We’ve chosen to dedicate our corporate giving to programs which support scholastic success. It’s important to us that Canadian youth from coast to coast have access to the resources and tools they need to reach their academic goals. It’s the impetus behind the Rogers Youth Fund program. When YWCA Moncton’s very own Beth Lyons, Youth Programs Manager, told us how essential Rogers Youth Fund support was to her Youth Thrive programming, we once again had proof that we were making a difference. It’s a good feeling.

We asked Beth to talk about the important work done within the YWCA’s Youth Thrive program. Here’s what she had to say:

Why are programs that centre around academic success important to YWCA Moncton?
The academic success of the pre-teens and teens we work with is critical, because it will have a direct effect on their earning power and quality of life down the line, once they reach adulthood. It’s also tied into self-esteem: doing well in school is perceived as a measure of success. There is an element of shame associated with doing poorly in school. We want all our youth to face the world with strong self-esteem.

What is Youth Thrive?
The YWCA’s Youth Thrive program supports academic support for youth – both girls and boys – in the Moncton community. It involves two streams: Techno Tutoring and On My Way.

Can you explain each?
Techno Tutoring is for middle school girls and boys. Our paid tutors work twice a week with students in two schools who are chronically below grade level and really need extra support. Rogers funding also allowed us to purchase iPads, e-readers and LED tablets, all of which not only help learning, but also help remove the stigma that could otherwise have been associated with the program. Techno Tutoring sessions have become a place all students wish they could be. Finally, by entrusting these students, many of whom come from economically disadvantaged homes, with technology they might not otherwise have access to, we’re sending them a message of empowerment. They know we trust them to handle this equipment and it’s a much-needed boost to their self-esteem.

On My Way is a program for high school girls. Again, the focus is on academic success. We work with students who are performing below grade level and at risk of dropping out. The girls meet with us once a week for a full hour, and have access to iPads and e-readers. They also get the support they need to help them deal with the pressures of their lives, thanks to their ongoing relationships with tutors whose salaries are paid for by Rogers Youth Fund. It makes a huge difference to be able to count on the continued presence of paid staff.

What kind of difference do you think this makes in the lives of the young people you work with?
We worked with one boy who was reading well below grade level. All his friends were into the Hunger Games trilogy, and he wasn’t able to join in the conversation about this popular series because he found reading too hard. We were able to set him up with a Kobo e-reader and an iPod-enabled audio book. Having the audio took some of the pressure off. He was able to listen to the book and follow along with the e-reader, much as if it were close captioning. Not only was he able to discuss the book with his peers, but his reading skills improved.

Another young woman we’ve worked with was coming up to the deadline for her high school equivalency, and it was obvious she wouldn’t get there on her own. We set up her with one of our tutors, who helped her prioritize and understand her work. She graduated on time as a result.

Our thanks to Beth for taking the time out of her busy schedule to speak with us. Do you have any questions for us about the work we support through Rogers Youth Fund?

We’ve been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2013 by Mediacorp Canada Inc. The award recognizes companies for their leadership in creating a diverse environment for their employees, customers and communities.  We’re on the list and excited and proud to be there!

Diversity is integral to our overall talent management strategy. Hiring thousands of Canadians every year and building diverse high performing teams is an on-going focus and essential to the company’s success.  In line with this, we have a multi-year diversity plan that is developed and championed by the company’s most senior leaders as well as employees.

Focusing on Diversity helps us to build better teams and we’re always looking for ways to attract the best talent for Rogers.  Creating a culture of inclusiveness is important to ensuring our employees feel engaged every day when they come to work.

To help us achieve this goal we focus on many initiatives.  Here are a few we’re proud to highlight:

Talent Attraction

• We recently partnered with Pride at Work Canada, and will be working with them to help us strengthen our initiatives in promoting inclusiveness for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified (LGBT) employees at Rogers.
  
• OMNI Ontario funds the John Webb Graham Q.C. Rogers Multicultural Scholarship which provides four-year tuition to three first-year students in the School of Radio and Television Arts at Ryerson University. Awarded annually, this entrance award is based on ethnocultural or native background, academic proficiency and career aspirations.

Employee Retention and Development

• We’ve created the Rogers Women’s Network (RWN), a strong employee resource groups which focuses on helping female managers build the leadership skills and networks they need to transition into the next level of their careers.  The RWN works very closely with Canadian Women in Communications to bring additional resources to the women at Rogers.
  
• In 2012 we created the Rogers Employee Volunteer Program.  As part of this program employees are invited to take time off work and use it towards a volunteer experience, either with an organization affiliated with our own Rogers Youth Fund or with another registered charity of their choice.
  
• We offer a number of amenities for those who require alternative accommodation, designed to improve workplace diversity and inclusiveness for our employees in designated groups. Examples include family care rooms for nursing mothers, computer software systems to assist visually impaired employees, and faith rooms which allow for private observance.

What’s next?

We’re working on plenty of new initiatives to further promote and support a diverse and inclusive environment at Rogers.  We’ll be rolling out these initiatives in line with our Diversity roadmap and strategy and communication is one of our top priorities so expect to hear more from us in the coming months.

How do you stay connected with Rogers? Follow us @RogersCareers!

Liz is a new contributor to the Redboard blog. Welcome Liz!

Photo credit: YannGarPhoto.wordpress.com / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

February 10^th marks the Lunar New Year. This holiday is narrated by powerful mythology and traditions which are centuries old, and continue to carry significance in this day and age. I happen to be very passionate about all things astrological, evidenced by the fact that I often frequent a handful of horoscope apps on my phone.

I recently downloaded the free Chinese Horoscope app and I’ve been uncovering the background of my animal zodiac, the Ox, particularly how its forecast relates to the 2013 Year of the Snake. Speaking of apps, a quick search on my phone reveals a wide selection of cool apps you can download for free to digitally bring in the New Year. Categories range from  ringtones, wallpapers, greeting cards to my favourite find-  the Chinese New Year Photo Booth app, you can insert frames, images, lanterns and stamps onto your photos.

Many people will be celebrating the Lunar festivities in various ways, here’s what you can expect from Rogers:

You can also tune into the free previews that are currently on your TV. I’ve outlined the channel names and numbers below.

Free previews on your TV:

Available to Ontario Rogers Digital TV subscribers

Unlimited long distance calling to landlines in over 25 countries for $20, including China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan with Rogers One Number

• Purchase the Rogers One Number International Long Distance Add on to catch up with loved ones overseas
• The main reason I love Rogers One Number is unlimited talking and texting to any Canadian wireless number   no matter where you are, at no additional cost from your computer or tablet

Free Lai See packs at select Rogers retail locations across Canada

Request to receive a free Lai See pack from a rep in the store, the picture included in this post depicts what it looks like. Typically these packs come in the form of a small envelope with brightly coloured designs, like red and gold variations.

As one of the most ancient creatures, the snake embodies great wisdom and is both feared and venerated. I like the analogy of the snake shedding its skin; this year will be characterized by peeling away old habits and starting fresh with new goals and ambitions. In other words, a time for reflection and thoughtful resolutions.

What is your favourite aspect of the Lunar New Year?

 Kaili is a regular contributor to the Redboard blog.

Back in December, Rogers customers were the first to be able to reserve the new BlackBerry 10 devices. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that the BlackBerry Z10 will be in stores in 6 days!

Want an inside look at the new BlackBerry 10? Check out the video below:

The wait is almost over

The BlackBerry Z10, a new all-touch device, will run on Rogers’ LTE network. It will be available at Rogers retail and dealer locations across Canada beginning on February 5th, and starting at $149.99 with select  3-year plans.  If you prefer a more traditional QWERTY-keyboard device, the BlackBerry Q10 is the BlackBerry 10 device for you – coming to Rogers in 2013

Why Rogers?

For more than 10 years, Rogers has been selling BlackBerry devices to Canadians. We were the first to launch BlackBerry services worldwide, and have the largest base of BlackBerry users in Canada. We’re happy to continue our tradition of innovation. Being a Rogers BlackBerry 10 customer means:

• Access to Experts: Our employees are trained and ready to get you started on BlackBerry 10, ensuring your transition is easy and flawless;
• Exclusive applications: You’ll also have access to exclusive Rogers applications like Rogers Anyplace TV, Rogers One Number, My Account, Sportsnet, and coming soon, Smart Home Monitoring;
• LTE-powered: Both the BlackBerry Z10 and the BlackBerry Q10 BlackBerry 10 devices run on the Rogers LTE network. Unleash the BlackBerry 10 on Rogers LTE, Canada’s fastest wireless internet*, and you’ll  be able to access files, download documents, stream video content and music at faster speeds. The Rogers LTE network is available in select Canadian cities; visit rogers.com/lte for coverage details.

We’ve got some more news for BlackBerry enthusiasts

As of January 31^st, current Rogers customers can beat the line and pre-register for  the Q10, a QWERTY-keyboard BlackBerry10 device, through the Rogers Reservation System.

What new feature excites you most about BlackBerry 10?

Sarah is a regular Redboard contributor.

*Based on tests comparing download speeds on the Rogers LTE network vs. Bell and Telus’ LTE networks within Rogers LTE coverage area. LTE device, LTE SIM and plan required.  Actual experienced speeds may vary based on device, topography and environmental conditions, network congestion and other factors. Rogers LTE network available in select Canadian cities. Visit Rogers.com/LTE for coverage.