health and well-being

TELUS supports health and well-being initiatives in our communities, with a primary focus on organizations that advance research, disease prevention and care and help ensure a cleaner, healthier environment. The health and well-being initiatives we support include:

Alberta Children's Hospital - The health of the children in our communities is of paramount importance to our future. The work of the Alberta Children's Hospital in Alberta is a key resource in providing world-class healthcare for our children. The Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation was the designated charity during the 2006 TELUS Skins Game, which helped raise more than $200,000. Our Skins Game contribution to the Alberta Children's Hospital went in part to the new Healing Gardens, a therapeutic sanctuary for sick children and their families. In November, TELUS presented the Alberta Children's Hospital with a gift of $2.5 million to purchase the leading-edge Vocera Communications System, a hands-free, voice-controlled device. This contribution resulted in the Alberta Children's Hospital being the first children's hospital in Canada to implement this technology. TELUS' support helps give caregivers the tools they need to provide children with state-of-the-art care.

TELUS Tour for the Cure - TELUS, in partnership with The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Chapter and the Province of British Columbia, presented the TELUS Tour for the Cure for a second year in a row in 2006. This was an interactive multimedia education exhibit providing information on breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment. In eight months, the tour visited all regions of British Columbia making a total of 34 stops, and was viewed by more than 290,000 people.

Juvenile Diabetes Ride for Research - In 2006, more than 130 TELUS team members from around British Columbia participated in the annual Ride for Diabetes Research. Hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, this event enlists corporate and social groups to raise awareness and funds for type 1 diabetes research. TELUS team members organized 28 cycling teams and raised more than $28,000.

Ottawa Community Immigration Services Organization - Through the Ottawa Community Immigration Services Organization, TELUS is funding the Youth Leadership Development program offered by Jaku Konbit, a community group for new African and Caribbean immigrants. The TELUS Ottawa Community Board donation allows Jaku Konbit to bring in experts from various fields to provide culturally relevant programming and training for youth aged five to 18. Areas of activity include reading and literacy, a science and computer club, creative writing, arts, health and fitness, and youth leadership. Community leaders work with the youth as volunteers, providing positive mentors and role models with the goal to help young people develop self-esteem, leadership skills and social responsibility.

TELUS Red Cross Call Centre - As a first point contact for disaster victims seeking help, the 44-seat TELUS Red Cross Call Centre located in Burnaby provides critical information for clients in a greatly reduced timeframe, allowing the Red Cross to provide faster and more effective service to disaster victims across Canada. Now using CallCentreAnywhere technology provided by TELUS, the volunteers are able to process 10,000 calls a day during a disaster, doubling the capacity of the previous call centre.

Mount Sinai Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Sinai is one of Canada's largest and leading prenatal facilities, dedicated to leading-edge care and treatment for premature, high-risk and critically ill babies. Many of the 1,150 babies they care for have breathing problems and require sophisticated ventilators to help them get the oxygen and other therapies they need to stay alive. TELUS supported the purchase of two infant ventilators for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.