TL;DR: Canada411 has a Listing removal form on its help page: enter your name, email and listed number, pick a reason, and removal from Canada411.ca takes effect within two working days. But that only cleans the website. Your listing comes from your phone company, so also ask for an unlisted (non-published) number: Bell charges $2 a month plus possible one-time fees, and Cogeco’s Unlisted feature removes you from directory assistance, the White Pages and canada411.ca. Then deal with people-search sites one by one.
Two layers: the website and the source
There are two places your listing lives:
- The source: your landline provider, which feeds directory assistance (411), printed White Pages and online directories.
- The websites: Canada411.ca and the people-search sites that have copied the data over the years.
Fixing only the website is like mopping under a dripping tap. Fixing only the source leaves copies online. You want both.
Option 1: Canada411’s own removal form
According to Canada411’s help page, the Listing removal form asks for:
- your full name;
- an email address;
- the listed phone number;
- a reason: "I’ve paid my phone company to be unlisted," "Security/privacy issues," "Person deceased," "The listed number doesn’t belong to me" or "Duplicate listing";
- a CAPTCHA, plus an optional comment.
Canada411 says: "Your listing removal from Canada411.ca will be effective within two working days." It also warns that this "will not affect your Print Directory and Directory Assistance listings." That’s why the next step matters.
Option 2: Go unlisted with your phone company
Directory listings come from the phone company that provides your landline, so this is the fix that stops new copies.
| Provider | What it offers | Cost / catch |
|---|---|---|
| Bell | Non-published number: not listed with 411 Directory Assistance and kept out of the next printed White and Yellow Pages | $2/month plus tax; one-time fees may apply. An existing listed number can’t be unlisted until the next directory publication |
| Cogeco | Unlisted Name and Phone Number: removes you from directory assistance, the printed White Pages and canada411.ca | Ask Cogeco for the current price |
| Others (Rogers, Telus, Vidéotron and smaller providers) | Usually a similar unlisted option | Ask your provider |
The details come from Bell’s support page and Cogeco’s support page.
Bell’s catch is worth noticing: if your number is already listed, it stays in print until the next edition. Bell’s page talks about requesting a new non-published number, so if you need to disappear quickly, a new number is the cleaner route.
What going unlisted doesn’t do
- Call Display: people you call still see your name and number. Dial \*67 before a call (Bell says there’s no charge), or ask for permanent blocking.
- Copies already out there: people-search sites that scraped your listing years ago keep it until you remove it.
- Other online directories: some don’t get their data from your phone company, so you’ll have to contact them directly.
Option 3: People-search sites
Many US-based people-search sites also list Canadian names, addresses and numbers. Each has its own opt-out:
- Whitepages
- Spokeo
- Radaris
- our Canada data broker guide for the rest
Search your name and number in a private browser window afterwards. Google’s cached results can lag behind, so check again a few weeks later.
The order that works
- Ask your phone company for an unlisted (or new non-published) number.
- Submit Canada411’s removal form, choosing "I’ve paid my phone company to be unlisted" if that’s true.
- Opt out of the main people-search sites.
- Re-check in two working days (Canada411) and again in a month (everything else).
Your rights under PIPEDA
Canadian organizations covered by PIPEDA must let you access your personal information and challenge its accuracy, and you can withdraw consent in many cases. If a Canadian company won’t deal with your data properly, you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. See PIPEDA explained and, in Quebec, Law 25, which adds a limited right to de-indexing.
Why bother
Name, number and address together let anyone find your front door, and give scammers a ready-made script. Crime Stoppers tipsters found out how much that matters in 2026 (the leak). Directories are one source; breaches are another. A free email exposure check covers the breach side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove my number from Canada411?
Use the Listing removal form on Canada411’s help page. Canada411 says removal from the website takes effect within two working days.
Does the Canada411 form remove me from 411 directory assistance?
No. Canada411 says it won’t affect print directory or directory assistance listings. Ask your phone company for an unlisted number for that.
How much does an unlisted number cost in Canada?
Bell lists $2 a month plus tax for a non-published listing, and one-time fees may apply. Other providers set their own prices.
Can I unlist a number that’s already in the phone book?
Bell says an existing listed number can’t be unlisted until the next directory publication, so a new non-published number is faster.
Will going unlisted hide my number when I call people?
No. Dial *67 before a call or ask your provider for permanent Call Display blocking.
Does it remove me from people-search websites?
No. Those sites have their own opt-out forms.
Sources
- Canada411: Help and listing removal
- Bell: How to unlist my Bell Home phone number
- Cogeco: How do I remove my name and home phone number from the directory?