THE CANADIAN cable, broadcast and telecommunications industries have been quick to mobilize support of relief efforts in Haiti.
We at Cartt.ca are awed by the collective level of compassion and generosity, and offer our sincere congratulations to the companies who have pledged to aid the people of the tiny island ravaged by last week’s earthquake.
In addition to the efforts by Rogers and by Cogeco and Quebecor, below are some other initiatives that we have learned of:
– Telecom equipment supplier Ericsson is sending volunteers, all telecom experts, to set up a container-based mini GSM-system to enable mobile communication for aid workers in Haiti through its Ericsson Response organization, in partnership with the UN;
– Multi-faith broadcaster S-VOX is offering free airtime on all of its broadcast properties to humanitarian aid organizations delivering relief to Haiti, and has organized an employee fundraising challenge;
– Astral Media staged a national radiothon initiative on Monday across its 82 stations in 45 cities in Canada from 6 AM to midnight in support of the Canadian Red Cross. It also made a corporate donation of $50,000;
– Corus’ network of news-talk stations aired a live radiothon for three hours on Monday to raise funds for Canadian Red Cross relief efforts. The event featured appearances by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, and Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney;
– MTS Allstream has made a corporate donation of $25,000 to support the Canadian Red Cross, and pledged to leverage its MTS-brand consumer channels in Manitoba and national employee base to promote the Canadian Red Cross’ relief efforts;
– Cogeco Cable will offer free, unlimited long distance calling to Haiti to its home phone customers in Quebec and Ontario for a one-month period through February 12, 2010;
– CTV, MuchMusic and MTV will air Hope For Haiti, a live, two-hour, commercial-free earthquake relief telethon on January 22 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Hosted by actor George Clooney in Los Angeles, musician Wyclef Jean in New York City and CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Haiti, the show will feature musical performances and celebrity appearances to be announced in the coming days. Donations will benefit Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF and Wyclef’s Yele Haiti Foundation;
– The TVA Network, Societe Radio-Canada, V Tele, LCN, Musique Plus and MusiMax, TV5, Espace Musique, Astral Media Radio (NRJ, Rock Detente, Boom FM), Bold and select Corus stations in Quebec will join forces to air a benefit concert on January 22 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET. The show will be emceed by Luck Mervil and France Beaudoin, and will feature to be announced performers and personalities. Donations will go to reputable organizations that are already working in Haiti, such as the Red Cross and CECI (Centre d’etude et de cooperation internationale).
– Lesley Hunter
