NOVEMBER 8, 2022
TELUS, Énergir and Électrobac donate $218,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Quebec
Ukrainian refugees will benefit from smartphones, wireless plans and mental health consultations, allowing them to stay connected to the people and resources that matter
Montreal (Quebec) – In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and to help Ukrainian refugees here in Quebec, TELUS, Énergir and Électrobac have committed to donating $218,000 in support to help 300 families affected by the conflict so that they can stay in contact with their families and friends and with the resources they need most. In collaboration with local organizations throughout Quebec, the three companies will provide free smartphones refurbished by Électrobac, TELUS SIM cards, and access to free consultations with a mental health professional through TELUS Health MyCare. Thanks to this collaborative effort, Ukrainian refugees will have an essential link to emergency services, reliable access to virtual health and well-being resources, and a way to stay in contact with their loved ones and support networks.
Partnering together to help make the future brighter for Ukrainian refugees
“The people affected by the deplorable situation in Ukraine are going through an extremely difficult time,” explains Ali Barakat, TELUS Vice-President for Sales and Business Solutions in Quebec and Atlantic Canada. “The actions of the TELUS team have always been inspired by our social purpose to use our technology and compassion to help build a friendlier future. In that same spirit, TELUS has joined forces with Énergir and Électrobac to provide immediate help for Ukrainian refugees. By offering wireless services and access to mental health care, we’re committed to making daily life easier for those affected by global conflict who are living through challenging times.”
“We’re happy to have played a unifying role in rallying our partners behind this project,” says Martin Laberge, Executive Director for Cybersecurity at Énergir. “We believe in finding innovative ways to get involved in communities, and we know that by partnering with the right people around the right projects, we can create new kinds of energy that will have a positive impact on society. This wonderful collaboration is certainly proof of that, and we hope that it will send a message of solidarity, support and hope to Ukrainian families who really need it.”
“We are happy and honoured to humbly contribute, in collaboration with TELUS and Énergir to help Ukrainian refugees,’’ says Frédéric Brais, VP Sales and Marketing Electrobac. ‘‘We hope that this will ease their integration into their new host country.’’
“Having a mobile device, a reliable network, and access to mental health support can make the difference in a period of life that is quite challenging for refugees,” says Claude Pinard, President and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal. “We’re grateful for TELUS, Énergir and Électrobac’s generous donation and support, which will allow families in precarious situations to gain access to essential resources and services for their health, safety and well-being.”
Concerted efforts to assist displaced people
Earlier this year, TELUS, its team members, together with the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation donated $4 million in donations in support of ongoing efforts by Canadian charitable organizations to provide assistance to people and families displaced by the conflict in Ukraine, including the Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF Canada, and other national and local charitable organizations.
Énergir is also donating $55,000 to the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to provide assistance to people and families displaced by the conflict.
About Énergir
With more than $9 billion in assets, Énergir is a diversified energy business whose mission is to find increasingly sustainable ways to meet the energy needs of approximately 535,000 customers and the communities it serves. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Québec, where, through its joint ventures, it also generates electricity from wind power. Through its subsidiaries and other investments, Énergir has a presence in the United States, where it generates electricity from hydraulic, wind and solar sources; it is also the largest electricity distributor and the sole natural gas distributor in the State of Vermont. Énergir values energy efficiency and invests its resources and continues its efforts in innovative energy projects, such as renewable natural gas and liquefied and compressed natural gas. Through its subsidiaries, it also offers a variety of energy services. Énergir strives to become the partner of choice for those seeking a better energy future.
About TELUS