The IT Nerd

Today, TELUS, Westbank and Allied are celebrating the opening of TELUS Sky, TELUS’ new state of the art headquarters in Downtown Calgary. This impressive landmark stands 60-storeys tall and brings 750,000 square feet of office and retail space including 326 rental homes to Calgary’s downtown core, creating a unique and dynamic blend of working and urban living. Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards – the highest LEED certification – TELUS Sky is one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally-friendly sites in North America. With the completion of TELUS Sky, TELUS now occupies the largest LEED Platinum footprint in North America including TELUS Garden in Vancouver, TELUS Harbour Toronto, TELUS House Ottawa, and Place TELUS Québec. Powered by purpose, TELUS is a global leader in sustainability with the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

Designed by world-renowned architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Dialog, along with developer partner Westbank and Allied, TELUS Sky features Canada’s largest public art display integrated into the building’s façade: Northern Lights by iconic Canadian author and artist, Douglas Coupland, which dance across the building’s exterior providing a light show in Downtown Calgary for locals and visitors. 

TELUS Sky’s unique features include: 

• A storm water management system that recycles rainwater for use in washroom toilets and urinals, reducing the building’s municipal water demand by 70 per cent. 
• A thermal energy system designed to efficiently transport hot water through an underground network of insulated pipes across the city, resulting in a 30 per cent reduction in heating energy demand.
• 100 per cent fresh air ventilation with operable windows and exterior terraces – even on office floors. 
• Windows designed with robust envelope and triple-pane glazing to decrease solar transmission and promote greater shading within the building, contributing to a 35 per cent reduction in building energy use compared to similar size developments.
• A living green wall in the 11-storey atrium to improve air quality and provide occupants and visitors with a connection to natural elements.
• A direct connection to TELUS’ PureFibre network, ensuring tenants, businesses, guests, and office workers have access to the fastest most capable Internet network available in western Canada.
• Comprehensive fitness facilities including a wellness centre with a yoga and barre room, on-site secure bicycle storage, and electric vehicle charging stations. 

Situated in the heart of the downtown district, TELUS Sky has transformed the city’s skyline and will contribute to Calgary’s growing tech community and vibrant cultural landscape, symbolically representing TELUS’ commitment to Alberta’s economic prosperity, sustainability, and health well into the future. Throughout the project’s development over the last nine years, TELUS Sky supported the local economy by creating more than 1,000 jobs, and as of today, the building will be home to more than 1,600 local TELUS team members.

Earlier this week, TELUS announced a $430 million investment across the City of Calgary in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. TELUS’ dedication to Calgary extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. Since 2000, TELUS along with its team members and retirees in Alberta have gifted $200 million dollars and 3.2 million volunteer hours across the province.

UPDATE: During the grand opening event this morning, Premier Jason Kenney remarked on the dedication that TELUS has shown to this province and called on other comparable companies to start making a difference, too. He joked to Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS, to consider making Alberta and, more specifically, TELUS Sky, it’s homebase, inciting a hearty laugh from attendees.   

TELUS announced today the investment of $23 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across Ontario over the next four years and has committed to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026. 

These significant investments include:

• Generating new jobs to support Ontario’s growing economy
  Generating 9,500 jobs in Ontario over five years, with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies.
• Delivering 5G to remote communities
  With the rollout of the 3.5GHz spectrum through 2022 and 2023, Ontarians will have enhanced access to TELUS’ 5G network through an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. 
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla for the ninth consecutive time.

• 5G Core and Multi-Access Edge Computing
  TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network later this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities further advancing IoT and industry solutions and enabling important innovations in health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
  • The TELUS network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimization of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.

• Supporting Ontario’s agriculture industry

TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Ontario, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

• Contributing to a greener Ontario and planet

As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us transition to a sustainable future through the digitization of the economy, including optimizing energy consumption at home and reducing food waste through its TELUS Agriculture solutions. 

• The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Canadians to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
• To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly five times the size of Killbear Provincial Park. 

From 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $57 billion in technology and operations in Ontario. These investments are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2022, released in the fourth quarter of 2021 earnings release dated February 10, 2022.

These investments are critical to providing Canadians with access to superior technology that connects customers to the people, resources and information that make their lives better. TELUS is steadfast in its commitment to using technology, team member-led innovation, and human compassion to address the most important societal challenges of this generation and bringing real solutions to the residents of Ontario and across Canada.

TELUS also embraces tax morality as a means of further investing in our communities. Since 2000, TELUS has paid approximately $51 billion in total tax and spectrum remittances to our federal, provincial and municipal governments across Canada, consisting of corporate income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, employer portion of payroll taxes, various regulatory fees and spectrum remittances, including more than $2.2 billion in taxes in 2021 alone. These funds support public works projects, education, healthcare, cultural pursuits and other initiatives that improve the social and economic well-being of our communities.

TELUS’ innovative approach to leveraging technology in healthcare has supported 22 million Canadians to receive care where and when they need it with virtual visits through the TELUS Health MyCare app, giving Canadians the tools they need to see a doctor or therapist from the safety and comfort of home, directly from their smartphone.   

Since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees provided over $128 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs and volunteered 1 million hours to charities and community organizations located in Ontario.

TELUS has announced a $430 million investment across the City of Calgary in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. 

This week, TELUS is also celebrating the opening of TELUS Sky, TELUS’ new state of the art headquarters in downtown Calgary. Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards – the highest LEED certification – TELUS Sky is one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally-friendly sites in North America. This $400 million development continues TELUS’ legacy of making powerful contributions to advance the economic strength and social vitality of both the city of Calgary and the province of Alberta.

TELUS’ dedication to Calgary extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. 

Since 2000, TELUS along with its team members and retirees have provided over $61 million in cash and program contributions, and volunteered more than 1 million hours of service in support of charities and community organizations located in Calgary.

Across Alberta, TELUS’ significant investment of $17 billion now through 2026 also includes:

• Creating new jobs to support Alberta’s growing economy Hiring 8,500 Albertans with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026.
  
• Connecting nearly 1 million homes in Alberta TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across Alberta including in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Lloydminster, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert. PureFibre is Alberta’s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches nearly 1 million homes and businesses across the province. The symmetrical upload and download Internet speeds and nearly infinite bandwidth enabled only by PureFibre means everyone can work, stream, game, or make video calls at the same time. 
  
• Delivering 5G to Remote Communities With the rollout of 3.5 GHz spectrum additions later this year, Albertans will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. Albertans living in some rural and remote communities are also some of the first in the country to access home Internet speeds of 100 Mbps through TELUS’ 5G fixed wireless network, using the capabilities of 5G to provide a powerful alternative to a wired Internet connection.
  
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla® for the ninth consecutive time.
    
• 5G Core and Multi-Access Edge Computing TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities that will further advance IoT and industry solutions that will enable important innovations for businesses and sectors, including health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
  
  • The TELUS network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.
    
• Contributing to a greener Alberta and planet As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us transition to a sustainable future through the digitization of the economy, including optimizing energy consumption at home and reducing food waste through its TELUS Agriculture solutions. 
  
• The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Albertans to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
  
• To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly the size of Red Deer. 
  
• Supporting Alberta’s Agriculture Industry TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Alberta, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $55 billion in technology and operations in Alberta. The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2021, released in the fourth quarter of 2020 earnings release dated February 11, 2021.