Best way to find Articling as an Internationally Trained Lawyer

Internationally Trained lawyers face challenges in securing articling positions compared to JD students favored by mainstream firms due to their local education. NCAs and ITLs often rank lower in this regard. However, I have heard lawyers say that small firms in communities outside the Greater Toronto Area are known for their better accommodation of Internationally Trained lawyers as articling students.

Given these circumstances, what is the most effective strategy for an internationally trained lawyer with 5-10 years of legal experience (including both law firm and in-house legal experience) and an LLM from Osgoode to secure an articling position in Ontario?

Is it acceptable to send cold emails to these firms or should one wait for them to announce a position and then apply?