For decades, Hope Air’s ability to connect patients to essential medical care has depended on the generosity and commitment of Canada’s aviation community. Among those who have supported this work through volunteer flying, leadership, and advocacy are Scott and Joanne Macpherson.
As Hope Air celebrates 40 years of service, we are proud to recognize Scott and Joanne Macpherson as Hope Air Patrons, the highest distinction awarded by our charity. This honour reflects their longstanding commitment to helping ensure that patients can access care regardless of where they live.
Scott first became involved with Hope Air in the early 1990s while flying corporate aircraft for Weldwood of Canada. His department had longstanding connections to Mission Air Transport, the name Hope Air operated under in its early years and began supporting patient travel during a time when the program relied heavily on close coordination between volunteer pilots and operators. Requests were often shared by fax or phone, and flight crews worked collaboratively to adjust routes and schedules so that patients in remote communities could reach medical appointments safely.
These early flights revealed both the challenges patients faced and the profound impact of reliable medical travel. Scott recalls regularly transporting a patient from British Columbia’s interior to Vancouver for cancer treatment over several months. His crew witnessed the physical toll of treatment as well as the gradual return of strength and optimism. After one flight, the patient stepped off the aircraft smiling and shared her relief that she would not need to make the journey again. Other journeys were more somber, including flights that brought patients home for the final time. Experiences like these reinforced the importance of Hope Air’s work and the role aviation can play in supporting equitable access to care.
Over a career spanning more than three decades in corporate aviation, Scott has contributed to aviation safety and leadership at both national and international levels. Today, he continues to support Hope Air by helping provide access to an aircraft equipped to operate year-round in mountainous regions, expanding the organization’s ability to serve patients in communities where weather and geography can make travel especially difficult.
Joanne has supported Hope Air alongside Scott throughout the years, sharing a strong belief in the organization’s mission and contributing in practical and meaningful ways. She is now looking forward to becoming more directly involved as a Volunteer Co-Pilot for Hope Air missions , reflecting the couple’s ongoing commitment to patient care. Together, Scott and Joanne have helped strengthen awareness of Hope Air’s impact within the aviation community and beyond.
As we reflect on four decades of impact, we thank Scott and Joanne Macpherson for their generosity, leadership, and dedication to helping ensure that distance is never a barrier to accessing care.
