Hope Air

Hope Air's Mark Rubinstein and Jaclyn Sullivan were pleased to meet with Premier Rob Lantz and Health Minister Corey Deagle in Charlottetown yesterday to present the Government of PEI with their patron award for their support of Hope Air. For many Prince Edward Islanders, accessing healthcare means travelling out of province for treatment.

Through a longstanding partnership with Hope Air, the Government of Prince Edward Island helps remove the financial barriers of medical travel, from flights to bridge and ferry access, accommodations, and more. In recognition of its longstanding commitment to improving access to care, Hope Air proudly names the Government of Prince Edward Island as a Hope Air Patron.

In 2025 alone, this support helped facilitate over 5,900 travel arrangements for Islanders needing care.

As a Hope Air Patron, the PEI government is recognized for its critical role in ensuring Islanders can access the healthcare they need, regardless of distance or cost.

PEI Gov Health, Prince Edward Island Government, Health PEI

A heartfelt thank you to the Canadian Business Aviation Association (CBAA) and everyone who supported this year's CBAA Conference and Golf Tournament in support of Hope Air.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of attendees, sponsors, partners, and donors, more than $35,000 was raised this year, surpassing last year's fundraising total by $5,000.

Through its annual conference and golf tournament, Canadian Business Aviation Association has helped make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians who need to travel for medical care. Their ongoing support helps ensure that patients and families can access the healthcare they need without facing overwhelming travel costs.

Thank you, CBAA, for your continued commitment to helping Canadians access care, no matter where they live.

For Ali from Red Lake, Ontario, accessing cancer treatment meant travelling more than 560 km to Thunder Bay, a difficult journey made even harder by long winter drives and stressful road conditions. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, he needed monthly treatments far from home.

With support from Hope Air, Ali was able to fly to his appointments safely and comfortably, easing the physical, emotional, and financial strain that often comes with medical travel. “Because when you're sick, you're already down,” Ali shared. “Something like this, it'll just lift you up.”

At Hope Air, partnerships with organizations that care deeply about equitable access to healthcare help make medical travel possible for patients across Canada. We’re grateful to recognize Boehringer Ingelheim Canada for supporting patients who must travel far from home to receive treatment.

Boehringer Ingelheim Canada invests in programs that expand healthcare access, support underserved populations, and strengthen health and wellness initiatives, including work alongside Indigenous communities. Their support is helping reduce barriers for people living in rural and remote regions.

Thank you to Boehringer Ingelheim Canada for helping patients like Ali reach the care they need with greater peace of mind and support along the way.

Dave McElroy has played a pivotal role in supporting Hope Air, bringing together the aviation community to ensure patients can access critical medical care across Canada.

As founder of the Give Hope Wings Expedition, which has operated continuously since 2017 and under his leadership through 2022, Dave has led five cross-country flying missions, connecting with more than 100 communities and raising $1.8 million to support patients and families travelling for care.

His leadership has not only raised vital funds but has also built a growing network of pilots and supporters committed to advancing Hope Air’s mission.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Hope Air established the Dave McElroy Give Hope Wings Volunteer of the Year Award, honouring individuals who carry forward his impact.

As Hope Air marks its 40th anniversary, we are proud to recognize Dave McElroy as a Hope Air Patron, the highest distinction awarded by our charity.

As the Give Hope Wings Expedition prepares to take flight once again in 2026, learn more about how Dave founded this remarkable journey at: https://hopeair.ca/dave-mcelroy/

For patients like Jim from Quesnel, BC, travelling more than 700 km to Vancouver for cancer treatment felt overwhelming and nearly impossible. Thanks to Hope Air, he was able to access flights and accommodations that eased the burden during an incredibly difficult time.

At Hope Air, we know that access to medical care should never depend on where you live. That’s why we’re proud to recognize Wheaton Precious Metals for their generous support of Hope Air and their commitment to improving health and wellbeing for Canadians.

Through their Community Investment Program, Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. supports initiatives that enhance access to care and help strengthen communities across Canada. Their partnership with Hope Air is helping ensure that patients living in rural and remote communities can reach the medical treatment they need, regardless of distance or financial barriers.

Thanks to Wheaton Precious Metals’ generous support, more Canadians like Jim can access life-changing medical care without the added burden of travel stress and cost. Learn more at hopeair.ca

When Maria, a 78-year-old retired nurse from Powell River, BC, was diagnosed with breast cancer, she faced more than treatment alone. To receive the radiation she needed, she had to travel to Vancouver, far from home, family, and support.

Travelling alone for treatment brought significant stress and uncertainty. Alongside the emotional weight of a cancer diagnosis, Maria was worried about the cost, logistics, and challenge of making the journey on her own.

Through Hope Air, Maria received travel support that made her treatment possible and allowed her sister to be by her side. With the burden of travel lifted, she could focus on what mattered most: her health and recovery.

Today, Maria describes Hope Air as “life saving.” By removing barriers to care, Hope Air helps patients across Canada access the treatment they need, regardless of where they live. Learn more at hopeair.ca

When a child needs specialized medical care outside their home province, families should be able to focus on what matters most: their loved one.

For the Koebrich family from Summerside, frequent travel to Halifax for their son KC's medical appointments brought added stress, planning, and expenses during an already challenging time. Through Hope Air's long-standing partnership with the Government of Prince Edward Island, the family received medical travel support that helped make those journeys possible.

Through Hope Air's long-standing partnership with the Prince Edward Island Government and Health PEI, eligible Islanders can access the healthcare they need with support for travel costs and logistics when care isn't available close to home.

Learn more about KC's journey to care and how the Government of Prince Edward Island and Hope Air are supporting patients: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/hope-air-supports-islanders-and-their-families-facing-medical-travel

YVR for Kids is helping ensure that children and families across British Columbia can access the care and support they need.

Through community-led fundraising, they support a network of organizations, including Hope Air, that provide critical services for families navigating complex medical journeys.

By helping remove barriers like the cost of medical travel, YVR for Kids is making care more accessible when it matters most.

Avery, a 12-year-old from Dease Lake, BC, was just five when she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition. Accessing the specialized care she needs means travelling more than 1,500 kilometres to Vancouver, an overwhelming journey for her family. With support from Hope Air, those once difficult and uncertain trips have become safe and reliable, allowing her family to focus on what matters most: her health.

For families in British Columbia, Hope Air makes life-changing care accessible by removing the financial and logistical barriers of distance. This impact is strengthened by the renewed support of $50,000 from Newmont Canada, helping ensure patients in Northwestern BC, can access essential care not available close to home. Newmont’s commitment to community wellbeing, strong local relationships, and prioritizing health and safety aligns closely with Hope Air’s mission, making stories like Avery’s possible and helping keep families together when it matters most. Learn more about Newmont Canada’s support: https://hopeair.ca/newmont-canada-renews-support-for-hope-air-helping-families-in-northwestern-bc-access-lifesaving-medical-care/