Air Canada and Dreams Take Flight returned to the skies yesterday for the first time since 2020 to take a plane load of disadvantaged children from Winnipeg to Florida for the trip of a lifetime, including a day at an Orlando theme park.

The flight from Winnipeg left in the early hours of the morning with 110 kids, accompanied by a crew of Air Canada employee volunteers determined to create “the most magical experience possible.”

By donating their time, pilots, flight attendants, maintenance engineers, and numerous other employees on the ground and behind the scenes helped provide children facing mental, physical, or social adversity the chance to take a break from their everyday to “make memories and see new possibilities.”

With the support of the Air Canada Foundation and the work by the Dreams Take Flight organization, eight flights will operate this year, giving an estimated 1,000 children an unforgettable day at a theme park in Florida or California.

“These are children who would likely never be able to take this trip if it were not for our program and the planes, would never get off the ground if it were not for our main sponsors and donors, like the Air Canada Foundation,” says Bev Watson, President of Dreams Take Flight Canada. “Volunteers from Air Canada, family and friends, as well as the general public spend countless hours to ensure everything is done in preparation for each flight.”

“As a Foundation focused on the health and well-being of children, it is a privilege to work alongside Dreams Take Flight and Air Canada employees to help make this very special experience a reality for these children, letting them be kids for the day,” says Air Canada Foundation spokesperson Valerie Durand. “A heartfelt thank you to each and every volunteer and supporter who helps makes this experience possible.”

Seven additional flights from across Canada will depart from Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Ottawa throughout 2023.

Dreams Take Flight is a national non-profit organization primarily made up of current and retired Air Canada employees and retirees dedicated to providing the trip of a lifetime to children who may be physically, mentally, or socially challenged. With the aid of Air Canada, the Air Canada Foundation and other national and local organizations and businesses, money is raised to fund the program.