Digital Lifelines for Women in Crisis: Rogers Expands Phone Program to More Women’s Shelters and Transition Houses Across ...
April 26 2021 - 7:00AM
Rogers Communications today announced it has expanded its phone and
plan program to connect more Canadian women and their children with
digital lifelines and support to escape violence and abuse. Rogers
is tripling its support from last year, by donating thousands of
phones and plans to more than 325 women’s shelters and transition
houses in Rogers wireless coverage areas during this third wave of
the pandemic. As the severity and frequency of domestic violence
and demand for safe shelter space continues to rise following
initial pandemic lockdowns a year ago, Rogers is expanding its
efforts to drive awareness and safe connectivity to support the
most vulnerable, including the recently announced network expansion
along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears to enable more safe
connectivity.
Last spring, at the start of the pandemic, Rogers launched a
national program with Women’s Shelters Canada to provide hundreds
of phones and plans to more than 100 shelters and transition
houses, in addition to using the reach of its platforms and
channels to help increase awareness of the domestic violence
crisis. With growing waitlists for women’s shelters and transition
houses, frontline crisis workers say these devices will continue to
save women’s lives by keeping them safely connected to critical
resources, particularly during lockdowns. The phone donation
program is provided in collaboration with Motorola and LG.
Access to devices, plans, and network coverage is vitally
important, now more than ever. Rogers recently announced it is
expanding wireless network coverage, including 5G, in British
Columbia to close gaps along two key corridors, including Highway
14 and Highway 16, known as the Highway of Tears. For decades, this
highway has been the tragic location of many missing and murdered
women, particularly Indigenous women, who were unable to call for
help due to coverage gaps. By the time construction of these new
towers is complete along Highway 16 late next year, the project
will provide more than 250 km of cellular highway coverage between
Prince George and Prince Rupert, improving safety for everyone,
including women whose lives may depend on being able to make an
emergency call.
As part of its efforts to ensure access to connectivity, Rogers
also recently announced an expansion of its low-cost high-speed
Internet program Connected for Success to hundreds of thousands of
Canadians in its Internet coverage area in Ontario, New Brunswick
and Newfoundland. Those receiving income or disability support, the
maximum childcare benefit, residents of RGI housing or seniors
receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement are eligible for the
program. The Rogers team is excited about future plans in Western
Canada, including the opportunity to expand Connected for Success
nationally to all communities where the company offers Internet
service.
Quotes:
“Isolation and the economic impacts of the pandemic have led to
an increase in violence and abuse across the country and too many
Canadian women are facing this dual storm. Rogers is proud to
partner with Women’s Shelters Canada to provide phones and plans as
digital lifelines to women in crisis, while we continue investing
in expanding our networks to improve safety by closing critical
communication gaps across the nation.”- Sevaun Palvetzian,
Chief Communications Officer and lead for corporate responsibility
at Rogers
“Women’s shelters and transition houses across the country – and
the women and children they serve – will greatly benefit from
Rogers’ expanded programs. We’ve seen how the COVID-19 pandemic has
exacerbated both the violence women and children face and the
financial difficulties of the shelters that support them. This
program directly enables women to safely stay in touch with loved
ones, apply for jobs, and access counselling and other resources,
all of which helps them - and their children - to live lives free
from violence.”- Lise Martin, Executive Director, Women’s
Shelters Canada
"As we enter a third wave of the pandemic, many Indigenous women
living in remote communities are facing increased challenges in
escaping violence and abuse. Providing these women with a new
phone when they arrive at our shelters will prove to be a valuable
tool in keeping them safely connected to family and friends, as
well as vital services. Rogers' expanded "digital lifeline"
program and planned network expansion are sure to benefit many
Indigenous women and children seeking refuge in our
shelters."- Sheila Swasson, President, National Aboriginal
Circle Against Family Violence
Video:
Bally Basi is the Community, Social and Justice Programs Manager
for the Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society. She
shares her powerful story in this video about the impact of safe
connectivity for women escaping violence and abuse.
About RogersRogers is a proud Canadian company
dedicated to making more possible for Canadians each and every
day. Our founder, Ted Rogers, purchased his first radio
station, CHFI, in 1960. We have grown to become a leading
technology and media company that strives to provide the very best
in wireless, residential, sports, and media to Canadians and
Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly traded on the Toronto
Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock
Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out more about us,
visit about.rogers.com.
For more information:Rogers
Communications, media@rci.rogers.com, 1-844-226-1338
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