Telus commits $2 million to emergency wildlife relief in B.C.

Telus has shared that it is responding to the current wildfires in B.C. with a $2 million commitment to the province.

According to the company, the commitment comes in the form of network connectivity, data top-ups and bill credits for affected customers, alongside donation/support to charities.

In terms of connectivity, the telecom giant says that it is automatically giving 50GB of free data to evacuated Telus and Koodo postpaid customers. In terms of bill credits to affected customers, Telus says it is crediting customers who currently pay for the company’s internet, TV, home phone, and SmartHome Security. Alongside this, Telus has also said it is continuing to pause bills for any customers who face a longer period of evacuation or displacement.

Shifting towards the funding aspect, Telus and the Telus Friendly Future Foundation are committing $100,000 to First Nations communities like the Okanagan Indian Band and the Westbank First Nation.

The $100,000 in funding is also going towards charities providing immediate aid on the ground, which includes the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team Society, Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team Southwest BC Society, Central Okanagan Food Bank, Clinton Food Bank Society, Mamas for Mamas, Nicola Valley and District Food Bank Society, Okanagan Friendship Centre Society, and Salvation Army British Columbia Division.

If you are a Telus customer and are looking to donate to the cause, you can text DONATE to 41010 to donate $20, or redeem your Telus Rewards points to support wildfire relief through the Telus Friendly Future Foundation.

This comes as Amazon opened its first wildfire Disaster Relief hub in Canada through a portion of an Amazon fulfillment centre in Edmonton.

Alongside this, Telus invested $137.8 million in the city of Vancouver, which went towards redeveloping its central office buildings into purpose-built rental units and continuing its local social impact through local partners.