TORONTO — Rogers Communications is expanding its support for women and children with the announcement today of additional partnerships with women’s shelters in Quebec and Ontario to provide connectivity to support vulnerable Canadians during the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis.
“It’s unfathomable to imagine the dual crises of domestic violence and physical isolation brought on by Covid-19. Yet, tragically, rates of violence are up as much as 20-30% right now,” said Sevaun Palvetzian, Rogers’ chief communications officer. “For vulnerable women and children escaping abuse, phones and connectivity provide an essential digital lifeline. We’re proud that our Rogers team can help enable these critical connections when home isn’t a safe place to be.”
Rogers is providing complimentary devices along with six months of free voice and data plans to women’s shelters across Quebec and Ontario, including: L’Arrêt-Source and Le Chaînon in Montreal; Maison Le FAR and Maison de Connivence in Trois-Rivières; L’Escale de l’Estrie in Sherbrooke; Maison Hélène-Lacroix in Quebec City; Maison d’Hébergement Pour Elles Des Deux Vallées in Gatineau; Cornerstone Housing for Women, Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa, Interval House of Ottawa and Oshki Kizis Lodge (Minwaashin Lodge) in Ottawa; North York Women’s Shelter, Interval House, Nisa Mississauga Homes, Anduhyaun inc and The Redwood Shelter in the Greater Toronto Area; Atlohsa Family Healing Services and Anova: A Future Without Violence in London; Haven House Women’s Crisis Services in Cambridge; Huron Women’s Shelter in Goderich; Ingamo Homes in Woodstock; Emily Murphy Centre and Optimism Place Women’s Shelter and Support Services in Stratford; and Matthew House refugee shelter in Windsor.
“A sincere thanks to the Rogers team for enabling our residents to break the isolation through their generous donation,” said Lyne Bourgelas, assistant director of Maison Le FAR. “That isolation has a major impact on their recovery in normal times; so during this Covid-19 period, being able to contact their loved ones and see them virtually is vitally important. In addition, not only are you enabling our residents to regain control over their lives by providing them with communication tools for their actions, but you are also enabling our team to provide new intervention opportunities.”
Rogers has announced several additional ways it is helping vulnerable Canadians through the Covid-19 crisis.
If you’re a woman living in an abusive home, or you know someone who is, you can call your local shelter’s 24/7 crisis line for advice and support. Your local shelter and their crisis line can be found at www.sheltersafe.ca.
Please click here to see all Rogers is doing to help during the Covid-19 crisis.
