MONTREAL — Air Canada is back in the business of making dreams come true, launching the first ‘Dreams Take Flight’ from Atlantic Canada since 2019.

The flight, launched in partnership with the Dreams Take Flight organization, departed from Halifax International Airport to Orlando on April 26 with 144 children onboard. Accompanied by a crew of current and retired Air Canada employee volunteers, the children, who are facing mental, physical or social adversity, were given the chance to experience a trip of a lifetime. 

“Partnering with Dreams Take Flight has been a wonderful way for Air Canada, our employees, and the Air Canada Foundation to come together and make the dreams of children facing adversity come true,” said Valerie Durand, Spokesperson for the Air Canada Foundation. “A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who worked so hard to bring together this group of deserving children from across the Atlantic provinces to make magical memories that will last a lifetime.”

Eight flights will operate annually, providing over 1,000 children each year with an unforgettable day at a theme park in Florida or California. Six more flights from across Canada will depart from Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Ottawa throughout 2023. 

“Dreams Take Flight Halifax takes children from all of the Atlantic provinces, which is something that makes our chapter very unique”, said Allison Sinnott, President of Dreams Take Flight Halifax. “It’s difficult to describe what this trip means for them and what it’s like to witness their joy as they make unforgettable memories with new friends. None of this would be possible without our national and local sponsors, so we cannot thank them enough.”

Dreams Take Flight is a non-profit primarily made up of current and retired Air Canada employees who volunteer to make these flights a reality. Over the past 30 years, Air Canada has flown more than 40,000 children on Dreams Take Flight trips.

Visit dreamstakeflight.ca to donate or volunteer.