WestJet is celebrating the success of its partnership with Make-A-Wish Canada as part of its WestJet Cares for Kids program, providing the gift of flight to support travel wishes for children and youth battling critical illnesses. Since 2007, WestJet has worked alongside Make-A-Wish Canada to ensure all Make-A-Wish children and their families have the ultimate wish experience while travelling with WestJet. From the moment a child learns that their travel wish will be granted, to their airport arrival and inflight experience, WestJetters are at the core of creating these special moments.
WestJet’s gift of flight also assists in bolstering fundraising for the organization, reducing the cost of business travel, and creating opportunities for employee engagement and volunteerism.
“Our partnership with Make-A-Wish Canada is at the cornerstone of WestJet’s Community Investment story,” said Jacqui MacGillvary, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President, and Chief People Officer. “A wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey and WestJet is steadfast in its commitment to helping Make-A-Wish Canada carry out its mission.”
"Since 2007, WestJet's unwavering support for Make-A-Wish Canada has made over 24,000 flights possible, granting life-changing wishes to more than 6,000 children and families,” said Meaghan Stovel McKnight, Chief Executive Officer of Make-A-Wish Canada. “In the past few years, over 65% of wishes involved travel, and WestJet played an essential role in helping hundreds of those wishes come true. Through this incredible partnership, we continue to bring hope and joy to children across Canada, with WestJet’s dedicated teams ensuring that each wish journey is a truly special experience."
WestJet receives Make-A-Wish International Best Corporate Fundraising Award
In July 2023, WestJet and Make-A-Wish Canada commemorated the Foundation’s 40th Anniversary in Canada with an inaugural group wish trip. For the first time in both the airline and Foundations’ history, they granted 40 wishes at once. WestJet donated the charter of a 737 aircraft to fly 40 children and their families to Orlando, Florida granting their wishes to spend a week at Walt Disney World.
In honour of the collaborative partnership and that historic flight, WestJet received the Best Corporate Fundraising Award from Make-A-Wish International, highlighting the hard work and dedication of WestJet employees.
Annual group wish trips from Calgary and Toronto
Throughout the year, WestJet has assisted with numerous wish reveals for children participating in Make-A-Wish ® Canada’s group wish trips to Walt Disney World with an extra special wish delivery experience from WestJetters.
In both May and October 2024, WestJet worked alongside Make-A-Wish Canada to facilitate wish trips to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for 70 wish kids and their families from across Canada.
Captain Philip, WestJet pilot and Make-A-Wish® Canada volunteer
Captain Philip, a 17-year WestJetter brings WestJet’s caring culture to life by connecting his career as a WestJet pilot and his personal passion as a Make-A-Wish Canada volunteer.
He has volunteered with Make-A-Wish Canada for the past six years and has assisted in granting many wishes in his personal time, in addition to the time he spends flying Make-A-Wish Canada families to and from wish trips on behalf of WestJet.
His personal connection to volunteering and making a difference for children facing critical illnesses is driven by the time he spent with his daughter in the hospital when she was young.