Bell Canada

Canada’s oldest communications company, Bell Canada has been a long-standing donor to U of T, contributing generously to research, scholarship and student financial aid.

“Mr. Watson, come here—I want to see you.” Alexander Graham Bell made history when he spoke these words to his assistant, Thomas Watson, over his “Liquid Transmitter” on March 10, 1876.

It has been nearly a century and a half since Alexander Graham Bell invented the first practical telephone and since then, Bell Canada has grown into the country’s largest communications company, supporting innovation and access to communications that continue to benefit individuals and communities around Canada.

At the same time, the company has made significant contributions to a wide variety of initiatives in communities nationwide, including programs that provide support for children and young people, as well as for the arts and culture. Its signature Bell Let’s Talk initiative is the single largest corporate commitment to mental health in Canada.

Bell Canada has been a consistent U of T supporter over many decades, donating more than $5.8 million to a variety of important initiatives. The company helped fund the establishment of the Bell Canada Cyber Counselling Research, Training and Service Centre at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, where students are able to gain invaluable experience in delivering online counselling. The company’s contributions have also supported graduate scholarships at the University, as well as several research chairs in areas such as multimedia, information engineering, information systems and software engineering.

The breadth of Bell Canada’s contributions, as well as its long-standing, sustained commitment to U of T, is evident in its significant ongoing support for research, scholarship and many other endeavours.