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.