Air Canada today unveiled a heartwarming video featuring three children from a plane full of kids with different challenges called Every Kid Deserves a Day Off. Thanks to the numerous Air Canada employee volunteers, support of the Air Canada Foundation and the work by the Dreams Take Flight organization, eight flights operate annually and in 2019, transported over 1000 children on a trip-of-a-lifetime to Disney. Dreams Take Flight has given more than 40,000 Canadian children a Dreams flight since 1989.
“Air Canada has been committed to serving and giving back to Canadian communities for more than 80 years, and we’re immensely proud of our ongoing affiliation with the extraordinary Dreams Take Flight since it launched more than 30 years ago. Every year, eight Dreams flights depart from cities across Canada onboard Air Canada aircraft operated by our pilots, flight attendants, maintenance engineers along with numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes who all donate their time for these flights. Dreams Take Flight is a powerful example of our employees generously giving their time to help children forget their challenges for one day and just be kids,” said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada.
“We salute the volunteers for their unwavering support and tireless work in making each Dreams flight memorable and magical for every child onboard. Together, we continue to make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of children across Canada,” said Priscille LeBlanc, Chair of the Air Canada Foundation.
“We’ve seen how one special day leaves each child with lasting memories,” said Bev Watson, President of Dreams Take Flight Canada. “Air Canada volunteer crews host the children onboard, giving their days off to help children get theirs. The dreams made reality by our program would not be possible without them and the decades of support from Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation. The experience is magical and helps children see new possibilities.”
Dreams Take Flight is a non-profit primarily made up of current and retired Air Canada employees who volunteer to make these flights a reality. Each year, the organization provides once-in-a-lifetime trips from eight cities across Canada for kids who may be facing mental, physical or social challenges, giving them a break from their everyday. Over the past 30 years, Air Canada, as exclusive carrier and now through the Air Canada Foundation, has flown more than forty thousand children on Dreams Take Flight trips.
