TELUS has invested $125
million over the last 5 years in emergency response, network
protection and community investment, supporting those impacted by
wildfires and floods across Canada.
VANCOUVER, BC,
June 20,
2024 /CNW/ - With wildfires prompting recent
evacuation orders and alerts, and following Canada's worst wildfire season on record in
2023, Western Canada is at risk of
another devastating wildfire season. As communities across the
country prepare for wildfires and other climate-change-related
emergencies, TELUS is taking robust measures to anticipate and
combat the impact on essential telecommunications infrastructure
while supporting affected communities. In times of crisis, TELUS is
focused on keeping people safe, connected, supported and informed
while ensuring critical connectivity remains available. Last year
alone, TELUS contributed $12.6
million in cash donations and in-kind contributions to
support individuals and communities across Canada, and around the world, afflicted by
more than 20 natural disasters and humanitarian crises.
"As a global technology and telecommunications company proudly
headquartered in Western Canada,
TELUS has been directly investing and taking steps to deal with the
impacts of climate change for more than two decades," said
Nazim Benhadid, Chief Technology
Officer, TELUS. "Over the last 5 years, we have spent $125 million to plan and respond to emergencies
like floods and wildfires, protecting our networks, and investing
to minimize the impact on affected communities – supporting our
customers however we can during extremely difficult and stressful
times."
As the number of natural disasters increases, the TELUS team
moves quickly and proactively to mitigate the impact of these
emergencies, ensuring we're keeping Canada's digital economy up and running while
investing in innovative technology solutions to help address
climate change, including:
- Deploying generators and solar-powered cell towers to help
high-risk communities stay connected and clearing brush to prevent
fires from burning vital infrastructure
- Proactively building a TELUS PureFibre footprint, as
fibre-optic cable is 85 per cent more energy-efficient than copper,
and more resistant to environmental factors, making it more
reliable and less prone to outages or disruptions during severe
weather emergencies
- Leveraging TELUS' Connected Worker solution, deployed
across various sectors, to enhance wildfire safety and response by
providing real-time alerts, customizable emergency protocols and
satellite-enabled communications for workers in remote areas
- Investing in network redundancies to safeguard connectivity and
in Rapid Deployable Temporary Network (RDTN) technologies, with
portable cellular towers that generate their own power and connect
via satellite – available in numerous applications from
truck-mounted to small helicopter-fit devices for remote emergency
coverage.
As part of TELUS' commitment to investing in environmental
solutions, the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good invests in startups
driving social and environmental change to make the world a better
place. These investments include Dryad, which provides ultra-early
wildfire detection through large-scale Internet of Things (IoT)
networks and sensors that detect fires as early as the smoldering
phase. Another innovative example is Flash Forest, which focuses on
large-scale reforestation, particularly in Canada's boreal forests and the Pacific
Northwest, and uses drone technology to plant trees, significantly
accelerating reforestation efforts especially in areas deemed too
unsafe for traditional tree-planting efforts.
In addition, TELUS is committed to supporting individuals and
communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies,
including:
- Activating text-to-donate initiatives through TELUS
Friendly Future Foundation where funds raised are directed to
Canadian registered charities providing on-the-ground humanitarian
support
- Ensuring access to emotional support for those impacted by
crises or traumatic events through a free 24/7 community crisis
hotline provided by TELUS Health
- Distributing adult and youth disaster relief kits at evacuation
centres and throughout impacted communities along with internet
connectivity
- Offering data top-ups and waiving long-distance mobile, home
phone, texting and roaming fees for evacuees and those
affected
- Leveraging our network of over 5,000 TELUS Community
Ambassadors to help volunteer and provide aid to communities
throughout Canada
To donate to help support communities in need, visit
friendlyfuture.com or to learn more about our disaster relief
efforts visit telus.com/WildfireRelief.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading
communications technology company with more than $20 billion in annual revenue and over 19 million
customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice,
television, entertainment, video, and security. Our social purpose
is to leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to
drive social change and 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. The numerous, sustained accolades
TELUS has earned over the years from independent, industry-leading
network insight firms showcase the strength and speed of TELUS'
global-leading networks, 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.
Operating in 32 countries around the world, TELUS International
(TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience
innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation
solutions, including AI and content moderation, for global and
disruptive brands across strategic industry verticals, including
tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech,
banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and
others.
TELUS Health is a global healthcare leader, which provides
employee and family primary and preventive healthcare and wellbeing
solutions. Our TELUS team, along with our 100,000 health
professionals, are leveraging the combination of TELUS' strong
digital and data analytics capabilities with our unsurpassed client
service to dramatically improve remedial, preventive and mental
health outcomes covering nearly 72 million lives, and growing,
around the world. As the largest provider of digital solutions and
digital insights of its kind, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer
Goods enables efficient and sustainable production from seed to
store, helping improve the safety and quality of food and other
goods in a way that is traceable to end consumers.
Driven by our determination and vision to connect all citizens
for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give
where we live has inspired TELUS and our team to contribute
$1.7 billion, including 2.2 million
days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and
unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company
in the world. Together, let's make the future friendly.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow
us at @TELUSNews on X and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.