Hi @CanadianLynda and welcome to the forum, and to TrustedHousesitters. It’s quite normal to not be successful on applications until you get your first review, as many homeowners rely on those reviews as part of their assessment of applications. References are helpful but, as they’re external, they could be easily ‘created’. Besides, homeowners can only pick one sitter. 
If you’d like forum members to review your profile and give some constructive feedback, you can embed your listing in your forum username/profile.
I’m also in Ontario, so if you have any questions about southern Ontario sits, I’d be happy to share my opinions and tips with you. You can direct message me (or any other forum member) by clicking on the username and then the green message option.
I hope all goes well with your first sit.
Francine 
Voluntary Forum Moderator