Hope Air’s Haul for Hope Returns to Edmonton International Airport on September 22
Edmonton, AB – September 15, 2025– For too many Canadians, the journey to life-saving medical care can mean impossible choices: hours-long drives, financial hardship, or missed treatments altogether. Hope Air exists to change that. On Monday, September 22, 2025, the charity will bring its signature fundraising event, Haul for Hope, back to Edmonton International Airport (YEG) — rallying the community to help ensure distance and cost are never barriers to care.
At the event, teams of up to 15 people will take on the challenge of hauling a 67,000-pound aircraft across the tarmac. This symbolic test of strength reflects the enormous challenges patients face in accessing healthcare and the collective power of community to lift those burdens together.
Since 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 235,000 travel arrangements to patients in financial need from over 640 communities across Canada. Hope Air delivered a record 45,000 travel arrangements in 2024, a number that is expected to grow again this year.
In Alberta, hundreds of patients rely on Hope Air for flights and accommodations to access vital care in cities like Edmonton and Calgary.
WestJet, Presenting Sponsor of Haul for Hope in Western Canada, has been a Hope Air partner since 2007, contributing more than 24,000 flights for patients in need.
“WestJet is proud to further cement our partnership with Hope Air as the Presenting Sponsor for Haul for Hope across Western Canada, and particularly here in Edmonton, one of our key focus areas,” said Jared Mikoch-Gerke, Director, Alliances & Airport Affairs, WestJet. “Since our partnership began, we’ve seen first-hand how access to care can change lives, and we are honoured to help ensure no Canadian is left behind.”
YEG is once again hosting Haul for Hope, bringing together corporate teams, aviation partners, and community supporters to make an impact. YEG is a unique airport that facilitates both inbound and outbound travel for patients with roughly one patient per day annually travelling through the airport.
“YEG is pleased to welcome back Haul for Hope and to collaborate with Hope Air and WestJet in supporting Albertans who need to travel for medical care,” said Myron Keehn, President & CEO, Edmonton International Airport (YEG). “This event is about community, compassion and our belief that distance should never be a barrier to healthcare.”
“Haul for Hope is about more than strength; it’s about standing together so that distance and dollars never determine a patient’s chance at care,” said Mark Rubinstein, CEO, Hope Air. “We are grateful to WestJet, YEG, and all our supporters in Edmonton for pulling together to deliver hope to patients across Alberta and Canada.”
The parties are joined at YEG by Keyera, Site Presenting Sponsor for Edmonton.
Event Details
• Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
• Location: Edmonton International Airport (YEG) (please arrive at the corner of 21 St E and 35 Ave E, adjacent to the Cargojet hangar)
• Agenda: 9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast | 10:00 AM Speaking Remarks | 10:15 AM Pulling Begins | 1:00 PM Awards
• Participants: Corporate teams, community groups, airport partners, and Hope Air supporters
To learn more, 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, YEG, YYC, PortsToronto, Infinite Investment Systems, Nieuport Aviation, Signature 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.
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals, and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its founding in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 235,000 travel arrangements for patients across more than 640 communities nationwide.
Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing Communications, Hope Air
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
At the event, teams of up to 15 people will take on the challenge of hauling a 67,000-pound aircraft across the tarmac. This symbolic test of strength reflects the enormous challenges patients face in accessing healthcare and the collective power of community to lift those burdens together.
Since 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 235,000 travel arrangements to patients in financial need from over 640 communities across Canada. Hope Air delivered a record 45,000 travel arrangements in 2024, a number that is expected to grow again this year.
In Alberta, hundreds of patients rely on Hope Air for flights and accommodations to access vital care in cities like Edmonton and Calgary.
WestJet, Presenting Sponsor of Haul for Hope in Western Canada, has been a Hope Air partner since 2007, contributing more than 24,000 flights for patients in need.
“WestJet is proud to further cement our partnership with Hope Air as the Presenting Sponsor for Haul for Hope across Western Canada, and particularly here in Edmonton, one of our key focus areas,” said Jared Mikoch-Gerke, Director, Alliances & Airport Affairs, WestJet. “Since our partnership began, we’ve seen first-hand how access to care can change lives, and we are honoured to help ensure no Canadian is left behind.”
YEG is once again hosting Haul for Hope, bringing together corporate teams, aviation partners, and community supporters to make an impact. YEG is a unique airport that facilitates both inbound and outbound travel for patients with roughly one patient per day annually travelling through the airport.
“YEG is pleased to welcome back Haul for Hope and to collaborate with Hope Air and WestJet in supporting Albertans who need to travel for medical care,” said Myron Keehn, President & CEO, Edmonton International Airport (YEG). “This event is about community, compassion and our belief that distance should never be a barrier to healthcare.”
“Haul for Hope is about more than strength; it’s about standing together so that distance and dollars never determine a patient’s chance at care,” said Mark Rubinstein, CEO, Hope Air. “We are grateful to WestJet, YEG, and all our supporters in Edmonton for pulling together to deliver hope to patients across Alberta and Canada.”
The parties are joined at YEG by Keyera, Site Presenting Sponsor for Edmonton.
Event Details
• Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
• Location: Edmonton International Airport (YEG) (please arrive at the corner of 21 St E and 35 Ave E, adjacent to the Cargojet hangar)
• Agenda: 9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast | 10:00 AM Speaking Remarks | 10:15 AM Pulling Begins | 1:00 PM Awards
• Participants: Corporate teams, community groups, airport partners, and Hope Air supporters
To learn more, 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, YEG, YYC, PortsToronto, Infinite Investment Systems, Nieuport Aviation, Signature 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.
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel, accommodations, meals, and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its founding in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 235,000 travel arrangements for patients across more than 640 communities nationwide.
Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing Communications, Hope Air
jlumsden@hopeair.ca