BC Tel: Homeless Youth in B.C. Given a Chance to Connect With Families at Christmas.

BURNABY, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 14, 1998--BC Telecom Inc.(TSE:BCT.) (VSE:BCT.) (ME:BCT.) Many young people who live on the street or who have left their families are being given an opportunity to place a free long-distance call home for Christmas.

BC TEL is donating more than 800 15-minute prepaid phone cards to youth centers in more than 30 communities around the province (please see attachment for list of communities). BC TEL's employee and retiree volunteer organization, the BC TEL Pioneers, are distributing the prepaid phone cards to provincial Reconnect centers for homeless young people. Staff at the youth centers will then provide the phone cards to their clients.

"Staff at these centers tell us many of their clients would like to call home -- especially at Christmas time -- but these young people simply don't have the money and are embarrassed to call collect," said BC TEL's vice-president of Corporate Communications, Gayle Stewart. "We hope the prepaid cards will encourage that phone call and help make a happy difference for a family."

In addition to the Reconnect centers, BC TEL prepaid phone cards have been donated to The Gathering Place and VanCity Place for Youth, both in Vancouver. Cards have also been provided to Family Services of Greater Vancouver for distribution to kids attending a Christmas dinner in Vancouver on December 15. Homeless youth at a Christmas dinner at the Noopa Youth Centre in Williams Lake on December 17 will also receive a prepaid phone card.

This is the third consecutive year of BC TEL's Christmas prepaid phone card program. BC TEL prepaid phone cards can be used with any touch-tone telephone in Canada or the United States, including pay phones.

BC TEL is donating 820 15-minute prepaid phone cards to 34 youth centers in the following communities: -0-

-- Vancouver
-- North Vancouver
-- New Westminster
-- Delta
-- White Rock
-- Maple Ridge
-- Mission
-- Abbotsford
-- Chilliwack
-- Hope
-- Kelowna
-- Trail
-- Creston
-- Cranbrook
-- Nelson
-- Dawson Creek
-- Prince Rupert
-- Terrace
-- Prince George
-- Victoria
-- Nanaimo
-- Port Alberni
-- Qualicum Beach