How to Access Phone Numbers in BC

Telephone numbers used to be found only with the help of an operator.

Before the Internet became a commonly used research tool, callers got telephone numbers through a local or long-distance operator or by searching through phone books or from the reference section of the public library. The former method incurred a charge on your phone bill while the latter was not reliable. Libraries tended to stock only the books from larger cities in their home provinces. In the 21st century, you can locate a telephone number using the Internet--whether the call is a local or long-distance one within Canada and the party you wish to reach is an individual or a business. Accessing phone numbers for BC is easily done.

Instructions

1. 

   Use your computer to find the telephone number you need.

   Turn on the computer and wait for it to boot up. Access the search engine that has been downloaded to the computer; e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.

2. Go to Canada 411 (see References).

3. Type a person's name or location into the boxes beneath "Find a Person." Under

   "Find a Business" enter a business name or product and/or location by city and postal code. Hit "Find" for the telephone number to appear.

4. Hit "Other Search Options" from the Canada411.ca home page to search for a telephone number by business category, city, province, products and services, proximity to a known address or for the local phone number for a business with multiple locations.

5. Hit "Reverse Address" or "Reverse Lookup" if you have the address or location but need the phone number or to trace a business from a known number.

Tips & Warnings

• Canada411.ca works for any listed phone number in Canada. For BC, simply enter the BC address by province, city or proximity.

References

• Canada 411: Find a Person
• Bell: How to Use Directory Assistance