community investment
What we’re doing and why it matters
At WestJet, we are committed to enriching the communities we serve. By working alongside local organizations and our national charitable partners, we are actively engaged and investing in the initiatives that matter most to our guests and our people. Through WestJet’s Airport Community Giving program, along with our nine charitable partners, we are collaboratively leaving lasting positive impacts that build stronger and more vibrant communities across Canada.
In addition, WestJet employees contribute meaningfully to their local communities from coast to coast through volunteerism via the airline’s WestJetters Caring for Our Community program.
2023 highlights
36,295
Volunteer hours
963
Benefiting organizations
$4.4 million
In-kind value of contributions
“As a WestJetter, I have been able to witness WestJet’s involvement in the communities we serve. That has inspired me to volunteer and to be a WestJet ambassador within my own community. Volunteering makes me feel useful and brings joy to my soul, while every day when I witness how much my small contribution can make a difference in others’ lives.”
- Kerline
Our programs
Community Investment at WestJet ensures WestJet and WestJetters can meaningfully, and impactfully, extend our caring through the gift of our resources to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. We are proud to support communities across Canada and internationally within our global network through the following programs.
Airport Community Giving
WestJet’s Airport Community Giving Program empowers WestJetters to be active participants in giving back to the communities where they live and work. Through the program, gift of flight donation requests are reviewed and supported based on the community's needs and priorities.
WestJetters Caring for Our Community
WestJet is proud to recognize and celebrate the meaningful volunteer contributions of WestJetters in the communities they call home. WestJetters Caring for Our Community is a program designed to inspire employees to volunteer in their community. When employees volunteer with their organization of choice, the organization becomes eligible to receive the gift of flight for fundraising purposes.
Disaster relief
When disaster strikes, WestJet partners with local and international aid organizations to help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian supplies, relief workers and emergency responders where they are needed most.
Our Cares for Kids partners
WestJet Cares for Kids exists as a way for WestJet to give back to the communities we serve across Canada and help provide valuable resources to families in need. WestJet currently supports four national charities that positively impact the health and wellbeing of children and youth. The donation of the gift of flight supports our partners to deliver essential programs to the children and youth they serve, raise funds and reduce the cost of their business travel.
Make-A-Wish® Canada
Make-A-Wish® Canada (MAW) creates life-changing wishes for children between the ages of 3 and 17 with critical illnesses. A wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey, and research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness.
BGC Canada
BGC Canada serves Canadian youth by providing safe and supportive spaces for them to build positive relationships, confidence, and life-skills. Their work focuses on advocating for and supporting at-risk youth, including youth in Indigenous communities, youth struggling with mental health challenges and youth living in poverty.
The Missing Children Society of Canada
The Missing Children Society of Canada is a key resource for police, acting as their voice in the community by distributing important information to phones, tablets and computers of the public through its innovative technology, helping with investigations and also working to support the families in crisis.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada
Across Canada, Ronald McDonald House Charities® Canada give families a place to stay together while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. The RMHC network of Canadian programs helps to keep more than 26,000 families close to their sick child, and the care they need each year.
“It is a privilege to work at a company that supports Community Investment, and I get to see that firsthand through my volunteering. There is nothing better than giving back to your community. It is something that I have passed down to my children and I hope they will continue to do.”
— Rumnik, WestJetter
Our national partners
In addition to our Cares for Kids partners, WestJet supports three national partners that serve communities and families across Canada and the world.
The Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society’s (CCS) mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. CCS is the only national charity that supports all Canadians living with all cancers across the country. They are committed to improving and saving lives, and advocate to governments on important cancer-related issues and policies on behalf of those affected by cancer.
LiveDifferent
LiveDifferent’s passion is making a difference in people’s lives. Through their youth empowerment, humanitarian build programs, including the WestJet LiveDifferent Build, and leadership development opportunities, they have inspired thousands of people to create positive change in communities on both a national and international scale.
Hope Air
Through WestJet’s gift of flight, Hope Air provides flights and accommodation for children and families that are required to travel to receive medical treatment.
Community Investment articles from our Newsroom
- WestJet celebrates National Volunteer Week and the impact of the LiveDifferent Build | April 16, 2024
- WestJet celebrates 12 years of holiday magic with BGC Canada | December 19, 2023
- WestJet creates magic at 30,000 feet in celebration of Make-A-Wish Canada’s 40th anniversary | July 25, 2023
- WestJetters making big impacts in their communities | April 17, 2023
- WestJet Cares for Kids celebrates 15 years | August 22, 2022
- Celebrating National Volunteer Week | April 25, 2022
- WestJetter’s vision brings meaningful hockey donation to Cat Lake First Nation | April 12, 2022
- Celebrating the power of WestJetters who volunteer | April 21, 2021
Contact our Community Investment team
Got questions about how we support our communities? Reach us at communityinvestment@westjet.com
Looking for WestJet’s support for your event, program or organization? To assist you in properly completing the application form we suggest you review the Giving Guidelines before you begin.
If you determine that your initiative fits within our Giving Guidelines please submit an in-kind gift-of-flight donation request to be used for fundraising purposes.