Hope Air, Canada’s national charity providing full-service travel and accommodation to Canadians who must travel for vital medical care, is pleased to launch this year’s Give Hope Wings coast-to-coast expedition in partnership with YVR. Hope Air provides travel and accommodation support for Canadians in need of medical care far from home. Since 2011, YVR has been an integral part of Hope Air’s journey which has facilitated more than 160,000 travel arrangements for Canadians—nearly 70,000 from British Columbia, many of which come through YVR with their airline partners.


These flights support thousands of families accessing travel to life saving care at Vancouver medical centres.


“YVR’s long term commitment to Hope Air, demonstrates its impactful support for the community. YVR plays a critical role in assisting Hope Air deliver on its mission to help vulnerable families and children in need who need support for medical travel to Vancouver hospitals,” says Mark Rubinstein, Chief Executive Officer, Hope Air.


“Connecting people and communities is at the core of what we do, and our partnership with Hope Air as a part of our social impact program aligns with this very purpose. The work that Hope Air, volunteer pilots, our airline partners, transportation, and hotel partners are doing to support Canadians that need to travel for healthcare at their most challenging and vulnerable times is an important and impactful one that we are proud to support, recognize and celebrate,” says Tamara Vrooman, President & CEO, Vancouver International Airport (YVR).


As travel and flights to care begin to pick up post-pandemic, Hope Air and Vancouver International Airport anticipate an increased need for medical travel. Together Hope Air and Vancouver International Airport will continue to bridge the distance between home and hospital.


On May 26, Vancouver International Airport hosted Hope Air partners, volunteers, pilots and supporters, to celebrate their commitment and to kick off the annual Give Hope Wings Expedition. The expedition is flying coast to coast in June to raise funds and awareness for Hope Air.


A special thank you to Hope Air partners Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Odlum Brown, Van-Kam Freightways, LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink


Media contact:

Jodi Lumsden

jlumsden@hopeair.ca

About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s only national charity providing free travel and accommodations for Canadians in financial need who must access medical care far from home. Since its inception in 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 160,000 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 has been chosen as one of Canada’s best 100 charities by Maclean’s magazine, MoneySense magazine and Charity Intelligence based on efficiency, transparency and need.

About Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a diverse global hub that connects people, cargo, data, and ideas and serves as a platform for our community to come together thrive. We are motivated by supporting regional economic development and making a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians. We do this with a focus on serving our passengers, partners, workers, and community through digital modernization, climate leadership, reconciliation, and financial sustainability.