InformCanada is the national organization of information and referral providers, and serves as a resource for members from coast to coast. InformCanada supports the development and promotion of national standards and best practices in I&R. The association is dedicated to strengthening I&R across Canada, and assisting in the implementation of national initiatives such as 211. InformCanada is the Ca
nadian affiliate of the Alliance of Information & Referral Systems (AIRS) and coordinates AIRS certification to support professional development in I&R in Canada. AIRS Affiliates are membership organizations representing comprehensive and specialized I&R providers within a defined geographic area (usually a state or a larger region). Affiliates help shape, inform and implement the mission of AIRS at the local level in order to support and build excellence in I&R. Background – AIRS hosted its first ever conference in Phoenix in May 1979. As AIRS represented the professional community in North America for the growing field of information and referral, Canadian I&R providers also attended the conference. The Canadian group began to actively network among themselves and eventually began an annual “Canadian Night” at each AIRS event. The idea of forming a uniquely Canadian professional association, responsive to our country’s distinctly different human services sector and cultural values, seemed sound – and the idea grew as informal collaboration continued. That vision culminated in the inaugural meeting of InformCanada (unincorporated) on May 3, 1999. The InformCanada Federation was legally incorporated in June 2000. Today, InformCanada is proud to represent I&R professional across Canada. InformCanada offers members AIRS certification, networking opportunities – and represents I&R on a national level.
