(L to R) SaskTel’s Leigh McDonald, John Mollison, Roger de Weerd, and Brian Fehr all from SSAR at the TelCare cheque presentation.

Every year, SaskTel employees come together to support the people, organizations, and communities that make Saskatchewan strong. Through the SaskTel TelCare program – our employee driven charitable giving initiative – nearly $186,000 was raised in 2025 to support non-profits and charitable organizations across the province.

TelCare is SaskTel’s employee led charity, enabling staff to donate to community organizations through easy payroll deductions. SaskTel amplifies every contribution by matching employee donations at 50 cents per dollar, significantly increasing the positive impact across Saskatchewan.

Established in 1950, TelCare is one of the longest running employee supported charitable giving programs in Canada. Over more than seven decades, SaskTel employees have contributed millions of dollars to organizations that help build healthier, safer, more connected Saskatchewan communities.

In 2025, more than 500 employees from nine districts across the province contributed $123,900, which – combined with SaskTel’s matching dollars – totaled $185,850 in support for 47 organizations throughout the province.

“Through TelCare, SaskTel employees are turning generosity into concrete support for organizations that keep our communities healthy, inclusive, and resilient,” said Crystal Piatt, SaskTel TelCare Allocations Director for Saskatoon & District. “This program reflects the heart of SaskTel – our people – coming together to lift up organizations that make our communities stronger.”

One of this year’s recipients, Saskatoon Search and Rescue (SSAR), is a volunteer run organization that assists with emergency response and searches for missing persons. TelCare funding is helping SSAR upgrade its logistics trailer by improving equipment storage, increasing visibility, and adding satellite internet – enhancements that strengthen safety and coordination during operations.

“Our logistics trailer upgrade, supported by SaskTel’s TelCare program, has strengthened the way we operate in the field by helping us provide faster, safer, and more coordinated search efforts for the communities we serve,” said Carla Eager, President of SSAR. “Thanks to TelCare’s generous support, we’re better equipped to be there when people need us most.”

Lung Saskatchewan also received allocations from multiple district TelCare committees. Funding will support Ready. Set. Quit!, a practical, year round resource designed to help individuals quit smoking or vaping. This initiative expands on the organization’s work to provide education, research, advocacy, and accessible cessation supports across the province.

“With SaskTel TelCare’s generous support, Lung Saskatchewan will be able to design, print, and distribute Ready. Set. Quit! throughout the province,” said Trent Litzenberger, Vice President of Mission Integration at Lung Saskatchewan. “This project ensures individuals have immediate access to culturally safe, plain language resources at the moment they decide to take the next step toward quitting.”

By empowering employees to give back to the causes they care about, SaskTel TelCare continues a proud tradition of supporting Saskatchewan communities.

“TelCare is more than a donation program – it’s a reflection of SaskTel employees’ pride in supporting their communities,” said Piatt. “Every contribution, no matter the size, helps make Saskatchewan stronger.”

To view the full list of 2025 TelCare allocation recipients by District visit: SaskTel 2025 TelCare donations.