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CBC
2 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Hope Air Day in Sault St. Marie to raise awareness about medical charity
Social Sharing The national Hope Air organization is marking Hope Air Day in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, to raise awareness about the medical service that it provides to people who need to travel for health reasons. The charity offers free travel and accommodations for low income patients who need medical care, but can't afford or access that care close to home. CEO Mark Rubinstein said Hope Air has been "bridging the distance between home and hospital for thousands of families in need." "Low income families, even with the Northern Health Travel Grant, can't afford the significant airline costs, hotel costs, ground transportation costs, that can be thousands and thousands of dollars for patients who are travelling multiple times throughout the year, and that's the gap that Hope Air fills," Rubinstein told CBC News. "Over the last 12 months we would have supported well over 1,100 medical trips and that includes flights, hotels, meals and ground transportation. That actually works out to be over 3,600 travel arrangements when you take the sum of all of those program supports that supports people living in over 85 communities across Ontario including Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Red Lake and North Bay." We're really unable to meet the unmet demand where so many more people would avail themselves of Hope Air services. Rubinstein said the charity is funded through a hybrid model of public and private sector funding. "In almost every province across the country, we would receive some government funding and then that would be supplemented by generous donors, corporations, individuals, foundations. "And it's the combination of those two funding sources that allows us to make sure that everyone who needs help travelling north-south, no matter which province you're talking about, can receive that help." In Ontario Hope Air is primarily funded through private sector donations, receiving no direct government funding, Rubinstein said. "Because of that, we're really unable to meet the unmet demand where so many more people would avail themselves of Hope Air services if there was secure funding made available to allow us to support them," he said. The Hope Air CEO said with appropriate funding the charity would be able to go from 3,600 travel arrangements to well over 8,000, adding that "the reason why we have not been able to really promote the service and make as many people aware of the service who should know about it is because our funding is limited." "Our government acknowledges the unique healthcare challenges faced by residents in northern and rural communities. That is why Ontario is one of the only jurisdictions to provide residents in the Northern parts of the province with reimbursement for costs incurred when having to travel outside of their community for specialized medical care. Conversations ongoing to work with Hope Air, province says A spokesperson for Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the ministry has been in contact with Hope Air. "Our conversations and work with Hope Air are not over and we will continue to work together on a path forward that will ensure all Ontarians can access the care they need when they need it, no matter where they live," press secretary Ema Popovic wrote in an email to CBC News. Popovic said through the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) the government supports more than 66,000 people each year to access the specialized care they need. "Last year, we announced we are investing an additional $45 million in the NHTG to expand and improve services, such as increasing reimbursement amounts and simplifying the application and submission form," Popovic said. "The NHTG program also partners with several third-party agencies, including Hope Air, that can advance funds to northern Ontarians eligible for funding under the NHTG." 'A load of stress off families' Becca Pariseau's son, Max, was diagnosed with hearing loss at birth and was a candidate for cochlear implants, which had to be done in Toronto. Pariseau is from Saulte Ste. Marie and said she heard about Hope Air through SickKids Hospital, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. "It was amazing for me. I didn't know there was anything like that until we needed to use it," she said. "It's amazing what they can do to help families, because for us it would have been very hard financially to travel back and forth and so them helping with the flights and also hotel accommodations, food vouchers, Uber vouchers, everything is just so helpful and takes such a load of stress off families to be able to have that support. "I'd love to thank them and just say that I appreciate everything that they do for us and other families, and I'm very grateful to them for all the help we've been given and that we still need in the future because we'll be taking trips still every six months until [Max is] older," Pariseau added. Ed Johnston was getting ready to retire when he first learned about Hope Air at an aviation event held at Buttonville Municipal Airport. "I joined the organization, like, the following week and became a volunteer pilot a few months later," Johnston told CBC Sudbury. He said Hope Air provides travel access through airports where the major airlines don't fly, adding "it's a pretty cool thing." "I've been to some pretty northern remote airports," Johnston said, adding that the real reason he's volunteering is "to help other people." "So, when I heard about Hope Air and what they're doing for patients, it was kind of a natural thing just to step up to the plate and want to help," he said. "I'm passionate about aviation and I'm passionate about using aviation for the greater Air has given me inspiration, I love the organization, I love the people at the organization, wonderful people to work with. They've given me a mission, something to do with my time … and it's just about helping others," Johnston added. Johnston, who has flown approximately 11 flights so far, said his youngest passenger was a one-month-old with her mom and grandma on board. His oldest was an 86-year-old who flew to Toronto for a shoulder replacement.
Cision Canada
22-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Hope Air Day - June 6, 2025: A National Effort to Ensure Equal Access to Healthcare
TORONTO, May 22, 2025 /CNW/ - On June 6, 2025, communities across Canada will unite to celebrate Hope Air Day, a day dedicated to reaffirming the commitment to equal healthcare access nationwide. The day highlights the critical work of Hope Air and its partners in breaking down barriers to medical care, particularly for patients in rural or underserved areas. Hope Air has become an integral part of the Canadian healthcare system, offering free travel assistance to thousands of patients in need of life-saving medical treatments. Through its free airline flights and other medical travel services, Hope Air helps low-income Canadians overcome the financial and logistical challenges of seeking specialty medical care. By bridging the gap between remote communities and vital healthcare services, Hope Air ensures timely access to essential treatments that might otherwise be out of reach. Hope Air supports patients living in over 650 rural or under-served communities across Canada. Hope Air Day brings together leaders from all sectors— government, industry, healthcare, aviation, and communities—working in unison to eliminate the obstacles preventing equal healthcare access. Every year, Hope Air coordinates over 45,000 travel arrangements for patients in over 650 communities across Canada. Its services include flights, accommodations, airport transport (via Uber), and meals—completely free for patients and their accompanying escorts. In celebration of Hope Air Day, a live concert will be held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, featuring country music artist Cory Marks and streamed live on Facebook at 6pm EST. June 6 th and will be attended by community members, supporters, and partners. Cities and towns across Canada will also celebrate Hope Air Day through various activities including social media posts, media stories, fundraisers and community celebrations. "Hope Air Day is a nationwide affirmation that every Canadian deserves access to specialized medical care, no matter where they live, who they are, or their financial situation," said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer of Hope Air. "It's a call to action for continued and enhanced collaboration between Hope Air and governments, healthcare providers, private partners, and communities to ensure the promise of universal healthcare is upheld." Voices of Support from Across Canada "The government of Prince Edward Island is proud to partner with Hope Air to deliver travel support to Islanders in financial need who must travel out of province for speciality medical care," said the Honourable Mark McLane, Health Minister of Prince Edward Island. "Our longstanding relationship with Hope Air has been a critical part of PEIs healthcare system, ensuring that every Islander gets equitable and timely access to the healthcare they need." "Travel is an essential part of Newfoundland & Labrador's healthcare system, and Hope Air provides critical support for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians that must travel long distances to access speciality medical services," said the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Labrador Affairs. "On Hope Air Day we proudly support and celebrate the important work of Hope Air in ensuring equitable access to healthcare to Canadians in rural and remote communities." "Hope Air plays a crucial role in Northern Ontario by helping low-income residents reach the medical care they need, far from home. The services they provide—free flights, accommodations, Uber rides, and more—are essential for ensuring that people in our region receive timely care for life-threatening conditions. Without Hope Air, many would face insurmountable barriers to treatment," said Danny Whalen, President of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities. "Rural health is only as strong as the connections we build between community and care. Hope Air bridges that gap for thousands of B.C. residents each year, making timely access to specialized treatments possible for people who need it most." - Paul Adams, Executive Director, BC Rural Health Network To learn more about Hope Air Day About Hope Air Hope Air is Canada's national charity dedicated to providing free flights and accommodations for low-income Canadians, who must travel long distances to access medical specialty care. Hope Air eliminates barriers of distance and cost so that patients in financial need, can travel to access the best available treatment for many life-threatening health conditions. Founded in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 235,980 travel arrangements across over 640 communities. Funding for Hope Air programs is generously provided through public and private sector partnerships, including provincial governments, foundation, corporate and individual donors. Hope Air is also generously supported by the Canadian airline and airport transportation sector, and dedicated volunteers. 2024 Impact: 45,943 total travel arrangements, including 13,721 flights, 14,136 accommodations, 9,813 meals, and 2,926 PEI bridge/ferry/gas passes Served patients from over 640 communities 85% increase in services compared to prior year Patient Statistics: 73% of patients have household incomes under $45,000 87% of patients had no other viable travel options. Without Hope Air, patients would cancel or delay medical treatment leading to poorer health outcomes. 65% of patients would face financial hardship without Hope Air 93% experienced reduced stress, and 78% reported better health outcomes
