211 launched in Kingston and the surrounding area in 2010. Funded in part by the United Way of KFL&A and the City of Kingston, 211 helps residents connect with the right services at the right time, providing an important gateway to community, social, non-clinical health, and related government services.
2001 – In response to the application submitted by United Way Centraide Canada and its partners, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) assigned 2-1-1 as the toll-free helpline for information about community, social, health and government services.
2002 – The first 211 service opened in Toronto.
2004 – 211 launched in Edmonton by United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
2005 – 211 launched in Calgary by United Way of Calgary and the Distress Centre.
2010 – 211 launched in Kingston and the surrounding area
2013 – 211 launched for residents of Nova Scotia (February).
By summer 2020, 211 is available in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and most of Quebec.
Dec 2020 – 211 achieved full service across all of Canada
2021 – 17% increase in 211 interactions via calls, texts and chats over 2021.
2022 – Strong indicators of 211’s importance in the lives of Canadians as inflation and economic aftereffects of the pandemic weigh heavy.
Between 2022 and 2023– 211 service partners answered 1.23M contacts by phone, text, chat, and email.
2024– In several municipalities, 211 service partners are collaborating with local governments and other community service providers in developing and implementing community crisis response initiatives.
United Way of KFL&A would like to acknowledge this traditional territory’s longer existence and its significance for the Indigenous people who lived and continue to live on Turtle Island.
We are situated on traditional Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat land. There are Métis and other non-status First People from many Indigenous Nations present in our community today. This acknowledgement symbolizes the United Way KFL&A’s first step, of many, along this path toward Indigenous reconciliation, in a respectful manner.
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