As Jasper residents began returning home last week after being forced to evacuate in late July due to ongoing wildfires in the area, Telus technicians have been onsite at the Jasper Re-Entry Centre to provide immediate technical assistance and connectivity solutions for the community.
Telus customers can also pick up free temporary wireless home phone and internet solutions at the re-entry centre, located at Commemoration Park, 1324 Pyramid Lake Rd., Telus said in a press release last Friday.
“Over the past few weeks, TELUS crews have been working around the clock in the Jasper area to maintain critical infrastructure under the most challenging conditions to ensure network connectivity for first responders and returning evacuees,” Telus’s press release says.
“We know that this is an extremely difficult time for so many people impacted by the devastating wildfires in Jasper,” Jill Schnarr, chief social innovation, communications and brand officer at Telus, said in the release. “Our top priority is keeping the people of Jasper safe and connected to their loved ones and the information that matters most. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to our incredible team, who are onsite providing technical assistance and connectivity solutions for returning residents. Our hearts remain with all of those affected as we continue to support the Jasper community during these times of uncertainty.”
Some of the ways Telus says it has been supporting relief efforts in Jasper include:
- Rapidly deploying a cell tower on wheels to provide wireless connectivity and support emergency communications along a no-coverage section of Highway 16
- Continually refuelling back-up generators to keep communication lines up and running after a loss of commercial power
- Working closely with the Incident Command Center to protect critical network infrastructure
- Distributing adult and youth disaster kits at evacuation centres containing emergency blankets, reusable water bottles, charging cables and activities for kids
- Offering data top-ups and waiving long-distance mobile, home phone, texting and roaming fees for evacuees and those affected by the wildfires
- Donating $100,000 through the Telus Future Friendly Foundation to local charities, including GlobalFire, Parachutes for Pets, Food Banks Alberta, Jasper Community Team Society and the Northern Alberta Resiliency Fund
- Activating a text-to-donate fundraising campaign allowing Telus customers to text the word DONATE to 41010 to give $20 to the Telus Friendly Future Foundation to support registered charities providing emergency relief support
- Enabling customers in Alberta and B.C. to redeem their Telus Rewards points for a $20 donation to Telus Friendly Future Foundation in support of wildfire relief
- Offering a free Community Crisis Support line for emotional support, accessible 24/7 to all Canadians at 1-844-751-2133, provided by Telus Health
- Supplying free counselling sessions via Telus Health MyCare
- Providing no-cost vet tech appointments via Telus Health MyPet
“As Jasper begins to rebuild, TELUS is working closely with the Municipality of Jasper, the Government of Alberta, Parks Canada and local utility providers to explore options to bring TELUS PureFibre, our award-winning internet technology, to the entire community,” Telus’s press release says.
Telus says its PureFibre technology is up to 85 per cent more energy efficient than copper and more resistant to environmental factors, making it more reliable and less prone to outages or disruptions during severe weather emergencies.
“Over the last five years, TELUS has invested $125 million in emergency response, network protection and community investment, supporting those impacted by wildfires and floods across Canada,” the release says.
Photo of Red Cross at the Re-Entry Support Centre in Commemoration Park, via Jasper National Park Facebook page
