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The Child Life Program at BC Children's Hospital is
going to have new communication tools that will help
young patients keep their minds off their illness or
injury, thanks to the launch of a wireless Internet
Cafe and musical therapy program donated by TELUS and
Chalk Media. The official launch of the Internet Cafe
for Kids takes place today, June 14, 2004.
Due to the companies' strong interest in the community,
health care and the future of young people, TELUS and
Chalk Media will be providing desktops, laptops, music
therapy software, web-cams, printers and educational
software to the Hospital. Chalk Media and TELUS will
also create fun and educational seminars on how to use
the equipment, make crafts and stay connected. "With
their generous in-kind donations, TELUS and Chalk Media
are providing a way for our patients to interact with
the outside world, keep up with their schoolwork, and,
perhaps best of all, forget about their injury or illness
for a time," said Diane Hart, Site Supervisor of the
Child Life department, noting in particular the advantage
to those children who are in hospital and far from home.
"For years Chalk Media has been teaching people how
technology and consumer electronics can better their
lives, so we're extremely pleased to partner with TELUS
to create the first Internet Cafe for Kids," said David
Chalk, Co-Founder of Chalk Media Corp. "The Cafe will
create an environment for the children and their families
that will allow them to stay connected with their educational
institute, friends and family by having access to technical
equipment." On hand for the launch of this unique initiative
will be Prevail of the Canadian hip-hop band, Swollen
Members, who is a strong advocate of the music therapy
software program being offered to the children via the
Internet Cafe. David Nonis, General Manager of the Canucks
and long-time supporter of the BC Children's Hospital,
will also be in attendance to meet with the hospital's
young patients and their families.
"Consistent with our sincere commitment to become Canada's
premier corporate citizen, this donation of equipment
and services helps make the future friendly for the
children and families in B.C.", said Chris Carty, TELUS
Executive Vice-President and Chief Marketing Officer.
"TELUS is proud to work with Chalk Media and the BC
Children's Hospital to keep families connected during
their stay at the Children's Hospital."
About BC Hospital BC Children's Hospital is the province's
only hospital dedicated exclusively to children. From
clinical treatment and care to education and research,
the child health specialists inside the walls of this
world class facility are dedicated to providing the
best possible medical care. This year, BC Children's
Hospital will see more than 168,000 patient visits from
around the province, including 750 cancer patients.
It will also perform close to 200 open heart surgeries,
15 kidney transplants and receive over 35,000 patients
in its 24-hour emergency room. www.bcchf.ca
About Chalk Media Corp. Chalk Media produces network
television & in-flight entertainment programming and
online training & marketing solutions. The company's
television shows, ranging from Dave Chalk Computer Show
to Dave Chalk Connected, have won many awards and accolades
and have built a highly recognizable brand name. Leveraging
this brand has allowed the company to build relationships
with a blue-chip customer base and provide them with
custom online training and marketing solutions. Chalk
Media's custom solutions help industry-leading companies
communicate more effectively with their customers, distribution
partners and employees. With offices in Toronto, Ontario
and Vancouver, British Columbia, Chalk Media works with
global organizations such as Samsung, Intrawest, TELUS
Mobility, RBC Financial, HSBC, Future Shop, Terasen,
Sony, Thomson Carswell and Microsoft. www.chalk.com
About TELUS TELUS is an Imagine Caring Company, a designation
of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy for companies
that donate at least one per cent of their pre-tax profits
to charitable and non-profit organizations. In 2003,
TELUS contributed $10 million of financial and in-kind
assistance to educational, health, arts and charitable
organizations across Canada. In addition, TELUS and
our team members have contributed more than $64 million
through the last five years to a wide range of charitable
organizations across Canada. To find out how TELUS is
helping to create a friendlier future in your community,
visit us online at www.telus.com/community.
TELUS (T)(TA)(TU) is the largest
telecommunications company in Western Canada and
the second largest in the country, with more than $7
billion of annual revenue, 4.8 million network access
lines and 3.5 million wireless subscribers. The company
provides subscribers with a full range of telecommunications
products and services including data, voice and wireless
services across Canada, utilizing next generation Internet-based
technologies. TELUS was a premier founding supporter
of the successful bid to bring the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games to Canada. For more information
about TELUS, please visit www.telus.com.
For further information: please contact: IN CONTEXT
Marketing and Public Relations, Marcie Sayiner, Managing
Partner, Tel: (604) 683-4833, msayiner(at)incontextonline.com;
Chalk Media Corp., Carrie Harrison, Director of Marketing,
Tel: (604) 453-4420, charrison(at)chalk.com; BC Children's
Hospital Foundation, Diane Bentley, Director, Communications,
Tel: (604) 875-2503, dbentley(at)cw.bc.ca; TELUS, Nick
Culo, DIR-COMMUNICATIONS, Media and Public Relations,
Tel: (780) 493-7236
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