CALGARY, AB – September 18, 2026 – On Wednesday, September 23, Calgary’s aviation, business and broader community will come together at
YYC Calgary International Airport for
Hope Air’s Haul for Hope, presented by WestJet, raising critical funds to help Canadians who must travel long distances to access vital medical care.
Teams will take on the ultimate test of strength and teamwork, pulling a
67,000-pound WestJet aircraft 100 metres across the tarmac. The challenge symbolizes the journeys patients and families make every day when specialized healthcare is hundreds—or even thousands—of kilometres from home.
For Albertans living outside major urban centres, accessing cancer treatment, organ transplant care, pediatric care and other specialized services can require significant travel. While Canada’s healthcare system covers medical treatment, the cost of getting there often is not covered.
Hope Air helps remove this barrier by providing free flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation to Canadians in financial need who must travel for medical care.
As Calgary’s hometown airline and
Presenting Sponsor of Haul for Hope across Western Canada, WestJet plays a central role in bringing the event to communities across the region. Calgary also holds special significance for the partnership as WestJet’s home and an important hub connecting Canadians from rural and remote communities to specialized healthcare.
The 2026 event comes during a milestone year for both organizations.
Hope Air is celebrating 40 years of helping Canadians reach medical care far from home, while WestJet is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since WestJet launched 30 years ago, the airline has supported Hope Air and its mission to help Canadians overcome the distance to vital medical care.
“As a proudly Canadian airline celebrating 30 years of connecting communities, WestJet is honoured to stand alongside Hope Air for the third year as presenting sponsor of Haul for Hope as they mark their 40th anniversary of helping patients access the care they need,” said
Diederik Pen, President, WestJet Airlines & Chief Operating Officer, WestJet Group. “Haul for Hope is a powerful demonstration of what can be achieved when communities, volunteers, partners and organizations come together behind a shared purpose. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact their efforts will have for Canadians in need.”
YYC Calgary International Airport will once again host Haul for Hope, bringing together members of Calgary’s airport and business communities in support of patients who need to leave their home communities for specialized treatment.
“Every family hopes they’ll never need an organization like Hope Air,” said
Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO, Calgary Airports. “But when specialized care is hundreds or thousands of kilometres away, their support can make all the difference. We’re honoured to stand with Hope Air, WestJet and our airport community to help more Canadians reach the care they’re counting on.”
Haul for Hope returns to Calgary following a record-breaking event in 2025, when
21 teams and 260 participants took part, including
10 WestJet employee teams representing different areas of the airline. This year, teams will once again compete against the clock while raising funds to help more Hope Air patients overcome the distance and financial barriers to accessing healthcare.
“Hope Air was founded 40 years ago on a simple belief: where you live should not determine whether you can access the healthcare you need,” said
Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer, Hope Air. “WestJet has stood alongside Hope Air since the airline first took flight 30 years ago, and that commitment has helped thousands of patients reach vital medical care. Here in Calgary, Haul for Hope is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when WestJet, YYC and an entire community come together to help Canadians overcome the distance to care.”
Moving a 67,000-pound aircraft takes a team. Helping a patient overcome hundreds or thousands of kilometres to reach medical care takes a community. A very special thank you to the National Haul for Hope event sponsors for your support of all 6 Haul for Hope events in Kelowna, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, St John’s:
- WestJet, Porter, YVR, Uber Canada, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada, Calgary International Airport, Pratt & Whitney Canada, CDW Canada, Signature Aviation, Stolport, Nieuport Aviation, Toronto Port Authority, Edmonton International Airport .
ABOUT HOPE AIR: Hope Air is Canada’s national charity providing free flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must travel long distances to access medical care since 1986.
In 2025, Hope Air provided: - 38,392 medical travel services for Canadian patients in needs,
- Supported 10,288 patient and escort trips and 14,433 flights across 710 communities.
About Hope Air patients: - 58% would delay or cancel needed medical care if they had to pay over $500 for travel to treatment
- The annual household income is $40,000, making travel costs a significant barrier to care.
- A patient would pay roughly $2,600 per trip without Hope Air support; a cost 5x greater than this threshold to cancel.
- Patients supported by Hope Air reported a 36% reduction in hospital admissions and a 27% reduction in emergency department visits, demonstrating that removing travel barriers helps people receive care earlier and avoid worsening health outcomes.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca. Hope Air Media Contact
Jodi Lumsden Director, Marketing & Engagement
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
