In 2000, ACTEW realized that they were posting much of the same content on their web site as some of the organizations in their network. They also realized that what was not the same content could be useful to web site visitors for many organizations. ACTEW came up with the idea for an online database through which information could be shared across websites. In April of 2000, ACTEW and ONESTEP launched an experimental phase of what became known as the Content Sharing Constellation Project.

This experimental phase proved very successful and was met with great enthusiasm by many organizations in the sector. In October 2002, with funding from the Office of Learning Technologies (OLT) a Pilot Phase was launched. The original four partners include ACTEW, the Ontario Association of Youth Employment (OAYEC), the Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI), and the Possibilities Project.

Partners began receiving numerous postings from the Greater Toronto Area, reflecting the diversity of clients using the technology tool, but the provincial content of all partners’ web sites were lacking. The Constellation Project hired four Regional Content Liaisons (RCLs) from different geographic areas of Ontario to train a larger percentage of the training and employment community on how to use the Internet and the Constellation tool to promote their agencies and their events. By utilizing this strategy the project was able to gain recognition outside of the GTA.

By the end of the Pilot Phase ACTEW and the Constellation partners, were enriched with many lessons to share. In 2005, ACTEW received a three year Trillium grant to deliver workshops and create training manuals regarding the management and development of technology tools in the non-profit sector, using the Constellation project as a model.