When the vital medical care you need is 700 km away from home

With inflation rising, more and more people have difficulties keeping up with the higher cost of living; more and more families are now living at, or below, the poverty line; and more and more people have to rely on the services of charitable organizations such as food banks to meet every day needs.

In Ontario, for those living a long distance from hospitals—or in need of specialized care, the challenges are even greater.

Some patients are unable to attend vital appointments or life-saving treatments, which puts their health and life expectancy at risk.

Hope Air provides free medical travel supports for those who must leave their home communities to access specialized care.

Help us amplify our voices, advocate for change, and affirm our commitment to ensuring that every Ontario resident deserves equal access to life-saving medical care.

Over 1 million people reside in Northern Ontario, far from specialized medical care. Even in Southern Ontario, from urban Windsor to rural Simcoe, access to specialized hospitals like Sick Kids and Princess Margaret in Toronto is often inaccessible; with travel expenses that can exceed $3,500 per trip, this is out of reach for most.

In 2023, Hope Air fulfilled 3,367 travel arrangements for patients, supporting hundreds of families and individuals across 75 communities throughout Ontario.

This year, as of August 7, we are already at 2,199 travel arrangements for 259 patients; this represents respectively 36% and 41% increase to date compared to 2023, after the 165% increase we saw last year.

To see our impact across the province and the need in your community and beyond, use our searchable map.

Travel Arrangements

Communities Served

Patient & Caregiver Trips

Better Health. Reduced Poverty. Stronger Communities.

Better Health

Rob, Hope Air patient, Timmins, Ontario

“For the first time the fact that we lived in this beautiful part of the world meant we were at a disadvantage.

Flying me back and forth to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre meant I could focus on my health and recovery. Today I’m in remission.”

Reduced Poverty

Heidi, mother to Hope Air Patient Zoe, Windsor, Ontario

“We go to Sick Kids in Toronto every 10 days. It’s very costly, you’re wearing down your vehicle and between the cost of hotels and fuel it quickly adds up.

Without Hope Air, that is what we would have had to do to save our child’s life.”

Stronger Communities

Keisha, mother to Hope Air patient Dean, Timmins, Ontario

“I wasn’t sure how I would get Dean to treatment at SickKids Hospital in Toronto; flying was too expensive, and driving was taking a toll on us.

It was becoming impossible, especially in the winter.”

What would happen if Hope Air no longer existed in the province?

And countless other families in need from communities all across the province would go without the medical care they deserve.

Help us make Ontario stronger and more resilient, sign up to pledge your support to equitable access to healthcare for all Ontarians.

Because WHERE you live should not determine IF you live.