MONTREAL – Canada’s biggest cable companies continue to step up to support Haiti following Tuesday’s earthquake.
Cogeco Cable pledged to donate $50,000 to the Red Cross to support the organization’s efforts, while Videotron said that it will allow its residential cable telephone subscribers to place calls to Haiti without incurring long-distance charges. It also said that it will credit subscribers with any long-distance charges to Haiti retroactive to January 12, for a period of one month.
Quebecor’s TVA Network and Canoe will broadcast a benefit concert live at 9 p.m. ET on January 22 featuring several Québec artists who have expressed their desire to help the international relief effort. Special phone lines will be set up, telethon-style, for the duration of the concert to accept donations from the public.
The company also said that it will lend its technical know-how and telecommunications expertise to the organization ‘Reporters Without Borders’ including the implementation of a media operations centre that will function as a press room in Haiti.
The objective of the media centre is to provide a meeting point for local journalists as well as to give foreign media centralized access to information provided by local authorities or other decision-makers such as humanitarian agencies and embassies. This media centre will also serve as a point of contact and communication for Haitians and their families, including both the local population and around the world.
