I’m so with you on this one!

I recently changed my language settings on Facebook to “Pirate English” and am still learning the lingo. Aye, tis a tongetwister indeed!

Of course, given the demographics of Alberta, it’s not as if there’s a much better logical alternative without causing a ton of problems to existing numbers. I suppose I just find it an amusing curiosity. I can still remember growing up in Edmonton when the entire province used 403, and you could tell what part of town someone was in by the three-digit prefix (or “central office code”) of their phone number!

Thanks for the info!

Prior to 1998, all of Alberta was 403 – there was no 780 yet. Fort Mac and Lethbridge were in the same area code then – why does it seem so strange now? A number in 587 is in the “area” of “all of Alberta”. Area codes aren’t there for humans to use to determine which province/state (or portion thereof) a number is in, although they do also serve that purpose. They’re there for the telephone network to route calls, and are just one of three components in your overall telephone number (NPA or “area” code, then central office code, then line number). The only difference now is that they’re a bit more “visible” even on local calls. No big deal, and as you said, you do quickly get used to it.

Why did you bother trying to get OUT of the habit of ten-digit dialing? Ten-digit dialing has been available in Alberta, optionally, since 2000. Why break the habit? Why not just continue dialing 10?