211 Ontario | Foundations for a Sustainable Future

211 service are now available in Ottawa/Le service 211 maintenant offert à Ottawa

We are delighted to announce the launch of Canada's newest 211 service in Ottawa, on September 19, 2008. This highly anticipated event marks the completion of the implementation of eight 211 hubs in Ontario. Along with Toronto, Niagara Region, Simcoe County, Windsor-Essex, Halton, Peel, and Thunder Bay, Ottawa ensures the provision of 211 services to more than 6.3 million Ontarians and more than 9 million Canadians!

During a very exciting ceremony, Michael Allen, President/CEO, United Way/Centraide Ottawa, welcomed participants, special guests and the media to celebrate this special occasion. Speakers included John Myers, President of the Ontario 211 Services Corporation Board of Directors, Deborah Spurr, representing the 211 Canada Steering Committee, Peter Holt, Board Chair of the Community Information Centre of Ottawa, Diane Deans, City councillor, and Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services. See a picture >>

During the ceremony, Minister Meilleur confirmed provincial funding of more than $13 million over four years. This will support expansion of 211 services to all Ontario residents, and the creation of Canada's first province-wide 211 service delivery system. To demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of the system, Minister Meilleur placed the first call to 211 in Ottawa, seeking information for a constituent who is a new Canadian looking for ESL language classes for his wife and after-school classes for his children.

United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada congratulates its colleagues with United Way/Centraide Ottawa for their leadership on this development, and also congratulates the Community Information Centre of Ottawa for their successful launch of 211!

Le service 211 maintenant offert à Ottawa

Nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer le lancement du plus récent des services 211, qui a eu lieu le 19 septembre 2008 à Ottawa. Cet événement tant attendu marque la réalisation de la mise en ouvre de huit centres en Ontario. Ottawa, de concert avec Toronto, la région de Niagara, le comté de Simcoe, Windsor-Essex, Halton, Peel, et Thunder Bay, contribue à assurer la prestation du service 211 à plus de 6,3 millions d'Ontariens et à plus de 9 millions de Canadiens en tout!

Au cours d'une cérémonie des plus excitantes, Michael Allen, président-directeur général de Centraide/United Way Ottawa, a souhaité la bienvenue aux participants, aux invités spéciaux et aux représentants des médias qui étaient de la partie pour célébrer l'occasion. Au nombre des conférenciers se trouvaient John Myers, président du conseil d'administration de l'Ontario 211 Services Corporation; Deborah Spurr, représentante déléguée du comité directeur pancanadien sur le 211; Peter Holt, président du conseil d'administration du Centre d'information communautaire d'Ottawa; Diane Deans, conseillère municipale; ainsi que Madeleine Meilleur, ministre des Services sociaux et communautaires.

La ministre Meilleur, dans le cadre de la cérémonie, a confirmé que le gouvernement provincial investirait dans le projet une somme de plus de 13 millions de dollars sur quatre ans, ce qui permettra d'étendre le service 211 à tous les résidants de l'Ontario et d'établir, au Canada, le premier réseau de prestation de services 211 à l'échelle provinciale. La ministre, pour démontrer la polyvalence et l'efficacité du système, a effectué le premier appel adressé au service 211 à Ottawa; elle a ainsi obtenu les renseignements voulus pour le compte d'un néo-Canadien qui veut inscrire son épouse à des cours d'anglais langue seconde, et ses enfants à des activités parascolaires.

Centraide Canada - United Way of Canada félicite ses collègues de United Way/Centraide Ottawa de leur leadership dans ce dossier. Il félicite également le Centre d'information communautaire d'Ottawa d'avoir mis en ouvre avec succès le service 211!

Deborah Spurr Director,

National 211 Initiative Directrice,

Projet pancanadien sur le 211

United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada

Strengthening Ontarians' Access to Community Services

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 27, 2008) - Ontario residents have a powerful new internet resource that offers reliable information about community, social, health and related government services. 211Ontario.ca consolidates more than 56,000 services and programs into one bilingual, searchable website.

This ambitious three year project, funded through the Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Ministry of Community and Social Services, will significantly improve public access to community resources and programs designed to ensure people can successfully cope with life's challenges and be productive, active and engaged.

To achieve an exceptionally high degree of accuracy, the standards-driven 211 information collection and management system engages local partners in a continual process of updating and verification of thousands of data records. 211Ontario.ca enables customized views for specific audiences and service location mapping.

"All of us have spent time lost in the maze of websites, information centres and marketing material, trying to find the services that will help to solve a problem," says Kathy Kelly, the 211Ontario.ca Project Manager. "With the launch of 211Ontario.ca that search just got easier. This is not just another website!"

211Ontario.ca is a key component of Ontario211, an integrated telephone and internet-based system providing the public with one stop information about, and referral to, the broad range of community resources and human services.

Ontario211's telephone service is also expanding to reach 50% of Ontario residents by the end of 2008. It's anticipated all Ontario residents will have 211 by 2011.



For more information, please contact

Findhelp Information Services
Kathy Kelly
211Ontario.ca Project Manager
(416) 392-4658
Email: kakelly@findhelp.ca

or

Findhelp Information Services
Corinne Gallois
Coordinator French Services
(416) 392-4698
Email: cgallois@findhelp.ca

or

Findhelp Information Services
Janice Hayes
Executive Director and CEO
(416) 392-4566
Email: jhayes@findhelp.ca

211 Launched in Peel Region

The number of Canadians with access to 211 grew by an additional 1.1 million people with the launch of 211 in Peel Region on May 22nd.

The new service was officially inaugurated at a meeting of Regional Council attended by a variety of community agencies and representatives.   211 Peel leverages the leadership and capacity of the Region of Peel’s consolidated call centre, community data records complied by the Peel Information Providers, start-up funding from the province, and support from United Way of Peel.

A series of public outreach and awareness building events are currently underway in the communities that comprise Peel – Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon.  More that 3,200 calls to 211 Peel had already answered before the service officially began.

Congratulations to all who’ve made 211 a reality in Peel!

The launch of service in Peel means that approximately 7.5 million or 24% Canadians now have access to 211.

All of Simcoe now has 211 info service

All of Simcoe now has 211 info service
Author: Kurtis Elsner
Date: Apr 05, 2008
Kurtis Elsner

From left, Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis, Community Connection executive director Pam Hillier, United Way of Greater Simcoe County executive director Seija Suutari and CONTACT executive director Lianne Picot were at the launch of the 2-1-1 telephone service at the Gibson Centre in Alliston last Wednesday.


Simcoe County residents now only have to dial three numbers to reach a 24-hour, live helpline for information on social and government programs.
The 211-telephone service lets residents contact a live information specialist, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. It recently launched countywide. The call centre staff is trained to answer a wide variety of questions, or direct people to those who can, regarding a full range of community, social, health and government services.

"It's such a comfort to know the 211 is there watching our backs for us - for people to be able to pick up a phone and hear a friendly voice that says I hear you, and I understand," said Lianne Picot, executive director of CONTACT.

CONTACT has teamed up with Community Connection in Collingwood to help provide the information for local contacts for the database. Community Connection has been operating a 211 pilot project in the Collingwood area since 2005. Until now, that project was funded by $210,000 worth of grants from the United Way of Greater Simcoe County and the United Way of Southern Georgian Bay, which have been long-time advocates for the program across Canada and the United States.

However, an $82,000 commitment from the County of Simcoe means the pilot project is now launching countywide. The 211-service is designed to provide residents with a one-stop, centralized window to most government and community services, said Community Connection executive director Pam Hillier.

If people have a question, and don't know where to turn, they should dial 211, she said. Questions can include everything from information on seniors' homes to locations of after-hours medical clinics, to marriage counseling or how to replace lost or stolen identification. The service is also multilingual, to accommodate those with difficulties communicating in English.

"The thing with (211) is, it's for everybody. It's a simple way to access services if you don't know who to call," said Hillier.

Callers are able to speak with someone directly on the phone, eliminating the frustration that often comes with automated menus, said Hillier. Because the Simcoe County 211 system will be part of a larger network throughout the province, if there is high call volume or technical difficulties in Collingwood, calls can be diverted to one of the other seven call centres across the province.

Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis said the county spends $200 million on social services and 211 will not only give residents faster access to government services, it will also help the county determine what social services people need.

It could also mean that county services will get more use, because more people will know what is available.

"It may mean more demand on county, but our business is to know the needs of our constituents," he said.

OPP Superintendent Glenn Trivett said the service should also help divert non-emergency calls away from 911. He said people often call 911 when they are confused and have nowhere to turn, which ties up the lines for real emergencies.

The service is in the process of coming online across the county, and is now available in South Simcoe. Some phone numbers at the very south of the county will not be able to access 211, because they are considered in the York Region phone network. Hillier said only a few hundred people won't have the service.

The service will not answer questions about businesses. People calling about that will be directed to call 411.

http://www.staynersun.ca/staynersun/article/68374

211 Niagara to get financial boost

211 Niagara to get financial boost
Province is investing in program
Posted By By MAGGIE RIOPELLE
Tribune Staff

WELLAND

The province is investing in 211 and it means the expansion of 211 Niagara.

Only two years ago the service was launched in the region. It’s seen a lot of success in the communities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland.

But it’s still a long way from reaching the 12 municipalities in the region.

“We’re going to expand,” said Rosanna Thoms, executive director of InfoNiagara, which is run by a volunteer board and operates 211 Niagara.

“All expectations are that we will cover a larger area. We’re trying to cover Niagara with limited dollars up to today.”

The exact amount of funding 211 Niagara will receive wasn’t yet available but any extra boost from the province is welcome news.

“It will allow us to truly serve Niagara and expand to other areas,” she said. “We’re going to see an Ontario movement.”

Currently, the 211 service is available to residents of Toronto, Niagara, Simcoe County, Halton Windsor-Essex and Thunder Bay.

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It’s designed to be a one-stop shop to provide information and referral for a range of community, social, health and related government services and programs.

It’s difficult for people to know what organizations to contact or where to go for assistance, and when looking in the phone book, said Thoms, they need to know an organization’s name.

The 211 service ensures people have access to services even when they don’t know where to turn.

“It’s important because it’s a first point of access and 211 is such an easy number. I think the big thing for 211 is that you speak to a live person. It’s always available, 24/7 and 365 days a year.”

Regionally, 211 Niagara fields a lot of calls, as many as 40,000 annually but it could handle much more.

United Way of Ontario provides funding for the 211 programs and the provincial organization’s objective is to ensure all residents of Ontario have the service by 2011.

211 Launched in Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay – The Lakehead Social Planning Council (LSPC) and its partners unveiled the 211 Ontario North call centre on February 11, 2008, made possible through funding from The United Way of Thunder Bay, Fednor, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the Ministry of Community and Social Services, The Thunder Bay District Social Service Administration Board, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) and the Paterson Foundation.

Among the guest speakers at the ribbon cutting ceremony were Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle, Thunder Bay–Atikokan MPP, Bill Mauro, Thunder Bay District Social Service Administration Board President, Iain Angus, United Way of Canada - Manager of 211 Ontario Initiative, Bill Morris and OTF local Board Member, Donna Gilhooly.

Read Media Release >>

Report on Francophone community consultations | Rapport sur les consultations communautaires francophones

211Ontario.ca project team conducted consultations with the Francophone community from november 2006 to April 2007.
The report from the Francophone consultations is now available >>

L'équipe du projet 211Ontario.ca a mené des consultations auprès de la communauté francophone de novembre 2006 à avril 2007.
Le rapport sur les consultations communautaires francophones est maintenant disponible >>

211Ontario.ca project team conducted consultations with the Francophone community from november 2006 to April 2007.
The report from the Francophone consultations is now available >>

United Ways' Ontario211 Project Completed | Accomplissement du projet Ontario211 de Centraide

Download June 2007 Media Release >>

The goal of the Ontario211 Project was to expand access to the 211 telephone service in Ontario and plan for expansion of 211 into a province-wide system. The Project Report documents the success of that process. The other reports from Ontario211 are a report on the many benefits of 211 entitled Who Benefits from 211, a detailed expansion plan prepared by Deloitte entitled Report on Ontario211 Program Planning and Development, and a report examining the potential uses of 211 data entitled Tapping the 211 Information Goldmine.

Click on the link for a list of project reports >>

Télécharger le communiqué de presse de juin 2007 (en anglais seul.) >>

Le but du projet Ontario211 était d'élargir l'accès au service de téléphone 211 en Ontario et de planifier le développement du 211 en un système provincial. Le rapport du projet documente le succès de cette opération. Les autres rapports de Ontario211 incluent : un rapport sur les nombreux avantages du 211 intitulé Who Benefits from 211 (À qui profite 211) ; un plan d'élargissement détaillé préparé par Deloitte intitulé Report on Ontario211 Program Planning and Development (Rapport sur la planification et le développement du programme Ontario211) ; et un rapport analysant les utilisations potentielles de 211 intitulé Tapping the 211 Information Goldmine (Profiter des richesses en information du 211).

Cliquer le lien pour obtenir la liste des rapports sur le projet (en anglais seul.) >>

211 Ontario Annual Report | Rapport annuel 211 Ontario

In 2006, 211 telephone service was available to 29% of Ontario residents. Service could be dialed in the City of Toronto, Niagara Region and South Georgian Bay. With the launch of Halton Region, June 2007, 211 will respond to over 500,000 calls in 2007.

• Download 211Ontario Year-end Report 2006 (English|French) >>
• Download Findhelp Information Services Annual Report 2006 (English|French)  >>

En 2006, le service de telephone 211 était disponible auprès de 29% des résidents en Ontario. Les habitants de la ville de Toronto et des régions de Niagara et de la baie Georgienne pouvaient composer le numéro du service 211. Avec son lancement dans la région d'Halton, en juin 2007, le 211 répondra à plus de 500 000 appels en 2007.

• Télécharger Rapport de l'exercice 2006 211Ontario (Anglais|Français) >>
• Télécharger Rapport annuel 2006 de Services d'information Findhelp (Anglais|Français) >>

June 2007: 5 Year Anniversary in Canada! | Juin 2007 : 5e anniversaire au Canada !

Download the report -English >>

On June 13, 2002, Findhelp Information Services answered the first 211 call in Canada launching Toronto's landmark 211 service, and five years of setting and exceeding benchmarks for information and referral in North America. In recognition of this important milestone, Findhelp produced the 211: Fifth Anniversary Briefing Report, released  at the agency's annual general meeting (June 19, 2007).

Télécharger le rapport - Français >>

Le 13 juin 2002, Services d'information Findhelp répondait au premier appel 211 au Canada, lançant le service 211 de marque à Toronto, mais aussi 5 années d'établissement et de surpassement des mesures de performance en information et aiguillage en Amérique du Nord. Findhelp célébrait cette étape importante avec un Rapport du 5e anniversaire, publié à l'occasion de l'Assemblée générale annuelle le 19 juin 2007.

Partnership Conference | Conférence sur les partenariats

Thank you to over 75 participants for dedicating two days to editorial collaboration and data partnerships, March 26 & 27. Notes for participant review are posted >>.

Merci ! Vous étiez plus de 75 participants à consacrer ces deux jours à la collaboration éditoriale et les partenariats de données,  ces 26 et 27 mars. (en anglais seul.) >>

Report on Community Consultations | Rapport sur les consultations communautaires

211Ontario.ca project team conducted extensive community consultations from July 2006 to January 2007. The report is now available >>

Note: More Francophone consultations are scheduled in the course of spring 2007, and a distinct report will be produced to reflect the specific situation and needs of the Francophone communities

L'équipe du projet 211Ontario.ca a mené des consultations communautaires  intensives de juillet 2006 à janvier 2007. Le rapport est maintenant disponible >>

Note: Des consultations francophones supplémentaires sont prévues au cours du printemps 2007. Un rapport distinct sera publié afin de rendre compte de la situation et des besoins spécifiques des communautés francophones.

211Ontario.ca Conference | La conférence

Executive Directors and/or Senior Managers responsible for participation in 211Ontario.ca:
SAVE THESE DATES -- March 26 & 27, 2007 >>

Pour les directeurs administratifs ou les gestionnaires principaux responsables de la participation au projet 211Ontario.ca :
Les 26 et 27 mars 2007, la conférence 211Ontario.ca traitera de deux aspects importants du projet en 2007-2008 : >>

UWO Announces Plan for Ontario211 Corporation

• Download 211_governance_announcement_1206.pdf
• Download governance_announcement_backgrounder_1206.pdf

211Ontario.ca Project Calendar | Calendrier du projet

Calendar | Calendrier

Ontario211 Project Communiques

The United Ways of Ontario is pleased to acknowledge the commitment by the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services, for $1.4 million in start up funding to the United Way of Canada - Centraide Canada for UWO and its partners.

Province-wide 211 online service will launch in 2007 | Le projet 211Ontario.ca en route

211Ontario.ca will launch in 2007. Visit the project website for comprehensive, up-to-date information. Download 211Ontario English Press Release (PDF)

Lancement 211Ontario.ca en 2007. Visiter le site web du projet pour des informationations à jour et complètes. Télécharger le communiqué de presse 211Ontario en français (PDF)

211Ontario.ca will launch in 2007. Visit the project website for comprehensive, up-to-date information. Download 211Ontario English Press Release (PDF)

Lancement 211Ontario.ca en 2007. Visiter le site web du projet pour des informationations à jour et complètes. Télécharger le communiqué de presse 211Ontario en français (PDF)

211Ontario.ca Project Managment Office

The 211Ontario.ca Project Management Office is comprised of representatives from the following organizations: Community Information Online Consortium (1); Findhelp (1); InformCanada (1); InformOntario (1); Ministry of Community and Social Services (2); United Ways of Ontario (2); and project team leads (4). Download pmo_terms_of_reference_july_10_2006_final.pdf

Bientôt : Les ressources en francais. Contactez Corinne Gallois, la Coordonnatrice des services en français, par courriel ou par téléphone en composant le 416 392-4698.

Halton News: July 2006

211 is Coming to Halton media release

311 Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario now has 311 service, described on the city website as "... connecting residents with its 'one-stop' Contact Centre, providing answers on everything from recreation and marriage licenses to recycling and parking."

The service operates Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m, however urgent calls such as broken water mains, traffic lights not functioning, or bylaw services such as noise complaints, parking enforcement or animal control services are accepted outside of business hours. Contact: General Inquiries: 3-1-1 (613-580-2400) Toll-Free: 866-261-9799 TTY: 613-580-2401.

Information derived from: http://ottawa.ca/contactus_en.shtml