Hope Air Announces 3rd Annual Haul for Hope Toronto Event at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Kelowna, BC – September 9, 2025 Hope Air is proud to announce the return of its national fundraising event, Haul for Hope, to Kelowna on September 18, 2025. This is the second year the event will be in Kelowna hosted by the KF Centre for Excellence. Teams of up to 15 participants will haul a 67,000 lb plane 75 metres.
Haul for Hope has grown from a two-city event in 2023 to a 6 city national event, rallying airport communities, airlines, and corporate teams to support patients who must travel far from home for vital medical care. The pull is more than a test of strength, it’s a powerful symbol of the enormous challenges many patients face when distance and cost stand between them and the healthcare they need.
“We’re proud to once again welcome Haul for Hope to the KF Centre for Excellence,” said Chris Lapointe, Executive Director, KF Centre for Excellence. “This event reflects the spirit of our aviation community – teamwork, determination and supporting others. Bringing Haul for Hope to Kelowna highlights the strength of our region and our shared commitment and love of aviation, while helping others access vital medical care.”
Haul for Hope comes at a critical time for Hope Air. In 2024, the charity provided over 45,000 travel arrangements, the most in its history. Last year, Hope Air provided over 1,000 travel arrangements for more than 200 patients and caregivers from Kelowna.
“Every pull at Haul for Hope is a show of strength, solidarity, and compassion,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer at Hope Air. “By coming together in Kelowna and across Canada, we’re making sure that patients in need can access essential medical care, no matter where they live.”
WestJet, a long-time partner of Hope Air, returns as Presenting Sponsor for Western Canada, with Haul for Hope events scheduled in Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Vancouver. WestJet’s support ensures thousands of patients across the country can travel to life-saving medical appointments they would otherwise be unable to access.
Canadians are invited to take part in Haul for Hope by registering a team, making a donation, or cheering from the sidelines. Together, we can ensure that no Canadian is left behind when it comes to accessing medical care.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Location: KF Centre for Excellence
Time: 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Photo Opportunity: Jon Collins, Chief Development Officer at Hope Air, Chris Lapointe, Executive Director, KF Centre for Excellence Hope Air patient.
For more information or to register your team, visit hopeair.ca/haul
Hope Air would like to thank all sponsors, hosts and partners including:
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity dedicated to providing free flights and accommodations for low-income Canadians, who must travel long distances to access medical specialty care. Hope Air eliminates barriers of distance and cost so that patients in financial need, can travel to access the best available treatment for many life-threatening health conditions. Founded in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 235,980 travel arrangements across over 640 communities.
Media Contact:
Christine Stolte
Senior Marketing Coordinator
Hope Air
Cstolte@hopeair.ca
Haul for Hope has grown from a two-city event in 2023 to a 6 city national event, rallying airport communities, airlines, and corporate teams to support patients who must travel far from home for vital medical care. The pull is more than a test of strength, it’s a powerful symbol of the enormous challenges many patients face when distance and cost stand between them and the healthcare they need.
“We’re proud to once again welcome Haul for Hope to the KF Centre for Excellence,” said Chris Lapointe, Executive Director, KF Centre for Excellence. “This event reflects the spirit of our aviation community – teamwork, determination and supporting others. Bringing Haul for Hope to Kelowna highlights the strength of our region and our shared commitment and love of aviation, while helping others access vital medical care.”
Haul for Hope comes at a critical time for Hope Air. In 2024, the charity provided over 45,000 travel arrangements, the most in its history. Last year, Hope Air provided over 1,000 travel arrangements for more than 200 patients and caregivers from Kelowna.
“Every pull at Haul for Hope is a show of strength, solidarity, and compassion,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer at Hope Air. “By coming together in Kelowna and across Canada, we’re making sure that patients in need can access essential medical care, no matter where they live.”
WestJet, a long-time partner of Hope Air, returns as Presenting Sponsor for Western Canada, with Haul for Hope events scheduled in Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Vancouver. WestJet’s support ensures thousands of patients across the country can travel to life-saving medical appointments they would otherwise be unable to access.
Canadians are invited to take part in Haul for Hope by registering a team, making a donation, or cheering from the sidelines. Together, we can ensure that no Canadian is left behind when it comes to accessing medical care.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
Location: KF Centre for Excellence
Time: 9:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Photo Opportunity: Jon Collins, Chief Development Officer at Hope Air, Chris Lapointe, Executive Director, KF Centre for Excellence Hope Air patient.
For more information or to register your team, visit hopeair.ca/haul
Hope Air would like to thank all sponsors, hosts and partners including:
- WestJet as presenting partner in Western Canada.
- Porter as presenting partner in Eastern Canada.
- YVR and Keyera as site presenting sponsors.
- Uber Canada and Pratt & Whitney as Gold Sponsors.
- De Havilland, Plusgrade, PortsToronto, Infinite Investment Systems, Nieuport Aviation as Silver Sponsors.
- Rogers as Bronze Sponsor.
- Hosted by St. John’s International Airport Authority in St. John’s on September 12.
- Hosted by Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in Toronto on September 13.
- YVR as host and site presenting sponsor in Vancouver, hosted at Signature Aviation on September 16.
- Hosted by the KF Centre for Excellence in Kelowna on September 18.
- Keyera, Site Presenting Sponsor at YEG in Edmonton on September 22.
- Hosted by YYC and Signature Aviation in Calgary on September 24.
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity dedicated to providing free flights and accommodations for low-income Canadians, who must travel long distances to access medical specialty care. Hope Air eliminates barriers of distance and cost so that patients in financial need, can travel to access the best available treatment for many life-threatening health conditions. Founded in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 235,980 travel arrangements across over 640 communities.
Media Contact:
Christine Stolte
Senior Marketing Coordinator
Hope Air
Cstolte@hopeair.ca