211 Nova Scotia Website Tips
28 February 2025
211 Nova Scotia’s website has been designed as a self-service tool that complements our navigation service.
Keyword Search Basics
- Users can enter their address, postal code, community, or county in the location field to conduct a keyword search.
- The keyword search uses a light level of AI to offer predictive text. It will populate a list of topics, subtopics, programs, and organizations as you type into the keyword search field.
- If you are searching for a specific program such as ‘Nova Scotia Brotherhood’, it is advisable to click on the suggested keyword that appears below the search field. If you choose not to click on this suggestion, you will receive all records in the system that include the words ‘Nova’, ‘Scotia’, and ‘Brotherhood’. Instead of receiving a few relevant search results, you may receive over 700.
Keyword Search Options
Below the keyword search fields is a search option feature that can be expanded to explore how different filters will impact search results. Best practice is to use the default settings of ‘Serving’, ‘Best Match, and filter the distance to “Any’.
- 211 Nova Scotia distinguishes between resources located within a community and resources that serve a community. For example, Guysborough County may not have a hospital located within their community, but there are provincial health resources available to them. If a user searched for ‘hospital’ with a location of ‘Mulgrave’ and selected the search option ‘Located Near’ and filter the distance to ‘10km’, their search results would not be successful.
- Because 211NS distinguishes between resources that serve a community and resources that are located within a community, the distance filter should be used sparingly. Resources that are offered nationally or provincially that may have a central office in another community or part of Canada may be excluded from search results if the distance filter is limited.
Topics
Below the keyword search is a list of common topics that has been curated by 211 Nova Scotia’s data team. Within each topic is a list of related subtopics to help users find the information and resources that they are looking for.
Clipboard
Users can create a custom clipboard on 211 Nova Scotia’s search results page and within each resource page. Clipboards can be used to save specific resources, to share information, or to save for later. Users can name, print, download, and share their clipboard. Users can also view a visual representation of their selected resources using the ‘Map’ option.
Note that the clipboard is a great tool, but users are cautioned that resource details such as hours, eligibility, and availability can change regularly so printed clipboards can quickly become out-of-date.
Resource Map
Below ‘Find Help’ in the top menu on 211 Nova Scotia’s website is a Resource Map. This map provides a visual representation of the curated topics on 211NS’s front page of the site.
Connecting with 211NS
If users are not finding a resource to meet their needs or believe that additional resources may exist, they are encouraged to connect with a Community Resource Navigator. The website is not meant to replace or be as effective as connecting with a trained Community Resource Navigator in complex situations.
Trained Community Resource Navigators are accessible by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Text messaging, email, and live chat are also available, but are limited to more traditional business hours.
Language Barriers
211 Nova Scotia’s website includes a translation widget that can be found in the site’s footer. Commonly spoken languages have been included; however, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the translation.
Interpretation service is available upon request in over 240 languages during phone calls. 211 Nova Scotia uses a third party to deliver this service. To access interpretation service, an individual can share their preferred language with the Community Resource Navigator at any point throughout a phone call. There is no charge for this service.
Questions and feedback can be directed at:
Sherry Forester (she/her)
Manager, Marketing & Communications
sforester@ns.211.ca
