Dreams Take Flight, Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation celebrated another successful year of magical journeys to theme parks in Florida and California. This year, more than a thousand children across Canada got to experience a day full of rides, magic and laughter.
Founded in 1989, Dreams Take Flight was created by a group of Air Canada employees in Toronto with a mission to offer children who experience mental, physical or social challenges a trip of a lifetime to a theme park in Florida.
By 1997, Dreams Take Flight had expanded across Canada with eight chapters: Halifax, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Dreams Take Flight is 100% volunteer driven. Air Canada and The Air Canada Foundation provide each chapter with an aircraft, along with additional support and services, to ensure every trip is a success.
The children chosen from different children’s organizations are accompanied by volunteers, current and retired Air Canada employees who provide a magical experience for those onboard.
The volunteers, including flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes, generously volunteer their time to offer these children the chance to take a break from their everyday lives and create lifelong memories.
Denise Egglestone, President, Dreams Take Flight Canada, said: “I am profoundly thankful for the Air Canada Foundation’s steadfast partnership. Their support enables our dedicated volunteers to deliver a day of magic for children who need it most – an experience that can open hearts, broaden horizons, and remind every child that they deserve to dream.”
Brigitte Saint-Pierre, Director, Official Languages and Community Engagement at Air Canada, on behalf of the Air Canada Foundation, explained that: “Dreams Take Flight is more than a trip; it’s a moment that inspires hope and courage. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our employees and retirees, children experience a day that lifts their spirits and reminds them that their dreams are worth believing in. It’s a day filled with laughter, wonder, and possibility, creating memories that stay with them long after the plane has landed. That is something we value deeply and are proud to support.”
Since its first flight over 35 years ago, more than 35,000 children have experienced a Dreams Take Flight trip-of-a-lifetime to Florida or California.