Community partners in Waterloo region celebrate success of online service

Waterloo Region – Making things easy to find is key to the success being celebrated on this second anniversary of the isearchmycommunity online service site.

“Just Google it” sounds simple, but sometimes it’s difficult to find local service information. The one-stop site “isearchmycommunity”, launched in the Region in 2015, has seen views increase by the hundreds of thousands in just two short years. 

“When the site launched it removed the difficulties of finding local services by providing information in one location, anytime, that is always up-to-date,” said Deb Bergey, Manager, Client Experience and Service Improvement at the Region. It is used extensively by individuals, local municipalities, United Way and community groups. It is a key piece of the 211 system (a phone and web based information service).

The community information site is available to any individual or organization wanting up-to-date information, or to post it, on a wide range of community services such as:

• child care
• recreation
• basic needs: food banks and shelters
• seniors’ services
• mental and physical health services
• immigrant settlement services

Funded by the Region of Waterloo, the service contains updated information from many community organizations and is maintained by the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries.

“We are thrilled by the success of isearchmycommunity and will continue working together to make it easy for all citizens and community agencies to openly access information they need,” said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair. The site is accessed by more than 17,500 individuals with over 230,000 hits monthly.  Every month the number of users continues to grow.

This consolidated site reduces the number of locations agencies need to update their service information.

For example, the Children and Youth Planning Table is using isearchmycommunity data to improve access to children and youth services. “By using this go-to database we know we can help connect families and youth to information in a more helpful way,” said Alison Pearson, Manager, Children and Youth Planning Table.

Access the online service at www.isearchmycommunity.ca

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For more information, please contact: Deb Bergey, Manager Client Experience and Service Improvement, Region of Waterloo 519-575-4097 or dbergey@regionofwaterloo.ca