February 11 is 211 Day, an annual celebration of the 211 service offered by United Way.
Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way Bruce Grey, says anyone can access the 211 service, 24/7, 365, to get information on local services that can help people in a variety of ways.
You simply dial 211, follow some prompts, and you get connected with a live navigator.
"What the navigator can do is connect you to human services in your community or, if there's nothing here for you, where the closest piece is. So it can be a simple call of 'I'm trying to register my child for swimming lessons,' right up to 'My relative's been diagnosed with a disease and I don't know where to go for help,'" Dobbyn explained.
The 211 service was first launched in Toronto in 2002 and Grey Bruce in 2009, and has been a vital tool for many who are looking for help across a number of sectors and issues. Dobbyn says that includes for yourself, or for family members or friends you are calling on behalf of.
"It is Ontario wide, so if you live in Grey/Bruce, but you have a family member in Windsor or Sudbury, for instance, you can call 211 and they have access to information on those communities, as well. So it's a really robust system," she noted.
Dobbyn says the service was well used in Bruce and Grey last year, especially for critical issues that continue to be difficult for people in the region.
"Over 10,000 calls specific to Bruce and Grey, were called in to 211 last year, and 42 per cent of those were about housing, with 7 per cent about mental health and substance use. So people calling and asking for supports and connecting to supports in our community," Dobbyn added.
211 is available 365 days a year and in more than 150 languages depending on the region. Nationally in 2025, 211 navigators answered 438,899 calls, 38,105 texts, and 19,776 other contacts, a total of 496,780 interactions. A 211 app is also available, as well.
