XʷMƏΘKʷƏY̓ƏM (MUSQUEAM), SḴWX̱WÚ7MESH (SQUAMISH) and
SƏLILWƏTAꞭ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES -- Today, TELUS
announced the launch of Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at
Risk, a new program that provides free smartphones and data plans
to Indigenous women who are at risk or surviving violence. As
established by Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report on
Missing Murdered and Indigneous Women, while Indigenous women and
girls comprise only 4% of the total female population in Canada,
they represent 24% of female homicide victims, and are 12 times
more likely to be murdered or go missing than any other women.1
Developed in partnership and consultation with four Indigenous-led
organizations in British Columbia and Alberta; Alberta Native
Friendship Centres Association (ANFCA), BC Association of
Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), Prince George Native
Friendship Centre (PGNFC), and Native Courtworker and Counselling
Association of British Columbia (NCCABC), Mobility for Good for
Indigenous Women at Risk gives women a critical lifeline to timely
emergency services, reliable access to virtual healthcare and
wellness resources, and the ability to stay connected to their
friends, family, and support networks.
“TELUS is committed to doing our part to respond to the 231
Calls for Justice, specifically Call for Justice 15, by leveraging
our technology to support Indigenous-led organizations and
Indigenous-led solutions to advancing Reconciliation,” said Tony
Geheran, Executive Vice-president and Chief Customer Officer.
“Having a cellular device and reliable network is a vital lifeline
to Indigenous women and girls at risk to get access to critical
services and resources they need for their health, safety, and
wellness. In partnership with Indigenous-led organizations, we hope
to expand the reach and impact of our program across the
country.”
With the support of our partners, TELUS has already started
distributing smartphones and plans to support Indigenous women in
B.C and Alberta who are at risk or surviving violence. TELUS has
committed to supporting 1,200 Indigenous women in B.C and Alberta
and plans to partner with additional Indigenous-led organizations
across Canada to expand the reach and impact of this program
through 2022.
Partner Quotes:
“The work of the PGNFC aligns with TELUS’ commitments that
leverage core competencies to support Indigenous priorities and
enable the greatest outcomes,” said Barb Ward-Burkitt, Executive
Director, Prince George Native Friendship Centre. “The PGNFC has
long recognized that the journey of Reconciliation requires more
collaboration, as this is necessary to develop an effective plan
that will ensure and have the commitment of key players.”
“ANFCA is thankful for the developing partnership between TELUS
and the six Alberta Friendship Centres taking part in piloting the
Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk program,” said
Joanne Mason, Executive Director of Alberta Native Friendship
Centres Association. “Finding ways to support Indigenous women with
timely access to emergency response services and community
programming is an important aspect to addressing the needs of
Indigenous women experiencing violence.”
“Reliable cellular communication will help ensure Indigenous
women and girls have access to services to support their safety and
wellbeing,” said Leslie Varley, Executive Director of the BC
Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC), “This is an
important step towards increasing our capacity to provide
culturally safe and inclusive anti-violence services delivered by
and for Indigenous people.”
“The Association is truly grateful to TELUS for including us in
the work to support our clients, many of them who are marginalized,
vulnerable and have limited access to justice, primarily due to
poverty, multiple barriers, and complex trauma,” said Darryl
Shackelly, Executive Director of Native Courtworker and Counselling
Association of British Columbia. “Our clients have expressed
sincere appreciation when they receive a smartphone. Never
expecting such assistance, for them this service is an immediate
solution to the extreme situation they are facing.”
TELUS Mobility for Good for Indigenous Women at Risk is part of
the TELUS Connecting for Good portfolio of programs that gives
marginalized Canadians access to TELUS’ world-leading technology.
Additional programs include:
- TELUS Internet for Good, offering high-speed Internet to
qualified low-income families, people in-need living with
disabilities and youth transitioning out of care for $9.95 per
month;
- TELUS Mobility for Good, offering 20,000 youth transitioning
from foster care a free smartphone and fully subsidized 3GB data
plan for two years;
- TELUS Mobility for Good for Seniors, offering a subsidized
mobility plan and discounted smartphone to low-income seniors
receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement;
- TELUS Tech for Good, empowering Canadians with disabilities to
independently use their smartphones and tablets and ultimately
improve their quality of life through customized support, training
and assistive technology; and
- TELUS Health for Good, providing primary care, mental health
and addiction support services directly to people in need and
living on the streets through TELUS Mobile health clinics operating
in 13 communities across Canada.
Last year, TELUS contributed 5% of our pre-tax profits to
charitable organizations - a total of $85 million - to build
healthier communities, along with more than $150 million in support
of Covid-19 related initiatives. For the latest information about
the TELUS Connected For Good programs please visit
telus.com/connecting-canada.
TELUS has a longstanding commitment to strengthening
relationships with Indigenous Peoples, including First Nations,
Métis, and Inuit communities, acknowledging that our work spans
many Traditional Territories and Treaty areas. For more information
on TELUS’ Reconciliation commitment, please visit
telus.com/reconciliation.
About TELUSTELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a
dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16
billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections
spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment,
video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and
compassion to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding
commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our
business, making us a distinct leader in customer service
excellence and loyalty. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the
fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment
to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that
connects us to the people, resources and information that make our
lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health
technology, improving access to health and wellness services and
revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum
of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions
throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food
outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes.
TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital
customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and
content management solutions for global brands across the
technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and
media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS
International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together,
let’s make the future friendly.
Driven by our passionate social
purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and
enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our
team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and
1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented
generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most
giving company in the world.
For more information about TELUS,
please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and
@Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
About Prince George Native Friendship CentreThe
Prince George Native Friendship Centre has grown and continues to
be one of the largest and busiest community service delivery
agencies in Prince George. Our clientele of Indigenous and
non-Indigenous peoples have supported the Centre's program
offerings for the last 50 years. The PGNFC provides culturally
appropriate programming to meet the community's unique and diverse
needs. We offer a wide variety of services, which includes
education, employment, health, early childhood, and social
programs. www.pgnfc.com/
About Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of
British ColumbiaThe NCCABC’s mission statement is “A
Helping Hand to Justice” for all Indigenous people across the
province of British Columbia. We are here to provide culturally
appropriate justice and health related services according to their
needs. Our understanding of justice is based on a holistic view of
people – psychological, physical, social and spiritual. We believe
every Indigenous person’s story is linked to our people’s history
and culture. As we work together, individuals and families are
treated with dignity and respect. That is our commitment to them.
https://nccabc.ca/
About Alberta Native Friendship Centres
AssociationThe Alberta Native Friendship Centres
Association supports active member Friendship Centres who, through
program and service delivery, engage with and improve the quality
of life for urban Indigenous people. Our priorities are guided by
its member Friendship Centres and subsequent defined community
needs. Indigenous cultural teachings, values and identity are at
the core of ANFCA. We provide opportunities for cultural sharing,
focused on bridging the gap between the Indigenous and
non-Indigenous worldviews. ANFCA is committed to creating
effective, vibrant national and provincial partnerships, focused on
collaboration and common goals. https://anfca.com
About BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship
Centres The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship
Centres (BCAAFC) is the umbrella organization for the 25 Friendship
Centres located throughout the province. BC Friendship Centres are
not-for-profit, Indigenous-led, social service organizations that
develop and deliver accessible programs and services to support
Indigenous people living in urban areas and away from home to
achieve their vision of health, wellness and prosperity. The BC
Provincial Government estimates approximately 85% of Indigenous
people in BC live off reserve or in urban areas. Collectively, BC
Friendship Centres employ over 1,200 people and have over 600
community partnerships—making them the largest Indigenous service
delivery infrastructure in the province. The BCAAFC works with
Friendship Centres, partner organizations, and government
institutions to establish best practices for Indigenous program
delivery and advocate for equitable resource allocation for
services by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people.
https://bcaafc.com/
For more information, please contact:
Lena ChenTELUS Public RelationsLena.Chen@telus.com
Alberta Native Friendship Centres AssociationJoanne MasonANFCA
Executive Directordirector@anfca.com
BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship CentresRicki-Lee
JewellCommunications Coordinatorcommunications@bcaafc.com
778-966-8571
Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British
ColumbiaDarryl ShackellyExecutive Directordarryl@nccabc.net
Prince George Native Friendship CentreBarb Ward-Burkitt, Wahiyow
Cawapata ScooM.Ed., O.B.C., Executive
Directorbwardburkitt@pgnfc.com
1 Based on recent report from Reclaiming Power and Place: The
FInal Report on Missing Murdered and Indigneous Women (MMIWG)
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