Burlington to Launch TelePALS, a Social Phone Service for Adults on May 1

COVID-19
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*Please see below a media release issued by the City of Burlington.Burlington, Ont.—April 29, 2020— On May 1, the City of Burlington is launching TelePALS, a free phone service designed to help adults stay connected as everyone practices physical distancing to help flatten the curve of COVID-19.Through TelePALS, users can participate in free, over-the-phone programs, including:

  • Chat Groups: Join a host-led discussion focused on topics like books, music, hobbies and more;
  • Listen and Learn: Listen to interesting topics for part of the program and participate in follow-up discussions;
  • Game Shows: Join in the fun of team competitions like trivia and mystery guessing games;
  • Ask the Expert: Call in to ask questions to guest subject experts;
  • Listen for Enjoyment: Call in and put your phone on speaker to listen to music, stories, updates and presentations.

Programs run Monday to Friday and are approximately one hour long. No special equipment is needed, any phone will do.

"During the closure of city facilities, we are providing the community with free on-line resources and activities that will help people of all ages stay active at home, both mentally and physically. TelePALS is one of the opportunities to participate. I would encourage residents to visit Burlington.ca/play to see all of the possibilities, from fitness to cooking and crafts." -- Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation Services, City of Burlington

How to RegisterTo register for Chat Groups, Listen and Learn, Game Shows or Ask the Expert, residents can leave a message at 905-335-7738, ext. 4662 and a staff member will return the call. Registrations are accepted up to 24 hours before the start of the programs.To register for Listen for Enjoyment, please call 1-866-279-1594 ten minutes before the scheduled start time and enter passcode 355760.All programs available through TelePALS can be viewed online at Burlington.ca/telepals.QUICK FACTS:

MAYOR MEED WARD'S TAKE:Physical distancing can be hard, particularly for our residents living on their own and unable to visit with family and friends. While there are a number of ways to connect online, the reality is that not everyone in Burlington has access to the Internet. TelePALS is a great service in that regard because all you need to connect is your phone. These free, over-the-phone programs can help adults socially connect with others while safely maintaining physical distancing. COVID-19 has forced us to rethink how we can safely connect with each other, but our strong community spirit is what will get us through this.—PLEASE NOTE: To stay updated on what the City of Burlington is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit the dedicated pages burlington.ca/coronavirus (and subscribe) and bit.ly/mayormeedwardCOVID19updates, and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page — bit.ly/COVID19BurlingtonFAQ that are updated as new information becomes available.A Burlington COVID-19 Task Force has been created to help support our community through this unprecedented emergency — updates will be provided at burlington.ca/COVID19taskforce.To report an incident of non-compliance with provincial emergency orders, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.We’ve also created a dedicated page to feature the local organizations and businesses that have inspired us during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking action to support our community in new and creative ways — head to bit.ly/covidwallofinspiration.HELPFUL RESOURCES & RELATED LINKS:

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist.

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