highlands (township), see Lanark, McDonalds Corners

Lanark - (613): 259

Lancaster (South Glengarry) - (343): 439, (613): 313, 347

Lansdowne (Leeds and the Thousand Islands) - (613): 659

Leeds and the Thousand Islands (township): see Lansdowne, Mallorytown, Seeleys Bay

Long Sault (South Stormont) - (343): 440, (613): 534, 550

Loyalist Township, see Bath and Odessa

Maberly (Tay Valley) - (613): 268

Madoc - (343)- 472, (613): 473, 666

Maitland - (613): 320, 348, 664

Mallorytown - (613): 923, 973

Manotick (Ottawa) - (343): 214, 388, 775, (613): 491, 692, 908

Marmora - (613): 472, 644

Martintown (South Glengarry) - (343): 441, (613): 528

Maxville (North Glengarry) - (343): 442, (613): 527

Maynooth (Hastings Highlands) - (613): 338

McDonalds Corners (Lanark Highlands) - (613): 278

Merrickville (Merrickville-Wolford) - (343) 340 389, (613): 269

Metcalfe (Ottawa) - (343) 390, 776, (613): 574, 821

Mississippi Mills (township): see Pakenham

Moose Creek (North Stormont) - (613): 538

Morrisburg - (343): 443, (613): 543, 643

Napanee (Greater Napanee) - (343): 267, 478, (613): 308, 354, 409, 462

Navan (Ottawa) - (343) 391, 778, (613): 429, 835

Newburgh (Stone Mills) - (613): 378

North Algona Wilberforce: see Golden Lake

North Augusta - (613): 665, 926

North Dundas (township): see Chesterville, South Mountain and Winchester

North Glengarry (township): see Alexandria, Glen Robertson, Maxville

North Gower (Ottawa) - (343) 392, 779, (613): 489, 493

North Stormont (township): see Avonmore, Crysler, Finch, Moose Creek

Northbrook (Addington Highlands) - (343): 272, 336

Odessa (Loyalist Township) - (613): 386, 896

Orleans (Ottawa) - (343): 221, 393, 780, (613): 424, 458, 510, 590, 824, 830, 834, 837, 841, 845

Osgoode (Ottawa) - (343) 394, 781, (613): 465, 469, 516, 826

In Ontario, the Ottawa-Hull exchange covers the pre-2001 city of Ottawa, from Nepean to Vanier only. For the municipality of Ottawa, see Ottawa-Hull, Constance Bay, Gloucester, Jockvale, Kanata, Manotick, Metcalfe, Navan, North Gower, Orléans, Osgoode.

Ottawa-Hull city centre - (343): 200, 201, 203, 244, 262, 291, 292, 360, 488, 540, 541, 542, 666, 688, 689, 700, 777, 882, 883, 887, 888, 925, 988, 998, 999, (613): 203, 204, 212, 216, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 244, 245, 247, 248, 249, 252, 255, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 266, 274, 276, 277, 282, 286, 288, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 301, 302, 304, 314, 315, 316, 317, 319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 327, 350, 355, 356, 357, 364, 366, 368, 369, 371, 380, 400, 402, 404, 406, 407, 408, 410, 413, 415, 416, 421, 422, 437, 447, 454, 462. 482, 500, 501, 513, 514, 515, 518, 520, 521, 523, 526, 552, 558, 560, 562, 563, 564, 565, 566, 567, 569, 580, 581, 593, 594, 596, 597, 598, 600, 601, 604, 606, 607, 608, 612, 614, 615, 617, 618, 619, 620, 627, 656, 660, 667, 668, 670, 680, 683, 686, 688, 690, 691, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 709, 710, 712, 714, 715, 716, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 733, 734, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748, 749, 750, 751, 755, 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 765, 768, 769, 773, 778, 780, 781, 782, 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798, 799, 800, 804, 805, 806, 807, 808, 809, 816, 818, 820, 828, 829, 842, 844, 850, 851, 852, 853, 854, 857, 858, 859, 860, 862, 863, 864, 866, 867, 868, 869, 875, 878, 880, 882, 883, 884, 889, 890, 891, 894, 897, 898, 899, 901, 903, 904, 907, 909, 910, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 934, 940, 941, 943, 944, 945, 946, 947, 948, 949, 951, 952, 953, 954, 956, 957, 960, 971, 978, 979, 981, 983, 986, 990, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999, 934p, 939p, 953p, 956p, 994p, 997p

Pakenham (Mississippi Mills) - (343) 395, (613): 624

Palmer Rapids (Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan) - (613): 758

Parham (Central Frontenac) - (613): 375

Pembroke independent - (613): 638

Pembroke - (343): 369, 430, 544, (613): 281, 312, 401, 504, 559, 585, 602, 629, 631, 633, 635, 639, 717, 732, 735, 775

Perth - (343): 341, 400, 402, (613): 200, 201, 264, 267, 300, 326, 390, 464, 466, 714, 772, 812

Petawawa - (613): 506, 588, 685, 687

Picton (Prince Edward County) - (343): 222, (613): 471, 476, 503, 645, 654, 846, 906

Plantagenet (Alfred and Plantagenet) - (343) 396, 783, (613): 405, 673

Plevna (North Frontenac) - (343): 273, (613): 479

Portland (Rideau Lakes) - (613): 272, 972

Prescott - (613): 529, 918, 925, 975

For the municipality of Quinte West, see Frankford, Trenton and Wooler

Renfrew - (343): 361, (613): 431, 432, 433, 570

For the municipality of Prince Edward County, see Picton, Bloomfield, Wellington

Richmond - (343)-200, 397, 784, (613): 444, 838

Rideau Lakes (township): see Elgin, Portland

Rockland (Clarence-Rockland) - (343)-200, 398, 785, (613): 419, 446

Rolphton (Laurentian Hills) - (613): 586

Russell - (343) 399, 786, (613): 445, 496

Seeleys Bay (Leeds and the Thousand Islands) - (613): 387

Selby (Greater Napanee) - (613): 388

Sharbot Lake - (613): 279

Smiths Falls - (343): 800, 881, (613): 205, 206, 207, 283, 284, 285, 414, 418, 430, 485, 682, 706, 855, 980, 982, 988

South Dundas (township): see Iroquois, Morrisburg, Williamsburg

South Frontenac (township): see Harrowsmith, Inverary, Sydenham, Verona

South Glengarry (township): see Lancaster, Martintown

South Mountain (North Dundas) - (343) 345 (613): 989

South Stormont (township): see Ingleside, Long Sault

Spencerville (Edwardsburgh/Cardinal) - (613): 648, 658

Saint Regis (Akwesasane) - (343): 447, (613): 575

St. Eugene (East Hawkesbury) - )343): 445, (613): 674

St. Isidore - (343): 446, (613): 524

Stirling (Stirling-Rawdon) - (613): 395, 490

Stone Mills (township): see Enterprise, Newburgh, Yarker

Sydenham (South Frontenac) - (613): 376

Tamworth - (613): 379

Thurlow (Belleville) - (613): 477, 494

Toledo (Elizabethtown-Kitley) - (613): 275

Trenton (Quinte West) - (613): 208, 392, 394, 495, 651, 681, 955, 965

Tweed - (613): 478

Vankleek Hill - (343): 304, 448, 473 886, (613): 676, 677, 678, 684, 872

Verona (South Frontenac) - (613): 374

Wellington (Prince Edward County) - (613): 399

Westmeath (Whitewater Region) - (613): 587

Westport - (613): 273

Whitewater Region: see Beachburg, Westmeath

Whitney (South Algonquin) - (613): 637

Williamsburg (South Dundas) - (343): 449, (613): 535, 641

Winchester (North Dundas) - (343) 346, 787, (613): 441, 774

Wolfe Island (Frontenac Islands) - (613): 385

Wollaston: see Coe Hill

Wooler (Quinte West) - (613): 397, 497

Yarker (Stone Mills) - (613): 377

shared-cost service - (613): 310

p=Protected against assignment in both 819 and 613 - Government of Canada offices