TELUS and its team members launch TELUS Victoria Community Board to ‘give where we live’

Board to donate $250,000 each year to local grassroots charities

Victoria, B.C. – A number of Victoria’s community leaders are joining local TELUS team members to donate $250,000 to local charities each year on TELUS’ behalf.

The TELUS Victoria Community Board will be chaired by Mel Cooper – a long-time B.C. broadcasting executive and winner of the Order of Canada, Order of British Columbia, Lifetime Achievement Award and Entrepreneur of the Year honours.

Local charitable organizations are invited to apply for up to $20,000 in one-time funding for projects in the areas of health and well-being, education and sport, and arts and culture, with a focus on young Canadians and the innovative use of technology for the betterment of life in our communities.

“TELUS is the only corporation that has entrusted its philanthropic efforts in Victoria to people who live and serve in this community,” Mr. Cooper said. “I am excited to be working with Victoria’s leaders and the TELUS team to invest in the betterment of life for everyone who calls the community home.”

The TELUS Victoria Community Board is part of a national philanthropic program that includes seven other TELUS community boards across Canada.

“We are looking to members of the TELUS Victoria Community Board for their local insight, knowledge and inspiration to determine how our local community initiatives can have the most meaningful impact,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. “As TELUS strives to be Canada’s premier corporate citizen, we are committed to give where we live. We are honoured that our Victoria community board members share our vision and are deeply grateful for their commitment to the community.”

In addition to Mr. Cooper, the TELUS Victoria Community Board members include:

-Simon Whitfield, Olympic triathlon gold medalist in 2000 and a regular on the podium at international triathlons since.

-Eric Charman, an Order of Canada and Order of British Columbia recipient; past director of the National Arts Centre; and a long-time dedicated volunteer with the Greater Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera and the Conservatory of Music.

-Dr. Rebecca Grant, Associate Professor at the University of Victoria Faculty of Business, director of the B.C. Business Hall of Fame, past president of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the United Way Cabinet.

-Jane Hefflefinger, founder and long-time president of the Pacific Opera, chair of the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation ‘Better Together’ campaign, recipient of the Order of British Columbia, former director of the CBC, and patron of the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific.

-Naz Rayani, respected leader in the Ismaili Muslim community, Order of Canada recipient, Victoria Business Person of the Year, and key organizer of the Annual Partnership Walk in support of the Aga Khan Foundation.

-Rob Reid, a passionate member of the community who sings with the Open Door Choir, sits on the United Way Cabinet and the Pacific Sports Board. Mr. Reid founded a fundraising society called Runners of Compassion that gives out scholarships at UVic and local high schools and was involved with the erection of a monument to Terry Fox. He has been recognized with the Ethics in Action Award and the B.C. Community Achievement Award.

-Marilyn Sing, founder and president of the OCTA (’Only Creative Thinking Allowed’) Collective, a society helping young children to develop employability and creative skills through artsREACH workshops; recipient of a 2007 ’For Kids Sake’ Award from Today’s Parent Magazine.

-Mike Tan, co-founder and CEO of TeamPages, a new on-line social utility and network for amateur sports teams, 2007 ’Visionaries Under 40 Vancouver Island’ Awards recipient, past president of the UVic Commerce Students Society and founder of the University of Victoria Leadership Conference.

These community leaders are joined by TELUS team members Marshall Berkin (Vancouver Island General Manager), Tim Draper (Managing Director, TELUS Business Solutions), Kim Logan (Director, Government Relations), and Ron Merk (Manager, Planning and Engineering).