VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS and Huron Media Productions announced the premiere of their first short animated children’s film, Skookum & Chums, which spotlights the importance of inclusivity and anti-bullying. As Canadians are spending more time online than ever before, from socializing, to working, and learning, this short film is relevant for parents, youth and Canadians of all ages, providing insight into how we can be more inclusive, embrace each other’s differences, and encourage self-empowerment. The animated short, created and produced by Indigenous filmmaker Alfredo Di Blasio, premieres on February 23 in support of Pink Shirt Day, and will be available for free on TELUS.com, channel 611 on TELUS Optik TV, and the TELUS YouTube channel.
“Cyberbullying poses one of the most pervasive threats to Canadians’ mental health. At TELUS, we are incredibly proud to partner with Indigenous creators, helping to recognize and underscore the power of kindness and inclusion by telling important stories that will help to raise awareness, start a dialogue, and ultimately, create lasting change,” said Jill Schnarr, Chief Social Innovation Officer at TELUS. “Through our TELUS Wise program, we have long been dedicated to helping Canadians rise above cyberbullying, investing more than $205 million to date in educational programs, tools, and resources on how to deal with online bullying either as a victim, witness, parent or even perpetrator. Skookum & Chums is an extension of our ongoing efforts to #EndBullying and help Canadians stay safe online.”
Produced with the support of TELUS, and written by award-winning duo Julie and Scott Stewart, the 11-minute animated film features Skookum, a flying turtle, who takes their critter friends on a trip into a magical forest. As a proud member of the Huron-Wendake Nation, filmmaker Alfredo Di Blasio took inspiration from his Indigenous heritage and identifies with the turtle as a bringer of insight and wisdom to children.
“Skookum & Chums stories are based on Indigenous values and culture and the importance of inclusion,” said Alfredo Di Blasio, Producer, Huron Media Productions. “The film features notable Indigenous artists, Lorne Cardinal and Michelle Bardach, in addition to award winning actor, Robert Carlyle, and was established to support Indigenous creators and shared values. Skookum and Chums features characters, Lil’ Panda, and friends, and was inspired by the idea of seamlessly weaving Indigenous values into modern animated media that can be shared with audiences around the world. We hope the film can change the world one child at a time by teaching about kindness and inclusivity. Our partnership with TELUS and their Pink Shirt Day initiative demonstrates that we are all in this together, to make kindness cool again.”
Alongside the premiere of Skookum & Chums, TELUS Wise, a free online digital literacy education program, is offering a free educational workshop panel discussion, Talking with your kids about racism online featuring Dr. Janelle Brady, Anti-Racist Educator, and influencers Osob Mohamud and Angela van Tijn. The panel is designed to help kids participate more safely in our digital world, raising awareness about cyberbullying and encouraging parents to talk with their children about racism online.
For more information about TELUS Wise workshops and resources, please visit telus.com/wise.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $17 billion in annual revenue and 17 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to drive social change and enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. The numerous, sustained accolades TELUS has earned over the years from independent, industry-leading network insight firms showcase the strength and speed of TELUS’ global-leading networks, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better.
TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation solutions, including AI and content management, for global and disruptive brands across high-growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, ecommerce and FinTech, healthcare, and travel and hospitality. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $900 million and 1.8 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
About Alfredo Di Blasio and Huron Media
Huron Media is a Vancouver-based production company that focuses on sharing Indigenous values through a mix of traditional and contemporary content. Alfredo Di Blasio is a proud Huron-Wendat. Skookum & Chums is Alfredo’s first animated program. He is thrilled to have assembled a fantastic team of renowned artists including Robert Carlyle and Indigenous artists, Lorne Cardinal and Michelle Bardach.
For inquiries, please contact:
Lena Chen
TELUS Public Relations
lena.chen@telus.com
Alfredo Di Blasio
Huron Media Productions
