TORONTO – Telus is expanding its Mobility for Good program to Ontario, offering youth transitioning from foster care a free smartphone and fully subsidized plan for two years.
Thanks to a new collaboration between Telus and Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC), the program will help up to 7,200 Ontario youth to stay connected with friends, potential employers and peers, helping to prevent social isolation during a vulnerable stage of their lives as they transition to independent living.
Qualifying young people will receive a smartphone and mobile plan including unlimited nationwide talk and text and up to 3GB of monthly data usage. While Telus is providing the service to youth for free, the bills will appear in the youth’s name to help them build positive credit and gain the skills required to manage their finances in the future.
The program first launched last year in British Columbia, and expanded to Quebec earlier this month. Telus and CAFC said that they will expand the program to more provinces this year.
“Working with the incredible team at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, we are proud to extend Telus Mobility for Good from B.C. into Ontario and Quebec, and look forward to inviting young people in other provinces to participate later this year”, said Telus president and CEO Darren Entwistle, in the news release. “Indeed, through the expansion of our successful program, Telus and Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada will ensure thousands more young Canadians begin their independent lives feeling safer, more connected and better prepared for their future and the opportunities and challenges it entails.”
More information about the program is available here.
Photo from Thursday's announcement in Toronto by Greg O'Brien
