How Rogers is Helping Students in B.C., Manitoba During Covid-19

Rogers is committed to finding ways to close the digital divide and help provide critical support for students and families who need it the most. That’s why we are collaborating with school districts and Apple to put iPads with free Rogers wireless data in the hands of students across the country.

The Cowichan School District in British Columbia has distributed iPads to students throughout the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, ensuring equity in access to educational opportunities. These iPads come with free Rogers wireless data for three months, along with a suite of high-quality educational apps. This has introduced new educational opportunities for students while allowing teachers to plan a more fulsome online educational experience.

“Thank you again for loaning us the school iPad for Alexis. Without the use of iPad, we would never have been able to teach and learn what we needed to do as well as keep in contact on zoom calls with her teachers and classmates. It has been our lifesaver having it as it’s expanded our whole learning world in our house.” – Cowichan Valley School District family.

Students in Cowichan Valley are not only learning math and spelling, they are using the iPads to access online cooking classes or connect with their teachers and classmates through video calls.

We are also pleased to be working alongside the Winnipeg School Division in Manitoba and Apple to help meet the educational needs of families throughout Winnipeg and to provide affordable remote learning solutions such as iPads that are secure, easy to deploy and easy to use – so that no student is left behind while schools are closed.

“With our partnership with Rogers we were able to bridge the equity and connectivity gap for 600 of our Winnipeg School Division families,” says Tony Marchione, Acting Director of Research/Planning and Technology, Winnipeg School Division. “Schools are reporting that families receiving the devices with cellular capability are very appreciative and that students are now able to connect with their teachers online to help support their learning.”

The new iPads will help students in the short-term and will also assist the Winnipeg School Division and the Cowichan Valley School District by introducing new devices into the schools. When in-class instruction resumes, the iPads will be returned to schools and continue to serve as great technological tools in classrooms. The three months of free internet access from Rogers will carry the Winnipeg and Cowichan Valley students through the end of the school year and can be continued to be used throughout the summer.