Former NHL hockey player Sheldon Kennedy welcomed Telus's announcement that it would contribute $185,000 to help prevent child sexual abuse. CBC

Telus Corporation is going to spend $200 million expanding its Ottawa operations, creating 80 new jobs in the city, the company announced Friday.

"Somebody is there to help you, as our customer base grows; as we grow out the new network we need more people to service those customers," said Telus Vice-President Terry Nemeth.

But it was a philanthropic gesture by Telus that got all the attention at Friday's news conference.

Telus is contributing $185,000 to community workshops to create safer environments for children in an attempt to reduce child sexual abuse.

"I think we're at a point where there's a recognition that this kind of crime does emotional damage not only to the victim, but the cost to society is enormous," said former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, who was on hand as a spokesman for the sexually abused.

"To all those folks that are committing themselves to those kids, I want you to know you're making a difference," said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, who was at the news conference along with federal Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

Telus was recently named the top philanthropic corporation in the world. Backing difficult causes has become a corporate duty, said the company’s chief commercial officer Joe Natale.

"Whether it’s child sexual abuse [or] mental illness — all the issues that are in front of our society — we have an obligation to do so,” Natale said.