Looking back on 2018, I can say without reservation that it was an extraordinary year for Telus, as our team continued to put our communities and our customers first. Beyond realizing strong financial and operating results, we gave with our hearts and our hands to make the future a little friendlier.
However, many Canadians still face unacceptable social barriers. One million kids are cyberbullied each month; 350,000 young people are in government care, often experiencing an isolating transition into adulthood; 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given night, many disconnected from basic health care; and 40% of low-income families lack consistent internet access, putting kids at risk of falling behind in school. At Telus, we are stepping up to take accountability to use our company for good to address these pressing social issues.
First, we have pioneered a number of life-changing programs to help vulnerable Canadians, including our Connecting for Good initiatives, which ensure underserved citizens have access to essential technology and educational and health opportunities. Telus internet for Good offers nearly 50,000 low-income families access to low-cost, high-speed Internet and a computer to ensure they can succeed in our digital society. In 2018, we expanded Telus Mobility for Good, offering free smartphones and data plans to more than 10,000 youth aging out of foster care, enabling them to stay connected to the people and resources that matter most. As we put technology into the hands of young Canadians, we are simultaneously working to protect our youth online, which is why we have taken a stance to #EndBullying and are encouraging Canadians to sign our Telus Wise digital pledge and rise above cyberbullying. We also partnered with artist SonReal to create the song “No More,” which rallies Canadians to drown out the negativity of cyberbullying. A portion of profits are being donated to support #EndBullying programs across Canada.
Also in 2018, we unveiled the expansion of our Health for Good program, which helps reconnect thousands of marginalized individuals, including those on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, with our public health-care system, ensuring that homeless citizens – and similarly disadvantaged communities – receive access to high-quality care. Our commitment to improving the well-being of Canadians was further demonstrated by our team’s efforts in raising much-needed awareness and increasing education about the global opioid crisis. Telus’ documentary Painkiller: Inside the Opioid Crisis looks at how we can eliminate the stigma of addiction, help find solutions – and, hopefully, save lives. For every view of this documentary, Telus will donate $5 to organizations providing critical care to those in need through mobile health clinics powered by Telus Health.
Finally, building on our long-standing history of giving back, this year we donated an unprecedented $120 million to help give vulnerable youth a friendlier future in our challenging world through the launch of the Telus Friendly Future Foundation. The foundation provides grants to grassroots charities that empower at-risk young Canadians with better access to health and educational opportunities, as well as programs to stay safe online – enabled by powerful technology.
I am so proud that over the course of nearly two decades, our Telus family has contributed more than $1.2 billion of value. This includes over $650 million in financial support and 1.2 million days of volunteerism to create stronger and healthier communities, further demonstrating how we are the most giving company in the world.
Thanks to the compassion of our 85,000 dedicated team members around the globe, coupled with the loyal patronage of our customers, we are able to make the social investments necessary to deliver on our promise of a friendlier future for all. •
Darren Entwistle is president and CEO of Telus.
