2022 IMPACT REPORT
Better Health. Reduced Poverty. Stronger Communities.
These are the over-arching themes that enabled Hope Air to facilitate 10,251 travel arrangements in 2022 for families in need, travelling long distance to reach important medical care. As detailed in the stories that follow, Hope Air programs reached 420 communities across Canada, helping patients travel to our best hospitals for diagnosis, treatment and care. Through our dedicated community of donors, partners and volunteers, Hope Air responded to a significant increase in demand for help, expanding our services to now include airline, hotel, ground transportation and meals. We help our patients navigate the current challenges in our healthcare system, with compassion, empathy and care.
Follow the journey of 5 year old Atticus from Kelowna, B.C. and how Hope Air helps patients focus on what matters most: their health
10,251
total travel arrangements
2000
patients
420
communities served
5671
flights
2359
accommodationnights
563meals
437
1221
1221
ferry passes
Patients most often travel for
Patients age groups
of patients said they would not be cured or would still be unwell without Hope Air
of patients said they had a better outcome because of Hope Air
of Hope Air patients said having travel provided through Hope Air significantly reduced their stress during my treatment(s)
No patient left behind
At Hope Air, we aim to help our patients focus on what matters most—their health. We’re not an airline, we’re a lifeline ensuring that no patient is left behind when it comes to accessing vital medical care.
Our healthcare system is facing unprecedented stress and strain. Inflation is impacting household budgets across the country. Taken together, these factors are driving a rapid increase in demand for Hope Air’s services. To respond, Hope Air has launched a three-year strategic plan focused on scaling to meet this growing demand and on increasing our impact in three important areas: better health, reducing poverty and stronger communities.
More than just a trip from point A to B, our services have far-reaching impacts on the patients we serve and their communities, including better health, reducing poverty and stronger communities. These outcomes are best illustrated through our patients. Read more about them through Don, Zoe and Siyam’s journeys.
Better Health
As a result of timely
access to appointments,
a decreased need for
emergency care, and
early treatment and
diagnosis.
Reduced Poverty
For those living in
remote and rural communities
in financial need
whose quality of care
would suffer without
our support.
Stronger Communities
Facilitated by travel support
for patients living in small and rural
areas that helps them
to miss fewer work days
and remain in their home
communities.
The Hope Air strategic plan anticipates demand for more than 18,000 Travel Arrangements by 2025.
View our plan to learn about how your support will help us scale to meet this demand
Message from our Chair
Message
from our Chair
Message from our CEO
Message
from our CEO
Taking Flight with Our
Volunteer Pilots
Patient sees their hospital for the first time
“As a Hope Air volunteer pilot, I remember the story of every patient I helped get to care. From cancer treatments to a child waiting for a liver transplant who otherwise would have passed away, they remind me each time of the important work that Hope Air does connecting Canadians to the vital medical care that they need.” ~ Jay Woo, Hope Air Volunteer Pilot & President and CEO of CAA Club Group
Hope Air Volunteer Pilots go above and beyond to support patients in some of the most remote regions in Canada. Not only do they meet the flight needs of people living across the country, they also use their voice to raise awareness about Hope Air, take part in fundraising efforts, give generous donations of time, money and flights, and even help to translate information about our services so we can reach more communities.
All of our volunteer pilots made an incredible impact on patients in 2022 and will continue to be an important part of the Hope Air team in the year ahead.
Give Hope Wings
In June 2022, the three-week Give Hope Wings Coast to Coast expedition flew across 10 provinces and 27 stops raising over $500 thousand dollars. Since it’s inception in 2018, Give Hope Wings has raised more than $1.8 Million to help fund travel for vital medical care.
We would like to extend a very special thank you to our 2022 Give Hope Wings committee: Basie Spies, Lee Arsenault, Marilyn Staig, Steve Drinkwater and Dave McElroy.
Dave has retired as Expedition Captain after founding Give Hope Wings in 2017 with a vision of giving back through his lifelong passion: flight. Dave’s first flight took place in 2018 with three pilots: Dave, Harold Fast and Russ Airey who left Canada to circumnavigate South America. In recent years, expeditions focused on exploring familiar terrain, including the 2022 expedition which flew across Canada for the first time: launching in Victoria and traveling through St. John’s en route to a final destination in Montreal.
For 2023, the Give Hope Wings expedition will change course and launch three unique expeditions focused on Western Canada, Prairies, and Eastern Canada. With stops in large urban airports; Hope Air patient communities; and hallmark aviation sites, Give Hope Wings offers something for everyone with a goal to raise funds and awareness for Hope Air. Learn more at www.givehopewings.ca.
Give Hope Wings
In June 2022, the three-week Give Hope Wings Coast to Coast expedition flew across 10 provinces and 27 stops raising over $500 thousand dollars. Since it’s inception in 2018, Give Hope Wings has raised more than $1.8 Million to help fund travel for vital medical care.
We would like to extend a very special thank you to our 2022 Give Hope Wings committee: Basie Spies, Lee Arsenault, Marilyn Staig, Steve Drinkwater and Dave McElroy.
Dave has retired as Expedition Captain after founding Give Hope Wings in 2017 with a vision of giving back through his lifelong passion: flight. Dave’s first flight took place in 2018 with three pilots: Dave, Harold Fast and Russ Airey who left Canada to circumnavigate South America. In recent years, expeditions focused on exploring familiar terrain, including the 2022 expedition which flew across Canada for the first time: launching in Victoria and traveling through St. John’s en route to a final destination in Montreal.
For 2023, the Give Hope Wings expedition will change course and launch three unique expeditions focused on Western Canada, Prairies, and Eastern Canada. With stops in large urban airports; Hope Air patient communities; and hallmark aviation sites, Give Hope Wings offers something for everyone with a goal to raise funds and awareness for Hope Air. Learn more at www.givehopewings.ca.
Our Donors
Floyd Hill
“As a volunteer pilot I get to see the impact of my support firsthand. I’ve been very fortunate in my life, and it is nice to give back as a donor as well. Hope air really fills a void.”
– Floyd Hill
READ MORE
Stephen Tapp
“I give because when people need life saving care, all they should have to focus on is getting better, not the logistics.”
– Stephen Tapp
READ MORE
Heather Tobin
“I feel fortunate that I’m able to contribute to help others have the same opportunity and access to care that my daughter had.”
– Heather Tobin
READ MOREHope Takes Flight
Thanks to Our Supporters
For every Hope Air patient, there are generous donors to thank for helping them reach vital medical care. More than a simple act of kindness, a donation to Hope Air is a lifeline for those in need of healthcare far from home.
From flying patients to appointments to providing meals, accommodations and ground transportation, our services are fueled by the kindness of our donors. Thanks to your support we ease their financial stress, support patients’ health, and keep communities intact by eliminating the need for patients to move for healthcare.
Without you, many of our patients would be without options. We are so grateful for your dedicated support that addresses a unique and important need in Canada’s healthcare landscape.
Our Partners Provide Patients
with Hope and Life
Behind every patient we reach stands a community of partners and supporters who care deeply about making healthcare accessible for more people in Canada. Our corporate partners live and work in every community in Canada and are an essential part of making sure patients living in remote regions can access vital medical care.
They champion our work and support it with considerable financial contributions, free travel vouchers, waived landing fees, and more—all because they care about making healthcare accessible to Canadians in financial need. We are so grateful for their dedicated support and continued partnership.
We’re proud to work with them to provide better health outcomes, reducing the impact of poverty, and stronger communities for our patients.
75 cents of every dollar is spent on supporting programs
In 2022, 75 percent of our spending was on patient programs, with the balance focused on efficient operations and fundraising to support this work. We maximize the value of your donations, gifts, and government grants so we can help as many Canadians as possible access vital health care.
The Need Has Never Been Greater
We have been experiencing an increase of over 50% in demand and need to grow our support in 2023.
You can help by donating below or reaching out to discuss other ways to support.
