Community Investment takes flight: WestJetters volunteer across Canada

At WestJet we are proud to celebrate the countless volunteer hours and effort that our team members give to the communities where we live and work. Through our Caring for Our Community program, we recognize and celebrate the time and commitment WestJet employees dedicate to causes they care about. The following stories spotlight just a few of the WestJetters whose volunteer service is making a tangible difference, and the communities strengthened as a result.

Carrying a legacy forward through animal rescue

  • For Calgary‑based WestJetter Cole, volunteering began as a deeply personal journey. An 11‑year team member, Cole started volunteering with the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) after the loss of his family dog in late 2024. Cole describes the experience as a way to honour that loss while supporting animals that still have so much potential for connection and trust. His volunteer work ranges from daily shelter tasks to walking and spending time with dogs awaiting adoption.

Cole notes that even brief, routine interactions — such as walking dogs or spending quiet time with them — can significantly improve the daily wellbeing of animals in the shelter.

Volunteering has become a source of purpose for him, reinforcing the value of showing up consistently and contributing in practical ways that directly improve outcomes for vulnerable animals.

To anyone who is thinking about volunteering, Cole says “If it is something that you are even remotely passionate about, just do it. For the most part it is very little work in comparison to the impact made.”

Volunteering as connection, not obligation

  • Long‑time WestJetter Tadd approaches volunteering with a simple mindset: Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Tadd encourages people who are considering volunteering to take the first step, even if they’re unsure where to begin. 

    For Tadd, volunteer work has consistently proven rewarding, opening doors to new experiences, relationships and perspectives. He emphasizes the impact goes both ways — benefiting not only the organizations and communities served, but also the volunteers themselves.

"Next time you see an opportunity, take it," encourages Tadd. "Once you get there and you are volunteering, you will not be disappointed. It will change your life in so many positive ways, and you’ll meet so many amazing people with big hearts." 

Supporting youth through community sport

  • Kristy, a 19-year WestJetter, has spent more than 15 years volunteering through community‑based sport in Airdrie, Alberta.

    Her work with Airdrie Football focuses on ensuring young people have access to a safe, affordable and inclusive athletic environment. Through her involvement, Kristy has built strong local connections and helped sustain programs that rely heavily on volunteer support to operate.

Kristy describes volunteering as both community‑building and grounding — a reminder that many local programs depend entirely on people who are willing to contribute time and effort behind the scenes. She advises “Just get out and do it. Organizations are always looking for help, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a group that interests you.”

Many paths, one shared purpose

  • For Elise, volunteering has long been woven into daily life. Her community involvement spans hospice support, nonprofit board work, charitable fundraising and international volunteer builds completed alongside her family. 

    Elise says the relationships formed through volunteering — with fellow volunteers and the communities they support — have shaped how she understands purpose, connection and contribution.

Volunteering, she notes, is not a one‑size‑fits‑all experience. It can take many forms, evolve over time and fit alongside work, family and other commitments. Her diverse volunteering journey has allowed her to understand the purpose of life and what she is meant to be doing. “I love the friends I make and the community I build through my volunteer work. It has become such a passion that it is part of my life, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Giving back through Scouting and family service

  • David is a 19-year WestJetter who has volunteered with Scouts Canada for more than two decades. His commitment began in 2005 as a way to lend a helping hand and has since become one of the most meaningful parts of his life.

    His involvement in Scouting reconnected him with the confidence, sense of belonging and purpose he experienced as a youth in the program — values that continue to motivate his volunteer service today. Volunteering has also become a family effort: David’s wife is involved in Scouting, and his two sons grew up participating in the program.

Watching his children build character, leadership and lifelong skills has been deeply rewarding, and volunteering alongside them has made the experience even more personal.

David encourages others to take the first step toward giving back. "It is amazing to have the chance to give back to whatever cause you believe in. You really do get back what you put in, and that sense of purpose, and fulfilment you feel from volunteering is second to none."

Local teams, collective impact

  • At WestJet’s home airport in Calgary, a group of WestJetters from the YYC Community Investment Team has volunteered together with a range of local organizations, including Missing Children of Canada, Ronald McDonald House, The Mustard Seed, animal welfare organizations and senior support centres. 

    By volunteering as a group, the team amplifies its impact while strengthening connections within the community and with one another.

Turn inspiration into action

The stories shared during National Volunteer Week reflect just a small sample of the ways our team members across Canada choose to support their communities. Volunteerism looks different for everyone. Whether it’s a few hours a month or long‑term involvement with a cause that’s close to home, we encourage you to get involved and make a difference with the causes that are important to you. 

To read more about National Volunteer Week 2026, and this year’s theme of Ignite Volunteerism, visit volunteer.ca.

For organizations seeking additional ways to support their fundraising efforts, WestJet’s Airport Community Giving program offers eligible Canadian charities and non‑profit organizations the opportunity to apply for in‑kind gift of flight donations that can be used for raffles and auctions in support of local initiatives.