Telus is helping shoppers in cities across Canada this week by paying for their cab rides.

The phone company is picking up the tabs for 70 taxis (10 each in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto and Montreal) as ‘a kiss on the cheek’ to Canadians, Anne-Marie LaBerge, vice-president, brand and marketing communications, Telus, tells MiC.

‘In the week before the holidays, anywhere you go in the big cities, it’s almost impossible to park or drive around,’ she says. ‘There’s the parties, where you don’t want people to drive, and then there’s the shopping, and it’s just crazy to find parking, and we thought, this will answer directly consumer needs during that time.’

Media was handled by Cossette, creative by Taxi in Montreal and Calgary-based Sonar Media Solutions coordinated the cab companies across the country.

The cabs will be branded with window and door ads and will also have cellphones that riders can use to call anyone they want in North America for free. Riders will also get a free Telus shopping bag.

The cabs hit the streets Saturday and will run until Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.