211 service coming to region

News Release
NCLC

The Northwest Community Legal Clinic, the Lakehead Social Planning Council and 211 North are pleased to announce that they have entered into a partnership to provide and maintain database information for the 211 North database for the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.
211 North provides an up-to-date, accessible, searchable database with comprehensive access to information about social, community, health and government services. It can be accessed on the internet at HYPERLINK “http://www.211north.ca” www.211north.ca, and by dialing 211 on your telephone in the city of Thunder Bay and District, Sault St. Marie and some surrounding communities. The expansion plan for 211 North includes the area west to the Manitoba border and east to North Bay. It is currently planned that 211 telephone access will be available to residents in the Rainy River District before the end of 2010.
This collaboration between the NCLC and 211 North is the result of work done by the Atikokan Labour Adjustment Committee, and their determination of a community need for accurate Information and Referral Service to be available in Atikokan. It is hoped that this initial phase of database collection and support will eventually be able to support a drop-in Information and Referral Centre in Atikokan.
As a community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario, providing accurate information and referrals is an important part of the work of NCLC. Since the amalgamation of the former Kenora Community Legal Clinic and Rainy River District Community Legal Clinic last year, the NCLC has provided services in both districts. Executive Director of NCLC, Trudy McCormick, said that “the Legal Clinic is looking forward to connecting with other service providers throughout the region, to provide timely and accurate data to 211 North, so that we can all have one source to turn to, for community and service information for our clients.”