Agnico Eagle Mines affirms support of Hope Air to facilitate Healthcare Access in Northern Ontario Residents
Sudbury, ON – October 23, 2025 – As part of the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce President’s Series Luncheon this afternoon, Andre Leite, Vice President Ontario Operations for Agnico Eagle Mines announced a $150,000 contribution in support of Hope Air’s mission and encouraged fellow chamber members to do their part to ensure that the organization continues to meet the needs of residents of Sudbury and across the province.
Hope Air is grateful to Agnico Eagle for this renewed commitment to residents of Northern Ontario who must travel for medical care. As the only national charity providing free travel arrangements for people from rural or remote communities, Hope Air has experienced significant increases in demand with Ontario being the only province where the organization receives no government funding.
The charity relies on the private sector to support this growing need, and Agnico Eagle has responded with their support of Northern Ontario residents. Agnico Eagle’s commitment to helping to bridge the distance between home and hospital for patients speaks to the value they place on enhancing access to essential medical care in Northern Ontario, aligning the natural resources sector with the mission of creating healthier, stronger communities.
This new investment, bringing Agnico Eagle’s support to $250,000 over the last two represents a significant commitment to help sustain Hope Air’s program, with hopes that other industry leaders will be inspired to act. As a leading employer in Northern Ontario, Agnico Eagle recognizes the importance of a healthy workforce and vibrant local communities, aligning with the company’s values of sustainability and community impact, demonstrating leadership in addressing healthcare access challenges.
The growing need in the province exceeds $1 Million annually, and this contribution is a significant step toward allowing Hope Air to continue delivering lifesaving services, including flights, accommodations, and meals for patients traveling to urban medical centers.
“At Agnico Eagle, we believe that strong communities are the foundation for our people and their families to thrive,” said Andre Leite, Vice President, Ontario, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. “Our partnership with Hope Air reflects our ongoing commitment to helping Northern Ontario families access the care they need, when and where they need it. We’re proud of our roots in the North and remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that strengthen the well-being and resilience of the communities where we live and work.”
Northern Ontario is a region of high need, where patients often face 8- to 16-hour bus rides, unaffordable travel expenses, or the choice to forego treatment entirely. Seven of the top eight routes served by Hope Air originate in Northern Ontario, with communities like Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Sudbury among the most affected.
“Our work ensures that no one is left behind due to geography or financial limitations when accessing vital medical care,” said Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air. “Agnico Eagle’s partnership makes a significant impact for families in Northern Ontario, where access to specialized care often requires traveling great distances, at a time when our Ontario program is under significant pressure to meet demand.”
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 specialty care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. Without the access Hope Air provides, our national system of universal healthcare coverage would fall short of its promise.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
Hope Air is grateful to Agnico Eagle for this renewed commitment to residents of Northern Ontario who must travel for medical care. As the only national charity providing free travel arrangements for people from rural or remote communities, Hope Air has experienced significant increases in demand with Ontario being the only province where the organization receives no government funding.
The charity relies on the private sector to support this growing need, and Agnico Eagle has responded with their support of Northern Ontario residents. Agnico Eagle’s commitment to helping to bridge the distance between home and hospital for patients speaks to the value they place on enhancing access to essential medical care in Northern Ontario, aligning the natural resources sector with the mission of creating healthier, stronger communities.
This new investment, bringing Agnico Eagle’s support to $250,000 over the last two represents a significant commitment to help sustain Hope Air’s program, with hopes that other industry leaders will be inspired to act. As a leading employer in Northern Ontario, Agnico Eagle recognizes the importance of a healthy workforce and vibrant local communities, aligning with the company’s values of sustainability and community impact, demonstrating leadership in addressing healthcare access challenges.
The growing need in the province exceeds $1 Million annually, and this contribution is a significant step toward allowing Hope Air to continue delivering lifesaving services, including flights, accommodations, and meals for patients traveling to urban medical centers.
“At Agnico Eagle, we believe that strong communities are the foundation for our people and their families to thrive,” said Andre Leite, Vice President, Ontario, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. “Our partnership with Hope Air reflects our ongoing commitment to helping Northern Ontario families access the care they need, when and where they need it. We’re proud of our roots in the North and remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that strengthen the well-being and resilience of the communities where we live and work.”
Northern Ontario is a region of high need, where patients often face 8- to 16-hour bus rides, unaffordable travel expenses, or the choice to forego treatment entirely. Seven of the top eight routes served by Hope Air originate in Northern Ontario, with communities like Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Sudbury among the most affected.
“Our work ensures that no one is left behind due to geography or financial limitations when accessing vital medical care,” said Mark Rubinstein, CEO of Hope Air. “Agnico Eagle’s partnership makes a significant impact for families in Northern Ontario, where access to specialized care often requires traveling great distances, at a time when our Ontario program is under significant pressure to meet demand.”
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 specialty care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 200,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
For people living on a low income in small and rural communities, distance and cost are very real barriers to them accessing vital medical care. Hope Air is a unique and essential part of our Canadian healthcare system. Without the access Hope Air provides, our national system of universal healthcare coverage would fall short of its promise.
Hope Air is accredited by Imagine Canada’s Standards. This accreditation validates our commitment to good governance and transparency.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
Media Inquiries:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
jlumsden@hopeair.ca