February 11 is aptly designated 211 across Canada, and Kimberly Leonard appeared before Mount Pearl City Council this week to explain how the service is available for people needing emotional support. From left are councillors Isabelle Fry, Jim Locke, Chelsea Lane, Mayor Dave Aker, 211 Director Kimberly Leonard, and councillors Mark Rice and Bill Antle. Chad Feehan photo
By Chad Feehan / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For years, 411 was the number you dialed to get help finding a phone number.
Now 211 are the go to digits, but for much more. The 211 service is actually a telephone and online directory that directs people in need of emotional help to organizations, community supports, and services relevant to their situation.
Mount Pearl council was given a resume of the service Tuesday by Kimberly Leonord, the Director of 211 Newfoundland and Labrador.
The service arrived in Canada in 2002 and was established in Newfoundland and Labrador at the height of the pandemic with help from United Way Centraide, Find Help Information Services, and the Federal Government.
“We are living in very difficult times with many uncertainties,” Leonard said. “211 is a trustworthy and confidential service.”
By telephone or web, people can avail of the service at any hour of the day and any day of the year, and will always be connected to an Inform Canada certified service director.
“They’re highly trained and can do high quality searches on a huge database that will connect them to the many programs, services, supports, agencies and organizations that are out there and eager to help,” she said. “They’re able to handle the many emotions that come along with stressful and difficult times.”
Wait times are under a minute, with translation services available in under two minutes.
The service was pleasant news to Councillor Mark Rice, who wondered about its funding situation.
Leonard clarified that 211 is currently being funded by Find Help, an information and referral service based in Toronto which is leveraging donated funds to stay in existence.
“211 has not been funded by our provincial government yet, we’re looking for that,” she said. “If after March 31st we don’t get funding, then it won’t be able to continue.”
The 211 service was instrumental in helping those affected by forest fires last year, said Leonard, as well as the recent deluge of snow in Cape Breton this week in which the province called a state of emergency.
“In times of crisis people are emotional,” Leonard said. “They’re not in a right state and they have nowhere to turn. They don’t know what to do.”
Recently, 211 has been added to a list of access points for naloxone kit distribution sites.
“That was implemented very fast. The government wanted us to do that as of December, (but) still no funding,” Leonard said. “We were able to train all the navigators who take care of Newfoundland to get that implemented in less than a week.”
Mayor Dave Aker said he hopes the service will make out successfully throughout the province. “I think this is a valuable referral service,” he said. “If you find two people that find it handy and successful for them then you’ve done a great job, and if it’s more than that, even better.”
Aside from dialing 211 on the telephone, you can also reach the service online by visiting www.nl.211.ca.
