Alberta wildfires: Rogers, Shaw announce support plan

Rogers Communications has announced support for Albertans affected by wildfires that have prompted a provincial emergency.

The telecom giant, along with Shaw, has pledged to “keeping customers connected to critical resources and loved ones, while contributing to immediate disaster relief efforts on the ground.”

Through a matching campaign, customers will be able to text the word ROGERS to 20222 to donate $5 to the Alberta Fires Appeal through the Canadian Red Cross. Rogers says it will match up to $1 million in donations.

The companies are also waiving long-distance, SMS, and overage charges for Rogers, Fido, and Shaw customers affected by the fires from May 4, until they are able to return home.

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During that time, internet, landline phone, and TV customers will also receive a proactive Shaw credit if they lose service or are forced to leave their homes.

To help keep Albertans connected, Rogers is opening up its Shaw Go WiFi network in affected communities and evacuation centres, and the telecom giants are also “mobilizing local crews” to “maintain critical services for customers following power outages.”

Rogers says it’s committed to supporting relief efforts.

As of Tuesday morning, Alberta was contending with nearly 90 wildfires. More than 29,000 people in the province have been ordered to leave their homes in recent days, as more than two dozen fires remain “out of control.”

Rogers is the parent company of this station.