Air Canada today announced a new
partnership with 13 children`s hospitals across Canada to fly children in need
to medical services not available in their home communities. The initiative is
a major component of Kids` Horizons, the new umbrella program unveiled today
for Air Canada`s charitable support that focuses on improving the quality of
life of children, youth and their families.
The new hospital program, called the Kids` Horizons Hospital
Transportation Program, will provide air transportation for children in need
through Air Canada`s donation of a total of approximately 2700 flights to
children`s hospitals across Canada that can be used throughout the Air Canada
network on Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and ZIP. Partner hospitals include:
- Janeway Children`s Health and Rehabilitation Center (St. John`s) - Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Children`s Health Center (Halifax)  - The Montreal Children`s Hospital of the McGill University Health Center (Montreal)  - H™pital Sainte Justine - Le centre hospitalier universitaire mère-enfant (Montreal)  - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec (Quebec City)  - The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) - Children`s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa)
- Children`s Hospital of Western Ontario (London)
- Winnipeg Children`s Hospital (Winnipeg)  - The Children`s Health Foundation of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Regina)  - Stollery Children`s Hospital (Edmonton) - Alberta Children`s Hospital (Calgary) - British Columbia Children`s Hospital (Vancouver)
“Air Canada and its employees have a proud record of helping kids in need
and their families across Canada and around the world,” said Robert Milton,
President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our new partnership with children`s
hospitals from coast to coast means that more Canadian children than ever
before will have access to specialized medical treatment that is not available
in their home community.
“As Canada`s national airline we feel that we have a special role to play
in enriching the lives of those that matter most in our lives - our kids.
Through the entire range of Kids Horizons programs we are uniquely positioned
to ensure the needs of children and youth with special circumstances are met,
whether through access to medical services and support programs or the
fulfillment of a special dream or wish.”
In addition to the new Hospital Transportation Program, Kids` Horizons
also includes numerous other community programs Air Canada is proud to
support, including:
- Dreams Take Flight, a Canada-wide Air Canada employee program that, in
collaboration with agencies and community groups, flies socially
disadvantaged or physically or mentally disabled children to enjoy a
day at a Disney theme park. A Dreams Take Flight group of 140 children
and accompanying volunteers departed this morning for Disneyworld. Over
10,000 children have participated since the program`s inception in
1989.
- Major sponsorship for the Starlight Children`s Foundation Canada, which
provides a wide array of in-hospital and outpatient programs for
children, including wish granting. The Foundation reaches out to over
12,000 children every month.
- Travel support for Street Kids International, a Canada-based
organization that supports and empowers street youth and children
internationally.
Air Canada launched Kids` Horizons and the Hospital Transportation
program in Montreal today with a celebration and painted aircraft unveiling
with the participation of three local children`s hospitals and Air Canada
employees.
The new Kids` Horizons logo features a red stylized kite, which was
prominently displayed at the event on an Air Canada Airbus 320 aircraft. The
Kids` Horizons image features a whimsical child playing at an aircraft-
inspired hopscotch game.
High resolution versions of the Kids` Horizons logo and image and photos
from the event today are available at aircanada.ca/about-us/media/home.html by
selecting “Facts and Photos”.
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