The Apple TV app is now available on the TELUS TV Digital Box

My understanding is Telus does plan to roll out the new hardware to existing customers at some point.

If it's any consolation there have been more than a few reported issues with the new system. Also some of the features that are available on the older hardware have yet to be migrated.

There is some info here on features and issues with the new system:

Optik TV Bulletin Board: Discover, Discuss, and De... - TELUS Neighbourhood

Fair enough -- they would have to address cost, availability and stability before doing a mass rollout.  One question -- there is currently no Apple TV Android app, so the only way to get Apple content through the new box would be via Chrome or Firefox (if either is provided)

Not so fast Lone Ranger!  When the boxes arrived it turns out they were exactly the same as what I have installed now (Arris legacy units).  Unfortunately I didn't clue in until I had been through the whole install process.  I have sent a rant message to the Telus management thread -- not too optimistic for a solution any time soon.  I suspect a supply problem with the Android boxes -- looking to go 3rd party.

Maybe this works:

https://www.lifewire.com/cast-apple-tv-to-chromecast-5200829#:~:text=What%20to%20Know,don't%20need%20to%20cast

I have the Google TV edition of Chromecast and the Apple TV app is embedded therein so no problem but I subscribe to Apple directly not through Telus.  Cannot stream directly from my Android Pixel phone -- makes zero sense.  The Telus Android-based set top box should facilitate Apple streaming in the same way as Google TV -- if you can get one.

There are many ways to watch Apple TV. Unfortunately if you have the older Telus Optik PVR it doesn't support it but the new Telus TV+ boxes do. Many smart TV's also have the ability. For more options:

How to watch Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, and more - Apple Support (CA)

The TV streaming jungle! I have been unable to confirm that Telus or Arris has authored an Apple TV client that will run on the current Telus 4k set top boxes (per ROKU and Amazon Firestick).  There is apparently an IOS version of the Optik TV client that will run on the Apple TV set top box -- this is described on the Telus website, but it's not what I want.  The only way that I can currently run Apple TV content on my 12 year old Samsung TV is to run that content on my laptop's Chrome browser and connect the laptop directly to the TV's HDMI port or cast to a similarly attached Google Chromecast device.  Or, I can of course weaken and contribute $200 to the Apple oligopoly by purchasing an Apple TV set top box.

As mentioned earlier I was able to install and run Apple TV on the new android box. I don't have a subscription so I can't confirm that it works as expected.

Much better than running Apple TV on a Windows laptop and casting or HDMIing to the TV!

Well, after much back and forth with TELUS Tech support, they finally sent me a new box, and everything is working just fine!