Press Release – United Glow – over 60 landmark buildings across the country will be lit up in red on February 11

February 7, 2025

United Way 211 DayMoncton, February 10, 2025 – On February 11, United Way Centraide, 211 service providers across North America and their supporters will observe 211 Day to raise awareness of this valuable service in the community. In celebration of 211 Day, over 60 buildings, monuments, and landmarks will participate by illuminating their facades in 211 colors red as part of United Glow. United Glow is an annual, Canada-wide initiative led by United Way Centraide Canada aimed at promoting the 211 helpline.

211 provides personalized navigation support to people in vulnerable circumstances, including seniors, newcomers, Indigenous communities, and more. The 211 database has the largest inventory of Canada’s community and government services and benefits.

211 is free, confidential and available 24/7 (even on holidays) in 150+ languages and can be accessed through multiple channels:

Since the launch of the 211 New Brunswick service back in 2020, we have been able to ensure that well over 100,000 people have been connected to supports and services when they have faced challenges in their lives. Based on our aggregate, anonymous data, we have a clear idea of some of the main factors that are making New Brunswickers call 211 for support. In 2024, 57.5% of calls to 211 NB were related to basic needs such as housing,
food, and income supports. Of that 57.5%, 85% of calls were specifically related to housing
and shelter supports. This paints a really clear picture of the socioeconomic situation in New Brunswick and the need for further supports and financial assistance programs for individuals struggling to meet basic needs amidst increased costs of living and other compounding factors that make life challenging for many. This is where services like 211 are crucial to help ensure people can be connected to the essential supports they need in a timely manner.

Our service’s goal is to ensure easy, fast, streamlined access to supports for anyone in need. As such, we are proud to share that one of our latest innovations is the development of referral pathways that will make 211 the front door to help for people experiencing sexual, intimate, or gender-based violence, making access to lifesaving help more simple and effective for survivors and service providers supporting them. This initiative is a partnership between Women’s Equality, Social Development, and 211 New Brunswick, aiming to improve the province’s response to what has been the highest increase in intimate partner violence in all of Canada between 2009-2021.

Help us spread the word about 211! This information about our service can be lifesaving for many. And on February 11, share your pictures of the lit-up landmarks listed below, using the hashtags #211DayCanada and #UnitedGlow.

BC

Burnaby – BC Parkway

Burnaby – City Hall

Kelowna – Visitor Centre

Ladysmith – City Hall

Parksville – Civic and Technology Centre

Port Coquitlam – City Hall

 

Port Moody – City Hall

Quesnel – Fraser River Footbridge

Trail – Victoria Street Bridge

Vancouver – BC Place, The Northern Lights Display

Vancouver – Burrard Street Bridge

Vancouver – Canada Place, Sails of Light

Vancouver – City Hall

Vancouver – Pacific Coliseum – PNE

Vancouver – Science World

Victoria – BC Parliament Buildings, Ceremonial Entrance and Fountains

Victoria – Confederation Garden Park Fountain and Waterfall

White Rock – White Rock Pier

 

Alberta

Calgary – Calgary Tower

Calgary – Telus Spark Science Centre

Edmonton – High Level Bridge

Edmonton – Legislature Building

Grande Prairie –Grande Prairie Sundial

Lethbridge – Lethbridge City Hall

Red Deer – Red Deer City Hall

 

Ontario

Aurora – Aurora Town Square

Belleville – Bridge Street Bridge

Belleville – Fire Station 1 Memorial

Belleville – BELLEVILLE sign

Brampton – Brampton City Hall Clock Tower

Carleton Place – Bridge

Collingwood – Clock – Tower and CWOOD sign at municipal building

Kingston – City Hall

Kingston – Springer Market Square

Mississippi Mills – Almonte Old Town Hall

Mississauga – Clock Tower at Mississauga Civic Centre

Newmarket – Fred A. Lundy Bridge & Riverwalk Commons

Niagara – Niagara Falls

Sudbury – The Big Nickel

Sudbury- Peace Tower

Toronto – CN Tower

Toronto – 3D Toronto Sign

Vaughan – Vaughan City Hall

 

Quebec

Montreal – Olympic Stadium

 

New Brunswick

Bathurst – Tour de la Promenade Waterfront Tower

Edmundston – Hôtel de Ville

Grand Bay-Westfield – Veterans Peace Park

Moncton – Downtown Place

Moncton – Downing Street

Moncton – Ian Fowler Oval

Moncton – Southeast Regional Service Commission

Shippagan – Hôtel de Ville

 

Nova Scotia

Halifax – Halifax City Hall – scheduled but currently being repaired, not guaranteed to be fixed in time.

Halifax – Nova Scotia Legislature

Sydney – City Hall

Sydney – Port Authority

 

Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown – Shaw building

Charlottetown – Confederation Center of Arts

Charlottetown – The Arts Hotel

Charlottetown – Mi’Kmaq Confederacy of PEI

Charlottetown – Founders Hall

Stratford – Town Hall

Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John’s – St. John’s City Hall

Mount Pearl – Mount Pearl City Hall

Gander – Town of Gander

Clarenville – Elizabeth Swan Park

Clarenville – Bare Mountain

For more information, please contact Erika Jacinto, National Director of Communications at United Way Centraide Canada, at ejacinto@unitedway.ca or by phone at 613-236-7041 (1-800-267-8221) x 2278.