Travel Arrangements
Communities Served
Patient & Caregiver Trips
Fill in the fields below or zoom in to see the impact across Canada.
From Home to Health since 1986
For 40 years, Hope Air has helped Canada deliver on its promise of universal healthcare by addressing one of the greatest barriers patients have to accessing healthcare: distance and cost.
From its early days as a group of volunteers coordinating flights for patients in need, the organization has grown into a national network of corporate and government partners, volunteers, donors, and healthcare providers united by their belief that where you live should not determine if you live.
What began as a simple act of compassion has become a powerful movement of connecting communities across Canada and in the past 40 years provided over a hundred thousand trips for patients and their escorts to reach life-changing treatment every year.
Bridging the Distance for 40 Years
Since its founding, Hope Air has grown into a national force for healthcare access in Canada. Over the course of 40 years, the organization has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of patients who must travel for care.
While circumstances have changed a great deal since 1986, we are guided by the vision of founders Jinnie Bradshaw and Joan Rogers, and have continuously combatted the same core barriers of cost and distance for Canadians living in remote, rural or underserved communities.
The milestones below highlight key chapters that have shaped Hope Air’s journey and strengthened its ability to connect Canadians with the medical treatment they need.
While circumstances have changed a great deal since 1986, we are guided by the vision of founders Jinnie Bradshaw and Joan Rogers, and have continuously combatted the same core barriers of cost and distance for Canadians living in remote, rural or underserved communities.
The milestones below highlight key chapters that have shaped Hope Air’s journey and strengthened its ability to connect Canadians with the medical treatment they need.
1986
to 2019
The Early Years:
A Growing Lifeline
“Travel to medical facilities can be long and arduous, it adds additional stress to patients travelling far from home. Some have to drive 14 to 16 hours each way.” - Karen Adams, Co-Founder of Volunteer Pilot Program
In its early decades, Hope Air—founded as Mission Air—operated through a small but determined network of volunteers who coordinated flights, built partnerships, and supported patients largely by hand. Corporate aviation partners, commercial airlines, and volunteer pilots donated seats, aircraft, and time to ensure patients could reach care.
By the late 1990s, the organization had expanded nationwide, serving remote, northern, and rural communities. As corporate aircraft declined, Hope Air evolved—launching a Volunteer Pilot Program, strengthening airline partnerships, and later introducing purchased flights to meet growing demand.
Through the 2000s and 2010s, the charity broadened its impact with new funding partnerships, expanded programs, and national recognition, helping thousands more Canadians access medical care.
Behind every flight were people facing serious illness—children, seniors, and families—each journey easing the burden of distance and cost, reinforcing a simple truth that access to care can change lives.
Vincent from Sept Illes, QC & Volunteer Pilot Jean
2020
to 2022
A Nation Disrupted:
The Pandemic Years
“Over these two years, volunteer pilots were virtually the only option for people needing to access medical care far from home.” - Gene Cabral, Chief Executive Officer, Avia NG Airport Consultants
A Nation Disrupted:
The Pandemic Years
2020
to 2022
The upheaval of 2020.
The skies quieted, hospitals shifted focus, and uncertainties grew. But the need did not disappear. It deepened. Hope Air adapted, advocated, and persisted. Even in the most turbulent period of modern healthcare, the organization remained a constant thread of support—helping patients travel safely when few other options existed.
Amidst these challenging times Hope Air supported 23,850 travel arrangements
These were years of resilience and resolve.
Luca, Cranbrook, BC
2023
to 2025
Hyper Growth: Reaching Record Breaking Demand
“My husband would literally not have survived if it were not for Hope Air. We are forever grateful this was available to us. We both get extremely emotional when we think about the fact that he would not be here today if it were not for Hope Air.” - Carolyn, Creston, BC
As Canada emerged from the pandemic, something significant happened to Hope Air: demand surged. While the resumption of care played an important role, it was only part of a broader shift. Hospitals began to welcome patients back for diagnosis and treatment as COVID-related constraints eased, airlines restored critical routes—including to northern communities—and patients regained confidence in travelling.
At the same time, heightened awareness of access-to-care barriers, combined with the growing financial strain of inflation, meant that more Canadians than ever needed support to reach the healthcare they depend on. What initially appeared to be a rebound became something more enduring: a new normal of sustained and growing need.
Hope Air responded with innovation—expanding partnerships, introducing travel programs beyond flights, enhancing digital tools, and strengthening community relationships.
The organization found itself in a new chapter; one defined not just by recovery, but by sustained growth and urgency.
Flights increased. Hotel stays increased. Community partnerships expanded. And the stories of patients, many of whom had their care delayed or disrupted during the pandemic, served as a powerful reminder of both the lingering impacts of that period and the ongoing barriers Canadians continue to face.
In the face of these challenges, the Hope Air community remained resolute: together, we rose to meet this moment, ensuring that all eligible travel requests could continue to be supported.
Simona, Prince Rupert, BC
"Barriers to accessing care lead to worsening outcomes for patients and undue financial hardship. Hope Air provides an essential service with the goal of providing equitable access to specialty medical care for rural residents. I am incredibly grateful that Hope Air does so much to support the people of our province.” - Dr. Darren Joneson, President, BC Family Doctors
The Next Chapter:
A Bridge to the Future
2026 and
beyond
Today, Hope Air stands as a trusted, essential partner in Canada’s healthcare system. What began as an act of compassion between two women has become a nationwide network of airlines, pilots, donors, partners, government, volunteers and communities —tens of thousands of people connected through hope.
The issue identified by Joan, Jinnie and dedicated supporters and volunteers in our early days remains: barriers of cost and distance make it impossible for Canada to deliver on its promise of universal access to healthcare without support.
The scale has changed, but the Hope Air community remains resolute in the face of these barriers. As we look across the broad geography of Canada and into the future, we are proud to stand with committed supporters ensuring that families and individuals in financial need will reach accessing vital medical care, despite distance or cost.
As Hope Air looks ahead to the next decade one truth remains unchanged; when Canadians come together, hope takes flight.
Our 2026-29 Strategic Plan charts the course for managing growth over the next four years.
Paisley & Simon, Regina, SK
Patients share the impact of your support
Theo, Saint John, NB
Diagnosed before birth with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Theodore required multiple open-heart surgeries far from home. Living in Saint John, NB, his family had to travel over 1,500 km to Toronto for specialized care. Introduced to Hope Air by a social worker, they received flights and travel support that eased financial and emotional strain—allowing them to focus on Theodore’s surgeries, recovery, and future.
Diamond, Cochrane, ON
When 15-year-old Diamond was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma in March 2024, her life was uprooted. She spent 138 days in Toronto undergoing four rounds of chemotherapy while her family relocated 700 km from Cochrane to support her. After discovering Hope Air, flights eased the long drives, financial strain, and stress. Now home and attending follow-ups, Diamond’s family calls Hope Air a lifeline through their cancer journey.
Jennifer, Terrace, BC
After months of severe chest pain and misdiagnoses, Jennifer was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Living in Terrace, BC, she had to travel nearly 1,400 km to Vancouver for specialized cancer care. On disability and facing overwhelming costs, she turned to Hope Air. With flights, accommodations, and meal support, Hope Air eased the financial strain, allowing Jennifer to focus on treatment and recovery.
Sara, Calgary, AB
At 40, Sara from Calgary chose to donate part of her liver to her cousin with autoimmune hepatitis. After matching, she had to travel to Toronto for surgery—an added stress she hadn’t expected. Referred by her UHN transplant team, Hope Air provided flights, hotels, meals, and transportation. The support eased the financial and logistical burden, allowing Sara to focus on her life-saving gift and recovery.
Savannah, Labrador City, NL
Born in 2016 with a complex congenital heart defect, Savannah has undergone multiple heart procedures since infancy. After moving to Labrador City, her family faced 1,300+ km trips to Halifax for cardiac care, with flights costing up to $1,500–$2,000 per person. Long drives and ferries were exhausting and costly. Hope Air eased the financial and travel burden, ensuring Savannah could access lifesaving follow-up care close to specialists.
Paisley & Simon, Regina, SK
Chelsi’s children, Paisley (10) and Simon (4), were born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease that causes fragile bones. Each year, they travel from Regina to Montreal’s Shriners Hospital for specialized care. With no direct flights and added health challenges, the journey is exhausting and costly. Through Shriners, Chelsi found Hope Air, which provides flight support—making it possible for her children to access expert treatment annually.
Years of Impact
Behind every number is a patient, a family, and a journey to care that might not have been possible otherwise. For four decades, Hope Air has helped Canadians travel across provinces and territories to access specialized medical treatment far from home.
The numbers below represent the total travel arrangements and trips over 40 years that partners, donors, volunteers, and supporters have helped to ensure that distance and cost are never barriers to healthcare.
Total Travel Arrangements
277,681
Total Flights
50,287
Total Patient and Escort trips
106,248
Our Founders Legacy Drives Our Mission
Jinnie Bradshaw & Joan Rogers, Hope Air Founders
Hope Air was built on a simple but powerful belief: no patient should be denied access to medical care because of distance or cost. That belief took shape in the 1980s, when two women, Jinnie Bradshaw and Joan Rogers, independently witnessed the barriers facing Canadians who needed to travel for treatment and knew there had to be a better way.
While working at Air Canada, Jinnie learned of a U.S. program using corporate aircraft to transport cancer patients. She was struck by the absence of anything similar in Canada and began imagining what was possible. At the same time in Toronto, volunteer Joan Rogers watched patients from the East Coast arrive at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre after exhausting 15–20 hour bus journeys. She saw firsthand the toll that travel placed on patients already facing serious illness.
When Jinnie and Joan met in 1986, their shared determination sparked the creation of Mission Air Transportation Network, now known as Hope Air. That same year, on November 8th, Hope Air arranged its very first flight for a young child travelling from New Brunswick to Toronto for cancer treatment. It was the beginning of a movement grounded in compassion, innovation, and action.
Their extraordinary commitment to volunteerism and community has been recognized at the highest levels. Jinnie was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of her leadership and lasting impact, while Joan received the Governor General’s Award for her dedication to improving the lives of patients through volunteer service. These honours reflect not only their individual contributions, but the values that continue to define Hope Air.
Four decades later, the legacy of our founders lives on. From launching the Volunteer Pilot Program to expanding national partnerships and fundraising initiatives, Hope Air has facilitated more than 250,000 travel arrangements for patients across Canada. Today, we continue to build on Jinnie and Joan’s vision, investing in new programs, technology, and partnerships to ensure patients can access the care they need, when they need it.
Their impact is measured not only in kilometres travelled or flights arranged, but in lives changed. As we look to the future, Hope Air remains committed to carrying forward their legacy, bridging the distance between home and hospital, and supporting patients for generations to come.
Recognizing Hope Air Patrons 2026
Hope Air is proud to recognize individuals and organizations that have had a profound and lasting impact, on the ability of Hope Air to meet ongoing and growing demand for our programs. A Hope Air Patron is the highest honour awarded by the charity, in acknowledgement of compassion, dedication and generosity that these individuals and organizations exhibit in their dedication to patients in need.
The Patrons recognized below represent the many governments, funders, individuals, partners, donors, and volunteers who have helped Hope Air deliver on its promise of universal access to healthcare since 1986. We are privileged to recognize this group as a celebration of all those who fuel our mission.
Andrew Knight
Ann & Bev Collombin
Auriol Marasco
Government of British Columbia
Bearskin Airlines
Billy Bishop Airport
BMO Bank of Montreal
Brenda Currie
CAA Club Group (CCG) & Jay Woo
CBAA
Dave McElroy
David Garner
Dome Mine (Discovery Porcupine)
Donna Hill
Doug Keller Hobson
The Four Oaks Foundation
Gerd Wengler
Gordon Roberts
Gore Bay Airport (Robby Colwell)
Jim Burton
Jim Danahy
Jinnie Bradshaw
Joan Rogers
John Jory
Lise & David Ash
The McCain Foundation
NAV CANADA
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Northpine Foundation
Pacific Coastal Airlines
Pam Dunlop
Paul Clark
Government of Prince Edward Island
Peter Jennings
Porter Airlines
Pratt & Whitney
R. Howard Webster Foundation
RBC Foundation
Rhonda McCaffery
Scotiabank
Scott & Joanne Macpherson
Uber
Wayne Twaits
WestJet
Vancouver International Airport
YVR for Kids
Reflecting on Your Impact in 2025
Providing Hope to patients in need for 40 Years
This year marks a milestone for Hope Air: 40 years of impact, 40 years of service, and 40 years of ensuring that Canadians can access the healthcare they need—no matter where they live.
In 2025, that impact reached new heights. This report reflects a record number of flights delivered in a single year and countless patient journeys made possible through your support.
Behind every number is a simple but powerful truth: without support, many Hope Air patients have indicated they would be forced to delay or forgo medical care altogether due to the cost and complexity of travel. Data gathered from Hope Air patients shows how our support has led to improved health outcomes and less strain on families and the healthcare system.
Together, we are changing that reality.
In 2025, that impact reached new heights. This report reflects a record number of flights delivered in a single year and countless patient journeys made possible through your support.
Behind every number is a simple but powerful truth: without support, many Hope Air patients have indicated they would be forced to delay or forgo medical care altogether due to the cost and complexity of travel. Data gathered from Hope Air patients shows how our support has led to improved health outcomes and less strain on families and the healthcare system.
Together, we are changing that reality.
Tahir Ayub, Board Chair
Mark Rubinstein
Chief Hope Officer
Dear Supporters,
Every year, thousands of Canadians face a difficult reality: the medical care they need is simply too far from home.
For many families, the cost of travel — flights, accommodation, meals and ground transportation — can become an impossible barrier to care. That is where Hope Air steps in.
Because of the generosity of our donors, partners, volunteers, and supporters, Hope Air continues to ensure that distance and cost do not prevent Canadians from accessing the health care they need. This year, together, we supported tens of thousands of medical travel arrangements for patients and their escorts from over 700 communities across Canada.
Behind every number is a life changed: a parent traveling with a child for life-saving treatment, a cancer patient accessing specialized treatment, or a senior finally receiving surgery that will restore mobility and independence. Each journey represents Hope — and the belief that where you live should never determine receiving the best health care you need.
As we reflect on this year’s impact, we are deeply grateful to everyone who makes this work possible. From individual donors to corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, event participants, and government supporters. Your ongoing commitment helps ensure that Hope Air remains a lifeline for patients in financial need. The need for equitable access to health care in Canada has never been greater. As we look ahead, Hope Air remains focused on expanding awareness of our program, strengthening partnerships, and reaching even more Canadians who need help traveling to care.
Together, we are building a future where the promise of access to universal health care is kept.
Thank you for helping us deliver Hope.
Sincerely,
Tahir Ayub & Mark Rubinstein
For many families, the cost of travel — flights, accommodation, meals and ground transportation — can become an impossible barrier to care. That is where Hope Air steps in.
Because of the generosity of our donors, partners, volunteers, and supporters, Hope Air continues to ensure that distance and cost do not prevent Canadians from accessing the health care they need. This year, together, we supported tens of thousands of medical travel arrangements for patients and their escorts from over 700 communities across Canada.
Behind every number is a life changed: a parent traveling with a child for life-saving treatment, a cancer patient accessing specialized treatment, or a senior finally receiving surgery that will restore mobility and independence. Each journey represents Hope — and the belief that where you live should never determine receiving the best health care you need.
As we reflect on this year’s impact, we are deeply grateful to everyone who makes this work possible. From individual donors to corporate partners, foundations, volunteers, event participants, and government supporters. Your ongoing commitment helps ensure that Hope Air remains a lifeline for patients in financial need. The need for equitable access to health care in Canada has never been greater. As we look ahead, Hope Air remains focused on expanding awareness of our program, strengthening partnerships, and reaching even more Canadians who need help traveling to care.
Together, we are building a future where the promise of access to universal health care is kept.
Thank you for helping us deliver Hope.
Sincerely,
Tahir Ayub & Mark Rubinstein
Travel Arrangements
38,392
Luca, Cranbrook, BC
Flights
14,433
Zoe, Windsor, ON
Patient & Caregiver Trips
10,288
Clare, Valemount, BC
Communities
710
Jayden & Logan, St. John's, NL
Patient hospital admissions decrease by
36%
emergency room visits drop 27% with Hope Air’s support
Elodie from Sault Ste. Marie, ON with Volunteer Pilot, Sylvio
48%
of patients remain in their province
with Hope Air’s help, indicating they would otherwise have to relocate
Volunteer Pilot, Gerd
Over
33%
of patients would otherwise skip or postpone care due to travel costs impacting overall health outcomes without Hope Air’s support
Theo, Saint John, NB
1 in 3
Patients cancel or postpone care due to travel costs which impacts overall health outcomes.
Patient Name - Location
Hope Air’s impact spans the entire country, connecting patients in rural, remote, and underserved communities with the specialized healthcare they need. Hope Air carries patients from small towns to major urban hospitals bridging vast distances and ensures that Canadians can access treatment regardless of where they live. The map below illustrates the communities and patients served locally.
Simply click on a community to understand the number of patients and travel arrangements provided.
Simply click on a community to understand the number of patients and travel arrangements provided.
Hope Air in the Community
The Hope Air Community is the fuel behind the impact on patients.
Every day, a community of supporters—governments, industry partners, foundations, donors, volunteers, advocates, and healthcare collaborators—come together to ensure all patients reach vital medical care regardless of where they live. In 2025, that collective commitment strengthened Hope Air’s role as an essential part of Canada’s healthcare system.
However you see your contribution reflected, you are part of something bigger: a national movement grounded in compassion, equity, and action.
Together, we are keeping Canada’s promise of universal healthcare—ensuring that distance, cost, or circumstance never stand between a patient and the care they need.
On behalf of everyone at Hope Air, thank you for your commitment to making that promise real.
Every day, a community of supporters—governments, industry partners, foundations, donors, volunteers, advocates, and healthcare collaborators—come together to ensure all patients reach vital medical care regardless of where they live. In 2025, that collective commitment strengthened Hope Air’s role as an essential part of Canada’s healthcare system.
However you see your contribution reflected, you are part of something bigger: a national movement grounded in compassion, equity, and action.
Together, we are keeping Canada’s promise of universal healthcare—ensuring that distance, cost, or circumstance never stand between a patient and the care they need.
On behalf of everyone at Hope Air, thank you for your commitment to making that promise real.
Haul
for Hope
2025 marked Hope Air’s third annual Haul for Hope!
Events were hosted from coast to coast — in St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, and Calgary — giving us the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes, work as a team, and collaborate with our presenting sponsors, airport partners, and participants to make a real difference.
Across the country, 88 teams came together with passion and purpose, pulling for hope and raising an astounding $470,000 in support of Canadians who must travel for medical care. Haul for Hope is more than just a test of strength — it’s a celebration of teamwork, determination, and community spirit.
Every meter each team pulled was proof of their commitment to helping patients access the care they need, no matter the distance.
We are grateful for our many participants, volunteers and sponsors, including Eastern Canada presenting sponsor Porter Airlines, and Western Canada presenting partner WestJet. WestJetters in particular went above and beyond this year, providing aircraft at four sites, 15 volunteers, 13 fundraising teams, and $55,000+ raised.
Events were hosted from coast to coast — in St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, and Calgary — giving us the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes, work as a team, and collaborate with our presenting sponsors, airport partners, and participants to make a real difference.
Across the country, 88 teams came together with passion and purpose, pulling for hope and raising an astounding $470,000 in support of Canadians who must travel for medical care. Haul for Hope is more than just a test of strength — it’s a celebration of teamwork, determination, and community spirit.
Every meter each team pulled was proof of their commitment to helping patients access the care they need, no matter the distance.
We are grateful for our many participants, volunteers and sponsors, including Eastern Canada presenting sponsor Porter Airlines, and Western Canada presenting partner WestJet. WestJetters in particular went above and beyond this year, providing aircraft at four sites, 15 volunteers, 13 fundraising teams, and $55,000+ raised.
2025 marked Hope Air’s third annual Haul for Hope!
Events were hosted from coast to coast — in St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, and Calgary — giving us the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes, work as a team, and collaborate with our presenting sponsors, airport partners, and participants to make a real difference.
Across the country, 88 teams came together with passion and purpose, pulling for hope and raising an astounding $470,000 in support of Canadians who must travel for medical care. Haul for Hope is more than just a test of strength — it’s a celebration of teamwork, determination, and community spirit.
Events were hosted from coast to coast — in St. John’s, Toronto, Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, and Calgary — giving us the incredible opportunity to go behind the scenes, work as a team, and collaborate with our presenting sponsors, airport partners, and participants to make a real difference.
Across the country, 88 teams came together with passion and purpose, pulling for hope and raising an astounding $470,000 in support of Canadians who must travel for medical care. Haul for Hope is more than just a test of strength — it’s a celebration of teamwork, determination, and community spirit.
Every meter each team pulled was proof of their commitment to helping patients access the care they need, no matter the distance.
We are grateful for our many participants, volunteers and sponsors, including Eastern Canada presenting sponsor Porter Airlines, and Western Canada presenting partner WestJet. WestJetters in particular went above and beyond this year, providing aircraft at four sites, 15 volunteers, 13 fundraising teams, and $55,000+ raised.
Haul for Hope in Calgary
Give Hope
Wings
Last year’s Give Hope Wings provided the emotional and physical bridge connecting communities across the country with Hope Air’s mission. Pilots flew from Northern Ontario to Winnipeg, stopping in multiple cities and sharing their journey with Canadians coast to coast while raising $400,000 to ensure that Hope Air patients continue to receive the travel support they need to get to care.
As part of Hope Air Day on June 6, Give Hope Wings expedition pilots stopped in Sault Ste. Marie on their way to Winnipeg to celebrate and build awareness of the real challenges faced by patients who must travel long distances to access essential care by sharing with each community how Hope Air makes that possible. Together, we amplified the mission of Hope Air and celebrated the people, partners and communities making equal access to care possible – one flight at a time.
As part of Hope Air Day on June 6, Give Hope Wings expedition pilots stopped in Sault Ste. Marie on their way to Winnipeg to celebrate and build awareness of the real challenges faced by patients who must travel long distances to access essential care by sharing with each community how Hope Air makes that possible. Together, we amplified the mission of Hope Air and celebrated the people, partners and communities making equal access to care possible – one flight at a time.
Last year’s Give Hope Wings provided the emotional and physical bridge connecting communities across the country with Hope Air’s mission. Pilots flew from Northern Ontario to Winnipeg, stopping in multiple cities and sharing their journey with Canadians coast to coast while raising $400,000 to ensure that Hope Air patients continue to receive the travel support they need to get to care.
As part of Hope Air Day on June 6, Give Hope Wings expedition pilots stopped in Sault Ste. Marie on their way to Winnipeg to celebrate and build awareness of the real challenges faced by patients who must travel long distances to access essential care by sharing with each community how Hope Air makes that possible. Together, we amplified the mission of Hope Air and celebrated the people, partners and communities making equal access to care possible – one flight at a time.
Patient Name - Location
Hope Air
Day
On June 6, communities, partners, patients, volunteers and donors across Canada came together to mark Hope Air Day, a national day of action, and helped us by sharing their voice to raise awareness about the barriers patients living in rural and underserved areas must face when accessing vital healthcare.
Hope Air Day 2025 was celebrated across Canada through a series of social and traditional media activations, and with a special live event taking place in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. This exclusive concert featured entertainment and Hope Air patients, city leaders, volunteer pilots, partners, and other key stakeholders delivering the message that patients living in rural, remote and underserved communities deserve to receive equitable access to health care.
On June 6, communities, partners, patients, volunteers and donors across Canada came together to mark Hope Air Day, a national day of action, and helped us by sharing their voice to raise awareness about the barriers patients living in rural and underserved areas must face when accessing vital healthcare.
Hope Air Day 2025 was celebrated across Canada through a series of social and traditional media activations, and with a special live event taking place in Sault Ste. Marie, ON. This exclusive concert featured entertainment and Hope Air patients, city leaders, volunteer pilots, partners, and other key stakeholders delivering the message that patients living in rural, remote and underserved communities deserve to receive equitable access to health care.
Hope Air Day flag raising in Sault Ste. Marie
Gander
FIR
Since its establishment in 2016, the Gander FIR Charity Golf Tournament has become a powerful example of how aviation professionals and community members can come together to support Canadians who must travel for medical care. Organized by members of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), the tournament has consistently drawn a full field of golfers each year, reflecting the strong commitment of the Gander aviation community to helping patients access the healthcare they need.
Led by committee members Keith Clarke, Glenn Bennett, and Kelly Dunn, the tournament has raised more than $300,000 since its inception, thanks to the dedication of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and the generous matching support of NAV CANADA.
In 2025, the tournament welcomed 125 participants and raised $35,000 in support of Hope Air. These funds play a critical role in helping patients travel to essential medical appointments, ensuring that distance and cost are never barriers to receiving care.
The continued success of the Gander FIR Charity Golf Tournament, and the many fundraising events hosted by individuals and corporate partners in 2025, demonstrates the lasting impact that a committed community can have when they rally together behind a shared purpose — helping Canadians reach the care they need, when they need it.
Led by committee members Keith Clarke, Glenn Bennett, and Kelly Dunn, the tournament has raised more than $300,000 since its inception, thanks to the dedication of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and the generous matching support of NAV CANADA.
In 2025, the tournament welcomed 125 participants and raised $35,000 in support of Hope Air. These funds play a critical role in helping patients travel to essential medical appointments, ensuring that distance and cost are never barriers to receiving care.
The continued success of the Gander FIR Charity Golf Tournament, and the many fundraising events hosted by individuals and corporate partners in 2025, demonstrates the lasting impact that a committed community can have when they rally together behind a shared purpose — helping Canadians reach the care they need, when they need it.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Gander FIR Charity Golf Tournament has become a powerful example of how aviation professionals and community members can come together to support Canadians who must travel for medical care. Organized by members of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), the tournament has consistently drawn a full field of golfers each year, reflecting the strong commitment of the Gander aviation community to helping patients access the healthcare they need.
Led by committee members Keith Clarke, Glenn Bennett, and Kelly Dunn, the tournament has raised more than $300,000 since its inception, thanks to the dedication of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and the generous matching support of NAV CANADA.
In 2025, the tournament welcomed 125 participants and raised $35,000 in support of Hope Air. These funds play a critical role in helping patients travel to essential medical appointments, ensuring that distance and cost are never barriers to receiving care.
Led by committee members Keith Clarke, Glenn Bennett, and Kelly Dunn, the tournament has raised more than $300,000 since its inception, thanks to the dedication of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and the generous matching support of NAV CANADA.
In 2025, the tournament welcomed 125 participants and raised $35,000 in support of Hope Air. These funds play a critical role in helping patients travel to essential medical appointments, ensuring that distance and cost are never barriers to receiving care.
The continued success of the Gander FIR Charity Golf Tournament, and the many fundraising events hosted by individuals and corporate partners in 2025, demonstrates the lasting impact that a committed community can have when they rally together behind a shared purpose — helping Canadians reach the care they need, when they need it.
Patient Name - Location
Patient Name - Location
Volunteer
Pilot
Program
In 2025, Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program continued to be a vital lifeline for patients traveling to access medical care. Our dedicated volunteer pilots completed 109 missions nationally, a 22% increase from the previous year, across 34 routes, supporting patients in communities where travel options are limited or non-existent. This year, the program expanded its reach to 11 new communities, including Fredericton, NB, and Bonaventure, QC, while welcoming five new pilots to strengthen service across Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2026.
For patients traveling from communities like Cochrane, ON to North Bay, ON, Bonaventure, QC to Montreal, or Vernon, BC to Vancouver, where commercial service is unavailable, Volunteer Pilot flights were often their only option. Without this support, many would face long, complex journeys or miss critical appointments altogether. The dedication of our volunteer pilots provides more than transportation, it delivers hope, dignity, and access to care when it’s needed most.
For patients traveling from communities like Cochrane, ON to North Bay, ON, Bonaventure, QC to Montreal, or Vernon, BC to Vancouver, where commercial service is unavailable, Volunteer Pilot flights were often their only option. Without this support, many would face long, complex journeys or miss critical appointments altogether. The dedication of our volunteer pilots provides more than transportation, it delivers hope, dignity, and access to care when it’s needed most.
In 2025, Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program continued to be a vital lifeline for patients traveling to access medical care. Our dedicated volunteer pilots completed 109 missions nationally, a 22% increase from the previous year, across 34 routes, supporting patients in communities where travel options are limited or non-existent. This year, the program expanded its reach to 11 new communities, including Fredericton, NB, and Bonaventure, QC, while welcoming five new pilots to strengthen service across Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2026.
For patients traveling from communities like Cochrane, ON to North Bay, ON, Bonaventure, QC to Montreal, or Vernon, BC to Vancouver, where commercial service is unavailable, Volunteer Pilot flights were often their only option. Without this support, many would face long, complex journeys or miss critical appointments altogether. The dedication of our volunteer pilots provides more than transportation, it delivers hope, dignity, and access to care when it’s needed most.
Volunteer Pilots
Harlan, Manitoulin, ON and Volunteer Pilot Wayne
Hope Air Government Partnerships Spotlight
British Columbia
For thousands of people across British Columbia, Hope Air is a lifeline when health care is far from home. In a province as vast as BC—serving over 230 communities from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, Cranbrook to Kitimat, and countless places in between—travel is often the greatest barrier to care
In2025, Hope Air coordinated 21,913 medical travel arrangements, 5,623 patient and escort trips, providing over 9300 free flights and securing 5,000 nights of accommodation, ensuring BC families are not forced to choose between their health and their ability to support themselves and their families.
Since 2010, Hope Air’s partnership with the B.C. Provincial Health Services Authority, and the generosity of private donors have helped patients in BC access timely diagnosis and treatment, reducing wait times and bringing hope, dignity, and relief during life’s most difficult moments. In 2023, Hope Air medical travel support programs were further enhanced with a dedicated Cancer travel support program for patients and their caregivers.
In2025, Hope Air coordinated 21,913 medical travel arrangements, 5,623 patient and escort trips, providing over 9300 free flights and securing 5,000 nights of accommodation, ensuring BC families are not forced to choose between their health and their ability to support themselves and their families.
Since 2010, Hope Air’s partnership with the B.C. Provincial Health Services Authority, and the generosity of private donors have helped patients in BC access timely diagnosis and treatment, reducing wait times and bringing hope, dignity, and relief during life’s most difficult moments. In 2023, Hope Air medical travel support programs were further enhanced with a dedicated Cancer travel support program for patients and their caregivers.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) is considered by many the spiritual birthplace of Hope Air. Forty years ago, some of Hope Air’s first flights carried patients from the province to Toronto for care. 2025 marks another milestone year for Hope Air in NL, with record-breaking impact in the province.
Hope Air supported 890 patient and escort trips in the province in 2025, representing 3,381 medical travel arrangements. This includes over 1472 airline flights, 1142 nights of accommodation, 399 hotel meal vouchers, and 393 airport ground transportation trips. This includes patients travelling from Labrador, the Northern Peninsula and Western NL to St. John’s, as well as patients from across the province who must leave the province for specialty medical care unavailable at home. In 2025 Hope Air served residents from over 77 communities across the province, from Margaree to Bay Bulls, Burin to Cartwright.
Hope Air has been able to meet the growing demand through the support of generous private sector foundations, corporations and individuals. A substantive investment from the Northpine Foundation has been particularly transformational in the charity’s ability to meet patient demand and scale.
In 2025, Hope Air also launched a pilot program with the provincial Department of Labrador Affairs, to enhance support for residents across the Province. This program enables Hope Air to assist more individuals and families in need while providing up-front, no-cost travel support to the provinces’ most vulnerable residents in an efficient manner, reducing barriers to cost, travel logistics, and paperwork.
With the commitment of these and other partners, Hope Air is ensuring equitable access to healthcare in the province like never before.
Hope Air supported 890 patient and escort trips in the province in 2025, representing 3,381 medical travel arrangements. This includes over 1472 airline flights, 1142 nights of accommodation, 399 hotel meal vouchers, and 393 airport ground transportation trips. This includes patients travelling from Labrador, the Northern Peninsula and Western NL to St. John’s, as well as patients from across the province who must leave the province for specialty medical care unavailable at home. In 2025 Hope Air served residents from over 77 communities across the province, from Margaree to Bay Bulls, Burin to Cartwright.
Hope Air has been able to meet the growing demand through the support of generous private sector foundations, corporations and individuals. A substantive investment from the Northpine Foundation has been particularly transformational in the charity’s ability to meet patient demand and scale.
In 2025, Hope Air also launched a pilot program with the provincial Department of Labrador Affairs, to enhance support for residents across the Province. This program enables Hope Air to assist more individuals and families in need while providing up-front, no-cost travel support to the provinces’ most vulnerable residents in an efficient manner, reducing barriers to cost, travel logistics, and paperwork.
With the commitment of these and other partners, Hope Air is ensuring equitable access to healthcare in the province like never before.
Prince Edward Island
Access to medical specialty care for residents of Prince Edward Island is unique. Thousands of Islanders must leave the province annually, for healthcare unavailable at home, with many driving regionally to other Provinces. Timely access to critical healthcare depends on the ability to afford the costs of this travel. Through a longstanding relationship with Health PEI, Hope Air delivers Confederation Bridge passes, ferry passes, gas vouchers, in addition to flight support for those who must travel further.
In 2025, Hope Air provided record-level support to Islanders – arranging 5928 travel arrangements for 1810 patient and escort trips. This includes 314 airline flights, 1462 Confederation bridge passes, 72 ferry passes, 1538 gas vouchers, 1637 nights of accommodation, 797 meal vouchers, and 108 airport ground transportation trips. This included patients from across the province, from communities including Charlottetown, O’Leary, Summerside, Borden-Carleton, Stratford, and Montague.
Thanks to the commitment of the Government of Prince Edward Island Hope Air is able to meet this growing demand and ensure that cost and distance do not present a barrier to healthcare for Islanders in need.
In 2025, Hope Air provided record-level support to Islanders – arranging 5928 travel arrangements for 1810 patient and escort trips. This includes 314 airline flights, 1462 Confederation bridge passes, 72 ferry passes, 1538 gas vouchers, 1637 nights of accommodation, 797 meal vouchers, and 108 airport ground transportation trips. This included patients from across the province, from communities including Charlottetown, O’Leary, Summerside, Borden-Carleton, Stratford, and Montague.
Thanks to the commitment of the Government of Prince Edward Island Hope Air is able to meet this growing demand and ensure that cost and distance do not present a barrier to healthcare for Islanders in need.
Thank you to all Provincial Governments for your support
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Funding Impact
Your support in 2025 made a profound difference to Hope Air patients reaching their medical appointments far from home.
We’re proud to share that 82 cents of every dollar you contributed last year was spent supporting patient travel.
We’re proud to share that 82 cents of every dollar you contributed last year was spent supporting patient travel.
82
¢
Thank you to our 2025 supporters.
Hope Air programs are designed to maximize impact and efficiency. Through partnerships with airlines, airports, hotels and other providers we make sure that each dollar we receive goes as far as it can. Hope Air is proudly accredited by Imagine Canada, representing the highest level of governance and financial transparency in the charitable sector.
In 2025, 82 cents of every dollar spent by the charity was directed to supporting patient travel.
In 2025, 82 cents of every dollar spent by the charity was directed to supporting patient travel.
Expenses
Expenses
10%
Fundraising
8%
Administration
82%
Programs
Program Expenses
Program Expenses
3%
PEI Bridge, Ferry, Gas Program
5%
Ground Transportation and meals
29%
Accommodations
63%
Flights (including VPP)
Revenue
Revenue
10%
Individual
17%
Foundation
20%
Corporation
53%
Government