This year is a special year for Hope Air. Founded in 1986 Hope Air is proud to celebrate 40 years of helping Canada deliver on its promise of universal healthcare by addressing the greatest barriers patients have to accessing healthcare: distance and cost.

Over the past four decades, Hope Air has provided more than 277,000 travel arrangements for over 106,000 patients and their escorts living in more than 700 communities across Canada.

Each week throughout 2026, the space below will be updated with Hope Air historical moments and Patrons of Hope Air who have been recognized for their support.

Hope Air 40th Anniversary

Honouring Hope Air Patrons

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

CAA Club Group

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Bearskin Airlines

Pratt & Whitney Canada

Gore Bay-Manitoulin Airport & Robert Colwell

Doug Keller-Hobson

Gordon Roberts

Andrew Knight

Government of Prince Edward Island

Dave McElroy

Pacific Coastal Airlines

The McCain Foundation

Lise and David Ash

YVR for Kids

RBC Foundation

CBAA

Jinnie Bradshaw and Joan Rogers

Government of British Columbia

Scott and Joanne Macpherson

YVR

Volunteer Pilots

Donna Hill

Uber

Jim Burton

Ann and Bev Collombin

WestJet

R. Howard Webster Foundation

Honouring Past Hope Air Patrons

40 Years of Hope Air Moments

From Life-Saving Flights to Life-Changing Donations

Supporting Patients Every Step of the Journey

There for the Long Journey, Not Just One Trip

A Milestone in Motion: One Patient’s 100-Flight Journey

The Volunteer Pilot Program: Where Care Takes Flight

Hope Air takes flight in new ways

Recognizing Our Founders

An Early Journey, A Lasting Impact

Hope Air enters its 40th year of service

Celebrating 40 Years of Hope, thanks to You

No patient left behind

Barriers of distance and cost are significant issues that affect many people living in rural, remote, northern or under-served communities. By working together with government, partners and donors, we can reduce these barriers to health care access, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment for thousands of patients in Ontario. This in turn leads to significant better health outcomes for people.

Hope Air supports patients needing to travel for specialty medical care in over 75 communities across the province. In 2024, it is projected that we will be asked to support over 4,000 medical travel arrangements including airline, hotel, meals and ground transportation. Without Hope Air, patients in financial need would be required to pay $2,000 or more per trip in out of pocket travel expenses, causing many people to cancel their medical appointments due to cost.

Make hope take flight

Better Health. Reduced Poverty. Stronger Communities.

Better Health

Bella Hope Air patient from Castlegar, British Columbia
“Without Hope Air, I wouldn’t have been able to go to any of my appointments, and, in hindsight, that would have been devastating, considering how much the treatment has helped.”

Reduced Poverty

Erica, mother to Hope Air patient Kendric, Moncton, New Brunswick
“Hope Air took all my financial worries and stress away, and I will be forever grateful. We have used many different charities throughout our journey of childhood cancer, and honestly, this has been the easiest one to use and the most helpful.”

Stronger Communities

Evan, father to Hope Air patient Sienna Iroquois Falls, Ontario
“Without Hope Air we would have had to stay in Ottawa for the entire year without family. There was no way we would be able to drive the 10-hour trip with a baby, which turns into three days.”

Thank you to our Hope Air supporters

Complete this form to learn more about Hope Air and our role in equitable access to care