1044:
1058:
100:
1030:
993:: 208 213 216 217 220 294 298 310 356 360 361 363 370 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 391 405 410 412 413 414 415 418 419 472 474 475 477 478 479 480 483 507 508 514 516 519 532 536 580 588 589 590 592 595 598 634 658 661 686 704 708 721 727 744 800 812 813 818 823 853 857 858 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 888 889 891 893 896 915 920 940 952 953 976 978 984 995 999
200:, which was retained by the Lower Mainland. Prior to 1996, 604 had been the sole area code in British Columbia for almost half a century. British Columbia would have likely needed another area code in any event because of the province's growth in the second half of the 20th century, but the split was hastened by Canada's system of number allocation. Canada does not use
256:
period began across
British Columbia during which it was possible to make local calls with either seven or ten digits. Three CO prefixes in the 250 area code were reserved for use by Northwestel, as 13 of its 15 switches could not then handle multiple area codes, and its system could not accommodate
247:
Several of the major landline and wireless providers in the 250 territory strongly favoured an overlay and stated that it would be easier to implement than a split. They also wanted to spare themselves and their customers the expense and burden of changing their numbers, which would have required a
208:
is allocated blocks of 10,000 numbers (corresponding to a single prefix) in each rate centre in which it plans to offer service, even in the smallest hamlets. Once a prefix is assigned to a carrier and rate centre, it cannot be moved elsewhere even if a rate centre has more than enough numbers to
212:
By the middle of the first decade of the 2000s, 250 was already on the verge of exhaustion, again because of the number allocation problem and the continued proliferation of cell phones, particularly on
Vancouver Island and in the larger cities of the interior. Amid projections that 250 would be
260:
The CRTC decided on an overlay after concluding that there was not enough time to implement a split before 250 was due to exhaust in
January 2008. Effective June 23, 2008, ten-digit dialling became mandatory throughout the entire province, and attempts to make a seven-digit call triggered an
269:
On June 1, 2013, area code 236 was implemented as a distributed overlay of area codes 250, 604, and 778 and was expected to be exhausted by May 2020. As a result, area code 672 was implemented on May 4, 2019, as an additional distributed overlay to relieve area codes 250, 604, 778, and 236.
265:
with a reminder of the new rule. After
September 12, 2008, seven-digit dialling no longer functioned. Overlays have become the preferred method of area code relief in Canada, as they are an easy workaround for the number allocation problem, as opposed to a split plan.
251:
The CRTC announced on June 7, 2007 that 778 would be expanded to become an overlay for the entire province starting that July 4. On that date, exchanges in 778 became available to
Vancouver Island and interior residents, and a
209:
serve its customers. That has resulted in thousands of wasted numbers, a problem that has been exacerbated by the proliferation of fax machines and pagers and then of cell phones.
1101:
1248:
640:: 212 215 258 300 317 322 448 450 451 452 454 469 470 491 575 681 712 717 718 762 763 764 765 769 801 807 808 826 859 860 861 862 863 864 868 869 870 872 878 899 979 980
214:
1614:
248:
massive reprogramming of cell phones. The proposal for a split would have forced
Vancouver Island's residents to change their numbers for a second time in a decade.
1345:
1219:
1309:
1575:
1629:
1109:
1197:
1340:
1138:
1290:
1172:
1252:
164:
882:
136:
31:
551:
205:
183:
143:
846:
608:
214 299 312 314 318 319 320 371 372 374 376 377 434 461 554 571 572 573 574 576 578 579 682 705 819 828 851 852 879
461:
339:
321:
279:
67:
1002:
954:
840:
834:
798:
757:: 244 255 268 327 518 585 591 616 618 619 667 668 713 714 716 734 739 740 741 753 754 755 762 796 797 802 816 824
467:
399:
237:
83:
59:
828:
822:
569:
515:
315:
150:
121:
117:
221:
a geographic split that would have left 250 with the interior and switched
Vancouver Island to a new area code
1624:
1619:
768:
599:
503:
455:
381:
297:
27:
1374:
1076:
978:
930:
876:
858:
816:
792:
760:
748:
611:
593:
491:
413:
291:
132:
966:
706:
669:
563:
521:
509:
473:
393:
375:
363:
345:
327:
285:
1215:
1014:
990:
960:
906:
864:
694:
681:
661:
587:
527:
333:
47:
1313:
1035:
1008:
936:
924:
870:
852:
786:
718:
675:
545:
437:
431:
351:
63:
51:
984:
942:
894:
780:
774:
730:
724:
700:
617:
497:
449:
405:
387:
1355:
1081:
996:
948:
912:
837:: 277 301 552 561 562 563 564 565 596 612 613 614 617 640 645 649 906 960 961 962 963 964 970 981
742:
643:
625:
581:
533:
357:
110:
1523:
1487:
1504:
1350:
1201:
157:
8:
1530:
1200:. Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. June 7, 2007. Archived from
253:
1244:
1279:
262:
1165:
1362:
1134:
54:. In addition, the numbering plan area extends into the United States community of
43:
35:
1335:
369:
233:
888:
479:
201:
39:
1608:
1590:
1577:
1565:
1554:
1550:
1546:
1542:
1538:
1534:
1512:
1491:
1483:
1479:
1475:
1471:
1467:
1463:
1459:
1446:
1442:
1438:
1434:
1430:
1419:
1415:
1411:
1404:
1400:
1387:
1370:
1137:. Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. January 11, 2007.
1071:
1063:
1049:
987:: 241 260 275 306 307 308 309 351 503 540 541 542 543 545 549 550 558 907 938
900:
557:
539:
425:
225:
197:
55:
810:
712:
655:
419:
229:
1171:. Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission. June 7, 2007.
485:
75:
1245:"Area code relief for area codes 250, 604, and 778 in British Columbia"
124: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
972:
804:
688:
649:
443:
217:
began considering relief options in early 2007. Proposals included:
23:
99:
16:
Telephone area code serving
British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska, US
918:
605:
575:
303:
79:
1508:
1135:"Relief planning for numbering plan area 250 in British Columbia"
754:
736:
637:
631:
309:
1280:"NANP-Split of 604 (British Columbia) Numbering Plan Area (NPA)"
1561:
1519:
1500:
1105:
807:: 274 276 328 460 462 482 486 487 488 490 492 493 770 809 817
196:
Area code 250 was created on
October 19, 1996, as a split of
71:
1249:
215:
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
390:: 252 466 510 597 701 709 710 715 732 737 746 748 815 856
366:: 207 218 331 334 338 465 585 650 702 703 792 871 897 898
273:
243:
concentrated overlays covering part of the 250 territory
324:: 201 202 203 204 205 286 287 346 504 830 850 895 923
1025:
1166:"Code relief for area code 250 – British Columbia"
739:is divided into the following local rate centres:
634:is divided into the following local rate centres:
578:is divided into the following local rate centres:
372:is divided into the following local rate centres:
470:: 224 261 262 263 264 271 329 663 785 787 793 794
1615:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1996
1606:
1312:. Canadian Number Administrator. Archived from
1356:Area Code 250 with NXX 310 is not a valid NXX
1239:
1237:
813:: 206 419 720 723 724 730 731 735 736 913 918
795:: 228 240 248 586 607 905 927 937 947 951 954
1129:
1127:
1360:
1234:
1198:"New dialing to come in British Columbia"
1124:
184:Learn how and when to remove this message
1216:"Ten-digit dialing coming to all of BC"
1607:
1255:from the original on February 20, 2018
1178:from the original on December 15, 2018
1160:
1158:
1156:
1222:from the original on December 9, 2018
1218:. CTV News Vancouver. June 22, 2008.
855:: 249 255 316 747 925 983 985 991 992
348:: 417 420 421 426 450 464 489 581 919
274:Service area and central office codes
1277:
122:adding citations to reliable sources
93:
1153:
204:as a relief measure. Instead, each
13:
1630:Communications in British Columbia
1141:from the original on June 29, 2009
206:competitive local exchange carrier
14:
1641:
1336:CNA exchange list for area +1-250
1329:
1310:"NPA 250/604/778 Relief Planning"
1296:from the original on 29 June 2011
939:: 615 631 635 638 641 892 922 975
691:: 229 357 399 424 429 529 603 829
422:: 219 467 719 782 784 795 806 854
68:incumbent local exchange carriers
46:–home to the provincial capital,
1056:
1042:
1028:
98:
1271:
213:exhausted by January 2008, the
109:needs additional citations for
70:that service the area code are
1208:
1190:
1094:
1:
1102:"NPA Code Search Information"
1087:
1005:: 267 302 303 305 392 398 855
951:: 231 364 368 512 521 693 921
777:: 352 354 505 509 551 777 825
378:: 210 246 324 416 436 533 606
28:North American Numbering Plan
1077:Area codes 778, 236, and 672
7:
1341:CNA NPA 250 Relief Planning
1278:Deak, JN (17 August 1995).
1021:
60:Canada–United States border
10:
1646:
89:
1560:
1529:
1518:
1499:
1495:
1454:
1452:
1425:
1408:
1395:
1391:
1382:
1380:
1036:Telecommunications portal
879:: 489 515 803 804 832 833
873:: 544 654 655 657 665 669
524:: see Bridge River Valley
488:: see Bridge River Valley
354:: 254 402 428 431 435 977
312:: see Bridge River Valley
306:: see Bridge River Valley
1351:Area Code Map of Canada
1082:List of NANP area codes
1591:54.00000°N 124.00000°W
240:, to the 250 territory
1505:Northwest Territories
763:: 729 751 756 758 760
721:: 280 315 378 525 936
672:: 427 432 520 602 908
566:: 270 341 342 409 688
282:: 395 456 593 396 706
1625:Area codes in Canada
1620:Area codes in Alaska
1596:54.00000; -124.00000
1316:on 25 September 2011
257:ten-digit-dialling.
230:concentrated overlay
118:improve this article
58:, located along the
50:–and the province's
1587: /
1377:
891:]: see Gulf Islands
370:The Cowichan Valley
316:Bridge River Valley
254:permissive dialling
1361:
1112:on 3 November 2011
883:Salt Spring Island
715:: see Gulf Islands
482:: see Gulf Islands
1571:
1570:
1410:250 (overlaid by
1204:on June 26, 2009.
981:: 524 567 570 944
903:: 226 355 358 359
506:: 442 443 584 666
330:: 304 365 608 687
263:intercept message
194:
193:
186:
168:
62:near the town of
32:Canadian province
1637:
1602:
1601:
1599:
1598:
1597:
1592:
1588:
1585:
1584:
1583:
1580:
1378:
1363:British Columbia
1346:Telecom archives
1325:
1323:
1321:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1295:
1284:
1265:
1264:
1262:
1260:
1251:. 28 July 2011.
1241:
1232:
1231:
1229:
1227:
1212:
1206:
1205:
1194:
1188:
1187:
1185:
1183:
1177:
1170:
1162:
1151:
1150:
1148:
1146:
1131:
1122:
1121:
1119:
1117:
1108:. Archived from
1098:
1066:
1061:
1060:
1059:
1052:
1047:
1046:
1045:
1038:
1033:
1032:
1031:
189:
182:
178:
175:
169:
167:
126:
102:
94:
44:Vancouver Island
36:British Columbia
1645:
1644:
1640:
1639:
1638:
1636:
1635:
1634:
1605:
1604:
1595:
1593:
1589:
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1581:
1578:
1576:
1574:
1573:
1332:
1319:
1317:
1308:
1299:
1297:
1293:
1287:Bellcore Letter
1282:
1274:
1269:
1268:
1258:
1256:
1243:
1242:
1235:
1225:
1223:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1181:
1179:
1175:
1168:
1164:
1163:
1154:
1144:
1142:
1133:
1132:
1125:
1115:
1113:
1100:
1099:
1095:
1090:
1062:
1057:
1055:
1048:
1043:
1041:
1034:
1029:
1027:
1024:
542:: see Union Bay
446:: see Union Bay
428:: see Union Bay
276:
234:Metro Vancouver
228:, previously a
190:
179:
173:
170:
133:"Area code 250"
127:
125:
115:
103:
92:
82:in the city of
52:Interior region
30:(NANP) for the
22:is a telephone
17:
12:
11:
5:
1643:
1633:
1632:
1627:
1622:
1617:
1569:
1568:
1558:
1557:
1527:
1526:
1516:
1515:
1497:
1496:
1494:
1453:
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1424:
1407:
1393:
1392:
1390:
1381:
1359:
1358:
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1348:
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1338:
1331:
1330:External links
1328:
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1267:
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1207:
1189:
1152:
1123:
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1067:
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1039:
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1012:
1006:
1000:
994:
988:
982:
976:
970:
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958:
952:
946:
940:
934:
928:
922:
916:
910:
904:
898:
892:
889:Saturna Island
886:
880:
874:
868:
862:
856:
850:
847:Qualicum Beach
844:
838:
832:
826:
820:
814:
808:
802:
796:
790:
784:
778:
772:
766:
765:
764:
758:
752:
746:
734:
728:
722:
716:
710:
704:
698:
692:
685:
679:
673:
667:
666:
665:
659:
658:: 700 707 768
653:
647:
641:
629:
623:
622:
621:
615:
609:
603:
597:
591:
585:
573:
567:
561:
555:
549:
543:
537:
531:
525:
519:
513:
507:
501:
495:
489:
483:
480:Galiano Island
477:
471:
465:
462:Fort St. James
459:
453:
447:
441:
435:
429:
423:
417:
411:
410:
409:
403:
397:
391:
385:
379:
367:
361:
355:
349:
343:
340:Christina Lake
337:
331:
325:
322:Campbell River
319:
313:
307:
301:
295:
289:
283:
280:100 Mile House
275:
272:
245:
244:
241:
222:
202:number pooling
192:
191:
106:
104:
97:
91:
88:
40:Lower Mainland
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1642:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1612:
1610:
1603:
1600:
1567:
1563:
1559:
1556:
1552:
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1536:
1532:
1528:
1525:
1521:
1517:
1514:
1510:
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1502:
1498:
1493:
1489:
1485:
1481:
1477:
1473:
1469:
1465:
1461:
1457:
1451:
1448:
1444:
1440:
1436:
1432:
1428:
1423:
1421:
1417:
1413:
1406:
1402:
1401:Pacific Ocean
1398:
1394:
1389:
1385:
1379:
1376:
1372:
1368:
1364:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
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1315:
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1307:
1292:
1288:
1281:
1276:
1275:
1254:
1250:
1246:
1240:
1238:
1221:
1217:
1211:
1203:
1199:
1193:
1174:
1167:
1161:
1159:
1157:
1140:
1136:
1130:
1128:
1111:
1107:
1103:
1097:
1093:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1072:Area code 604
1070:
1069:
1065:
1064:Alaska portal
1054:
1051:
1050:Canada portal
1040:
1037:
1026:
1016:
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1003:Williams Lake
1001:
998:
995:
992:
989:
986:
983:
980:
977:
974:
971:
968:
965:
962:
959:
956:
955:Tumbler Ridge
953:
950:
947:
944:
941:
938:
935:
932:
929:
926:
923:
920:
917:
915:: 642 664 867
914:
911:
909:: 847 877 917
908:
905:
902:
901:Slocan Valley
899:
896:
893:
890:
887:
885:: 537 538 653
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
842:
841:Prince Rupert
839:
836:
835:Prince George
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
819:: 230 902 949
818:
815:
812:
809:
806:
803:
800:
799:Pender Island
797:
794:
791:
788:
785:
782:
779:
776:
773:
770:
767:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
747:
744:
741:
740:
738:
735:
732:
729:
727:: 449 528 605
726:
723:
720:
717:
714:
711:
708:
705:
702:
699:
696:
693:
690:
686:
683:
680:
677:
674:
671:
668:
663:
660:
657:
654:
651:
648:
645:
642:
639:
636:
635:
633:
630:
627:
624:
619:
616:
613:
610:
607:
604:
601:
598:
595:
592:
589:
586:
583:
580:
579:
577:
574:
571:
568:
565:
562:
559:
558:Hyder, Alaska
556:
553:
552:Hudson's Hope
550:
547:
544:
541:
540:Hornby Island
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
523:
520:
517:
514:
511:
508:
505:
502:
500:: 272 344 439
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
484:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
468:Fort St. John
466:
463:
460:
457:
454:
452:: 278 430 946
451:
448:
445:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
427:
426:Denman Island
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
407:
404:
401:
400:Lake Cowichan
398:
396:: 245 912 924
395:
392:
389:
386:
384:: 733 743 929
383:
380:
377:
374:
373:
371:
368:
365:
362:
360:: 339 890 941
359:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
314:
311:
308:
305:
302:
299:
296:
293:
290:
287:
284:
281:
278:
277:
271:
267:
264:
258:
255:
249:
242:
239:
238:Fraser Valley
235:
231:
227:
226:area code 778
223:
220:
219:
218:
216:
210:
207:
203:
199:
198:area code 604
188:
185:
177:
174:December 2018
166:
163:
159:
156:
152:
149:
145:
142:
138:
135: –
134:
130:
129:Find sources:
123:
119:
113:
112:
107:This section
105:
101:
96:
95:
87:
85:
84:Prince Rupert
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
61:
57:
56:Hyder, Alaska
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
29:
25:
21:
20:Area code 250
1572:
1564:area codes:
1533:area codes:
1522:area codes:
1511:area codes:
1455:
1426:
1409:
1396:
1383:
1366:
1365:area codes:
1318:. Retrieved
1314:the original
1298:. Retrieved
1286:
1272:Bibliography
1257:. Retrieved
1226:December 19,
1224:. Retrieved
1210:
1202:the original
1192:
1182:December 19,
1180:. Retrieved
1145:December 19,
1143:. Retrieved
1114:. Retrieved
1110:the original
1096:
829:Port Renfrew
823:Port McNeill
811:Port Alberni
713:Mayne Island
656:West Kelowna
570:Jordan River
516:Gulf Islands
420:Dawson Creek
268:
259:
250:
246:
211:
195:
180:
171:
161:
154:
147:
140:
128:
116:Please help
111:verification
108:
42:, including
38:outside the
19:
18:
1594: /
1375:778/236/672
769:Nanoose Bay
600:Cache Creek
504:Grand Forks
486:Gold Bridge
456:Fort Nelson
382:Cobble Hill
298:Bella Bella
76:Northwestel
1609:Categories
1531:Washington
1088:References
979:Vanderhoof
931:Summerland
877:Salmon Arm
859:Revelstoke
817:Port Hardy
793:Parksville
761:Wellington
749:Lantzville
612:Logan Lake
594:Clearwater
492:Gold River
414:Cumberland
292:Beaverdell
224:expanding
144:newspapers
1582:124°0′0″W
973:Valemount
967:Union Bay
963:: 266 726
945:: 522 725
933:: 404 494
921:: 425 910
897:: 652 656
861:: 814 837
843:: 624 627
805:Penticton
783:: 485 498
751:: 390 933
745:: 323 722
707:Mackenzie
689:Kootenays
678:: 632 639
670:Kimberley
650:Peachland
628:: 353 943
602:: 313 457
564:Invermere
560:: 234 636
554:: 783 903
518:: 222 539
510:Greenwood
474:Fruitvale
444:Fanny Bay
402:: 749 932
394:Ladysmith
376:Chemainus
364:Courtenay
346:Cranbrook
328:Castlegar
286:Armstrong
24:area code
1579:54°0′0″N
1320:4 August
1300:4 August
1291:Archived
1259:4 August
1253:Archived
1220:Archived
1173:Archived
1139:Archived
1116:4 August
1022:See also
1015:Zeballos
991:Victoria
961:Ucluelet
919:Sparwood
907:Smithers
865:Rossland
695:Lillooet
682:Kitwanga
662:Winfield
606:Kamloops
588:Barriere
576:Kamloops
528:Hazelton
522:Gun Lake
334:Chetwynd
304:Bralorne
236:and the
80:CityWest
48:Victoria
1524:208/986
1509:Nunavut
1488:208/986
1009:Wynndel
937:Terrace
925:Stewart
871:Saanich
853:Quesnel
787:Osoyoos
755:Nanaimo
737:Nanaimo
719:Merritt
676:Kitimat
638:Kelowna
632:Kelowna
546:Houston
438:Enderby
432:Elkford
352:Creston
310:Brexton
158:scholar
90:History
64:Stewart
26:in the
1562:Alaska
1418:, and
985:Vernon
943:Tofino
895:Sidney
781:Oliver
775:Nelson
731:Nakusp
725:Midway
701:Lytton
687:Rural
618:Savona
498:Golden
450:Fernie
406:Youbou
388:Duncan
160:
153:
146:
139:
131:
78:, and
66:. The
1520:Idaho
1501:Yukon
1456:South
1384:North
1294:(PDF)
1283:(PDF)
1176:(PDF)
1169:(PDF)
1106:NANPA
1017:: 761
1011:: 866
999:: 994
997:Wells
975:: 566
969:: 335
957:: 242
949:Trail
927:: 636
913:Sooke
867:: 362
849:: 752
831:: 647
825:: 956
801:: 629
789:: 495
771:: 468
743:Cedar
733:: 265
709:: 997
703:: 455
697:: 256
684:: 849
664:: 766
652:: 767
646:: 548
644:Oyama
626:Kaslo
620:: 373
614:: 523
596:: 674
590:: 672
584:: 679
582:Chase
572:: 646
548:: 845
536:: 998
534:Hixon
530:: 842
512:: 445
494:: 283
476:: 367
464:: 996
458:: 774
440:: 838
434:: 865
416:: 336
408:: 745
358:Comox
342:: 447
336:: 788
318:: 238
300:: 957
294:: 484
288:: 546
165:JSTOR
151:books
72:Telus
1507:and
1427:East
1397:West
1322:2011
1302:2011
1261:2011
1228:2018
1184:2018
1147:2018
1118:2011
232:for
137:news
1566:907
1555:564
1551:509
1547:425
1543:360
1539:253
1535:206
1513:867
1492:406
1484:509
1480:564
1476:360
1472:672
1468:236
1464:778
1460:604
1447:368
1443:825
1439:587
1435:780
1431:403
1420:672
1416:236
1412:778
1405:907
1388:867
1371:604
1367:250
120:by
34:of
1611::
1553:,
1549:,
1545:,
1541:,
1537:,
1503:,
1490:,
1486:,
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1474:,
1458::
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1429::
1422:)
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1403:,
1399::
1386::
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1289:.
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1247:.
1236:^
1155:^
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