Mar 31/09 – Upopolis launches at IWK Health Centre in Halifax

Donation to IWK children's hospital sets up social networking site for kids By THE CANADIAN PRESS Tue. Mar 31 - 5:36 PM

Atlantic Canada's largest children's hospital has received a donation of $50,000 to help launch a social networking site that allows kids to connect online with their family, friends and schools.

The Upopolis site gives children at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax access to instant messaging and games.

It also allows children to stay up to date with their school work, as well as giving them access to health information and the ability to connect to other children in hospital.

IWK President Anne McGuire says Upopolis lets young patients talk to other children with the same medical conditions and share what they are going through.

The donation is the first that has been made by the Telus Atlantic Community Board, which was set up to help local charitable organizations throughout Atlantic Canada.