Haul for Hope Returns to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Raising More Than $100,000 for Medical Travel Assistance
Hope Air's annual Haul for Hope, presented by Porter Airlines and hosted at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, brought together Toronto's aviation, business and broader community on Saturday, raising more than $100,000 to help Canadians who must travel long distances to access specialized medical care.
The event's signature aircraft pull symbolizes the journeys thousands of patients and families make each year when healthcare is not available close to home. While treatment may be covered, travel costs often are not. Flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation can create significant barriers to accessing care.
Hope Air helps remove those barriers by providing free medical travel and accommodation support to Canadians in financial need. In 2025 alone, the organization delivered more than 38,000 medical travel services, supporting over 10,000 patient and escort trips across 710 communities nationwide.
Among those participating were Hope Air patient Wesley and his mother, Ebele, who shared their family's experience travelling from Sudbury in Nothern Ontario for medical care and the difference travel support can make. Their story served as a reminder that behind every Hope Air journey is a patient trying to reach essential healthcare.
As an airport located just minutes from many of Toronto's leading hospitals and healthcare facilities, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport plays an important role in connecting patients to care. Porter Airlines once again provided the aircraft for the challenge and served as presenting sponsor of the event.
Throughout the morning, 19 teams and 250 participants gathered on the airport airfield against the backdrop of Toronto's waterfront and skyline, participating in a series of aircraft pulls that combined friendly competition with a shared commitment to helping patients overcome the distance to care.
The day's top honours went to Team Stolport, who earned the title of 2026 Haul for Hope Champions through a combination of fundraising success and plane-pull performance.
QUOTES
“Haul for Hope is a powerful example of what can happen when a community comes together to help Canadians get the medical care they need,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Executive Officer of Hope Air. “We’re incredibly grateful to every participant, volunteer and partner who joined us at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Their support helps ensure that distance and financial circumstances are never barriers to patients who must travel far from home for vital medical care.”
“Haul for Hope is something that our team looks forward to each year,” said Lawrence Hughes, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Porter Airlines. “From fielding a team to prepping the aircraft and facilitating each pull, it brings to life the thousands of patient flights that Porter has been part of over the years. The event is an important means of generating funds and, more importantly, visibility and ongoing enthusiasm to continue Hope Air’s mission. This was on full display again this year.”
“Having joined Team YTZ on the tarmac this past weekend, I experienced firsthand the energy, teamwork, and sense of purpose that make Haul for Hope such a meaningful annual tradition. Year after year, this event brings our community together to help more Canadians access the care they need and demonstrates the powerful impact collective action can have for patients and families across the country,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO, Toronto Port Authority, owner and operator of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport serves as an important gateway for patients travelling to Toronto from northern and remote communities for specialized treatment, and our longstanding partnership with Hope Air reflects a shared commitment to ensuring distance and cost are not barriers to accessing healthcare.”
“For many Canadians, distance can make it hard to reach the care they need. For 40 years, Hope Air has done remarkable work to connect patients and families with essential care,” said Jennifer Quinn, CEO, Nieuport Aviation. “These journeys are among the most important taken through the Billy Bishop Airport terminal, and we're proud to support them. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered and donated to another successful Haul for Hope Plane Pull at Billy Bishop Airport in support of this important mission.”
-30-
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada's national charity providing free flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation for Canadians in financial need who must travel long distances to access medical care. Since 1986, Hope Air has helped ensure that where someone lives or what they can afford does not determine their access to healthcare.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca.
About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is an award-winning gateway to Canada’s largest city, offering unmatched convenience just minutes from downtown Toronto. Serving passengers since 1939, the airport provides service to more than 20 cities across Canada and the U.S., with connections to more than 100 global destinations through its airline partners, and a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Preclearance facility.
Renowned for its accessibility, stunning skyline views and 98% passenger satisfaction rating, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport supports critical regional services, including medical travel and medevac operations through Ornge. It is also a key economic driver, supporting more than 4,000 jobs (2,000 directly associated with its operations) and generating approximately $2 billion annually for the regional economy.
Committed to sustainability, the airport is a three-time recipient of the Airports Council International–North America’s Environmental Achievement Award and is certified under Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is owned and operated by the Toronto Port Authority. Nieuport Aviation is the terminal partner and operates the airport’s complimentary shuttle service to and from downtown Toronto. Learn more at billybishopairport.com.
The Toronto Port Authority owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomes approximately two million passengers and generates approximately $2 billion in economic impact per year; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada’s largest freshwater marinas; and the marine Port of Toronto, which facilitates businesses such as marine shipping, cargo services and passenger cruises to generate approximately $460 million in economic activity annually. Since 1911, and in its role as a city builder, the Toronto Port Authority has worked with partners and every level of government to enhance Toronto’s transportation infrastructure and economic growth. The Toronto Port Authority is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities, and has invested more than $30 million in recent years to fund charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond.
The Toronto Port Authority is a federal agency and operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act. It is guided by a Board of Directors that includes representation from all three levels of government.