Telus Commits $1 Million Towards B.C. Flood Relief; Waives Mobility Overages, Pauses Home Billing

Telus announced on Thursday it is committing $1 million towards flood relief in British Columbia, as historic flooding has affected various parts of the province, which is in a state of emergency.

• $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to support the organization’s flood relief efforts
• $100,000 to food banks across the province to support evacuees and British Columbians in need
• $50,000 to the BC SPCA to support their work to help animals and livestock in affected areas.
• TELUS Friendly Future Foundation will donate $100,000 to local charities helping with flood relief efforts
• TELUS community boards will donate $150,000 to local charities helping with flood relief efforts
• $500,000 of in-kind support in health, network and community services

“Our TELUS team is deeply committed to giving back to the communities where we live, work and serve around the world,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of Telus, in an issued statement. “In this regard, it is an honour to lend our support to British Columbians in the aftermath of the devastating storms and subsequent flooding that have ravaged many parts of our province. The thoughts of our entire TELUS team are with those impacted, and I am grateful to our team for continuing to demonstrate that when things are at their worst, Canadians can count on TELUS to be at its very best, offering our resources and human compassion to help our fellow citizens in need.”

Telus says its Health MyCare app can offer health services to those that need it remotely, with coverage from provincial health insurance.

The company says its technicians are working “around the clock to maintain our network under the most challenging of conditions to ensure British Columbians can stay connected.”

Telus also said it is:

• waiving all mobility overages for evacuees or those affected
• pausing home service billing for evacuees or those affected
• deploying extra network technology like Wi-Fi to evacuation centres
• delivering comfort kits with necessities like toothbrushes and hand sanitizer to support evacuees

Along with the Sturgeon Slayers Conservation team, Telus is utilizing boats to bring critical supplies such as water, diapers, fruit and non-perishables, for communities along Highway 7 and Highway 1, including Chawathil, Peters, Shxw’ow’hamel and Soowahlie First Nations who have been cut off due to mudslides and flooding.

Telus says it is considering using air transportation to fly in critical supplies for areas that can’t be reached by boat.