211 was launched in Edmonton in 2004 and in Calgary in 2005. United Way has been instrumental in bringing 211 to cities in Alberta, and it is now playing a leading role, along with many community partners, to initiate and implement a province-wide service so more people can benefit from the 24 hour support.

The 211 service is an enhancement, not a replacement, of local Information & Referral services currently operating across the province. In addition to helping people find the information they need, 211 analyzes data from calls to identify emerging needs, gaps in services and areas of high demand. 211 will share this data with various stakeholders, including local municipalities.

In 2016, daily online chat was added to increase the ways that Albertans can access our service.

Please see the Communities Served page of this site for information on where the 211 service is currently available.