PRINCE RUPERT, BC (July 27, 2026) – Hope Air is proud to announce the renewal of its partnership with AltaGas through a generous $30,000 donation to support patients in Northern British Columbia who must travel long distances to access essential medical care.

Now entering the second year of the partnership, AltaGas’ continued investment will help provide free medical travel assistance through Hope Air’s British Columbia Travel Program, helping patients overcome the financial and geographic barriers that often stand between them and the healthcare they need.

Supporting and strengthening the communities where they live and work is a core part of AltaGas’ community investment approach. Operating across diverse regions, including many rural and remote communities, AltaGas recognizes that each community faces unique challenges and is committed to investing in high-impact programs that address local needs.

“We are proud to continue our partnership with Hope Air and support patients who face significant challenges accessing medical care,” said Sheila Flemmer, Senior Manager, Community Investment. “Supporting and strengthening the communities where we live and work is important to us. Through partnerships like this, we can help remove barriers to healthcare and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people across Northern British Columbia.”

Hope Air provides free flights, accommodations, and travel support for Canadians in financial need who must travel far from home for medical care. For patients like Simona from Prince Rupert and Sienna from Fort St. John, that support can make all the difference.

Living with fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis, Simona needed to travel from Prince Rupert to Vancouver to access specialist care and prepare for shoulder replacement surgery. Living on a disability pension, she worried she would have to choose between paying for medication and travelling to medical appointments. Hope Air helped arrange her travel so she could focus on her health rather than the cost of getting to treatment.

“Without Hope Air’s support, I probably would have had to cancel most of my appointments,” said Simona. “It allowed me to focus on my health instead of worrying about how I would get to treatment.”

For Sienna, Hope Air provided a flight from Fort St. John to Kelowna for a critical medical examination to determine whether she had cervical cancer. Without support, she faced significant delays accessing care closer to home. “We all need help sometimes and medical check-ups are very important,” said Sienna. “Prevention or advanced notice is often the difference between survival and death.”

AltaGas’ renewed support will help more patients across Northern British Columbia access the care they need, regardless of where they live.

Mark Rubinstein, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Air, highlighted the impact of AltaGas’ renewed commitment.

“We are incredibly grateful for AltaGas’ continued support. Patients like Simona and Sienna remind us that geography should never determine access to healthcare. For people living in remote communities, medical travel is often unavoidable, but the cost can be overwhelming. AltaGas’ generosity helps ensure patients can access the care they need when they need it, without having to choose between their health and their finances.”

About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity providing free travel and accommodations for low-income Canadians who must travel far from home for medical care. Since 1986, Hope Air has arranged over 277,000 travel arrangements and 50,287 flights for patients in financial need across 710 communities, helping to ensure all Canadians can access healthcare, regardless of where they live.

For more information about Hope Air’s programs or to request assistance, visit www.hopeair.ca.

Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director, Marketing & Communications
Hope Air
jlumsden@hopeair.ca