MTS Future First and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection team up to keep kids safe online

"Keeping Teens Safe from Online Sexual Exploitation" information booklets now available at MTS Connect stores

WINNIPEG, Sept. 30, 2015 /CNW/ - (TSX:MBT) MTS, Manitoba's leading full-service telecommunications provider, in conjunction with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, today launched an initiative to help parents talk to and educate their teenaged children about staying safe online.

Keeping Teens Safe from Online Sexual Exploitation, an information booklet created by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, is part of a complimentary kit that will be provided to parents when they purchase their teen's first smartphone.  The kits will be available at all MTS Connect stores throughout Manitoba.

"The Canadian Centre for Child Protection continues to develop new and effective ways of keeping our children safe," said MTS CEO Jay Forbes. "The work the Centre does on behalf of children of all ages in Canada is vital, and MTS is honoured to support this important initiative."

The booklet provides parents/guardians with proactive, practical steps that can be shared with their teen to increase their online safety and assist them with recognizing and responding to uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations.  Specifically, this booklet will help parents learn more about:

• important questions and scenarios to discuss with teens about online activities;
• taking steps to monitor teens' use of technology;
• discussing the qualities of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, and the importance of adults demonstrating healthy boundaries with teens;
• how to provide teens with practical strategies for getting out of potentially dangerous online encounters;
• how to recognize common tactics used by adult offenders with teenagers; and
• what to do if a teen has had concerning contact with someone online.

"We recognize how difficult it can be for parents to stay on top of emerging issues facing youth. As such, we want to arm parents with the most current information impacting teens online and promote the necessary conversations that will empower young people to make safer decisions when interacting with others" said Lianna McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. "We are very proud to continue growing our long-standing partnership with MTS by reaching parents that are purchasing their teen's first smartphone."

For additional resources on how parents can keep their teens safe while on the Internet, visit Cybertip.ca/youthsafety.

For more information on Future First, MTS' multi-faceted community investment program to help in the advancement of Manitoba's young people, please visit www.mts.ca/futurefirst.

About MTS Future First
MTS is the leading full-service communications provider for residential and business customers in Manitoba. MTS Future First: Connecting Today's Youth to Tomorrow is a multi-faceted community investment program that includes sponsorships, grants, donations, scholarships, employee volunteerism and fundraising programs to help in the advancement of Manitoba youth and reflects MTS's philosophy of investing and giving back to our community. The program articulates a clear vision for MTS's ongoing contribution to a thriving economy fueled by a vibrant, diverse workforce – one nurtured in healthy communities that provide opportunity and optimism for our young people. In 2013, MTS donated more than 1% of its pre-tax profits to charitable purposes in Manitoba. For more information about Future First, please visit www.mts.ca/futurefirst, and follow us @MTSFutureFirst.

About the Canadian Centre for Child Protection: the Canadian Centre for Child Protection is a registered charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. Their goal is to reduce child victimization by providing national programs and services to the Canadian public. Learn more by visiting protectchildren.ca.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer
This news release includes forward-looking statements and information (collectively, the "statements") about MTS's products and services that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. As a consequence, actual results in the future may differ materially from any conclusion, forecast or projection in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, forward-looking statements should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Examples of statements that constitute forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "project", "should", "anticipate", "could", "target", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "outlook", "see", "set", "pending", and other similar terms.

Factors that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, matters identified in the "Material assumptions" section and the "Risks and uncertainties" section of the Company's 2014 Annual Management's Discussion & Analysis and 2014 Annual Information Form, both of which are available on SEDAR www.sedar.com.

Please note that forward-looking statements reflect Management's expectations as at the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.

Image with caption: "MTS Future First and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection team up to keep kids safe online (CNW Group/Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150930_C4405_PHOTO_EN_510461.jpg

MTS: Melanie McKague, Director, Corporate Communications & Community Investment, 204 958-3230, [email protected]; Canadian Centre for Child Protection: Tari Bernier, Communications Coordinator, Email: [email protected], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]