Make-A-Wish^® Canada

Jeri-Ann gets her wish to fly.

Since 2007, WestJet has partnered with Make-A-Wish® Canada to help travel wishes take flight. WestJet has created a unique guest experience to ensure that the ultimate wish experience is had by all Make-A-Wish® children and their families travelling via WestJet!

The magic of a wish is an incredible gift to give to a sick child and his/her family. A wish gives hope for the future during the days of difficult treatments, surgeries, or hospital stays away from home, family and friends. A wish helps foster a child’s belief that miracles can happen and that anything is possible. It provides the family with an opportunity to create happy and lasting memories, and enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

At WestJet, we are thrilled to help make hundreds of travel wishes come true. WestJetters at our airports and our in-flight crews meet and greet wish kids and their families during their trip, and help to make it a memorable experience from beginning to end. Whether it is a visit to the flight deck, a special in-flight announcement or a celebratory send off at the gate -- WestJetters help bring special moments to life.

Along with being a part of many travel based wishes through the gift of flight, WestJet has had the opportunity to grant a few wishes from start to end:

• On July 28, 2016, WestJet welcomed Jeri-Ann to our family. In partnership with Make-A-Wish® Canada’s Northern Alberta Chapter, we were able to grant Jeri-Ann's wish to fly. Jeri-Ann was presented with her own special First Officer’s uniform, and travel bag to make sure she was able to feel like a real pilot. Jeri-Ann not only had the chance to feel what it was like to fly, but she was also able to fly the plane, and guide it over New York City… with help from WestJet pilot Captain Deere, of course! Captain Deere was so impressed with Jeri-Ann’s skills that he awarded her with honorary pilot’s wings after their flight. Read more about Jeri-Ann's wish to fly.

Make-A-Wish® is a dynamic wish-granting organization that brings hope, strength and joy to children aged three through 17 with life-threatening medical conditions. Along with the national office, eight (8) regional chapters grant magical wishes to children in need from coast to coast. Make-A-Wish® Canada is an affiliate of Make-A-Wish® International. Make-A-Wish® is the largest wish-granting organization in the world, making dreams and wishes come true for more than 350,000 children since 1980, with the help of over 32,000 volunteers.

Since its inception in 1983, Make-A-Wish® Canada has granted more than 6,200 wishes. Its vision is to grow wish granting in Canada so every eligible child has the opportunity to have their life-transforming wish fulfilled.To learn more, please visit makeawish.ca.