MONTREAL — Aeroplan has kicked off its annual Points Matching Week in support of the Air Canada Foundation’s Hospital Transportation Program, which helps families across Canada access essential medical care for their children.

Running from Oct. 6 to 12, 2025, the initiative aims to raise the highest amount of air travel support possible for children who must travel outside their home communities for treatment.

The Hospital Transportation Program relies on generous donations from Aeroplan Members to fund travel for children and their families to reach specialized hospitals across the country. During this week-long campaign, Aeroplan and its partners – TD, CIBC and American Express –will each match Aeroplan Points donated by members, up to 10 million points per partner. Aeroplan will also match the donations, tripling the impact of each contribution up to a maximum of 10 million points.

Last year’s campaign, Aeroplan partners TD and CIBC matched donations from Aeroplan members, helping the Air Canada Foundation reach 47 million points, which were later donated to pediatric hospitals across Canada through the Hospital Transportation Program.

“Families come to us from every province in Canada and for many, specialized care is simply not available in their home communities. The Hospital Transportation Program is a vital partner in making that care accessible,” said Kelly Thorstad, Acting Administrator of Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada

“For more than 20 years, this program has lifted a huge financial burden for families who otherwise could not afford repeated round trips for their child’s treatment. Their support has made an immeasurable difference in the lives of our patients and their loved ones,” she added.

HOW THE PROGRAM HELPS

Since its creation in 2003, the Air Canada Foundation’s Hospital Transportation Program has provided flights for children and a parent or guardian to travel to specialized medical facilities. The program works in partnership with Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations, supporting 15 pediatric hospitals across the country including BC Children’s Hospital, Alberta Children’s Hospital, CHEO, The Hospital for Sick Children, and CHU Sainte-Justine.

It also assists families through partnerships with Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada and the David Foster Foundation. In 2024, the program helped 129 children and their families with 379 flights.

One of the families supported through the program is that of Maddox, a young girl from Cape Breton born with a rare genetic disorder that causes fragile bones. Thanks to Aeroplan members’ donations, Maddox and her family were able to travel to Montréal for care at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, where she has received life-changing surgeries and treatments. Her story reflects the program’s mission – to make specialized care accessible for children across Canada.

To learn more about the Air Canada Foundation and the Hospital Transportation Program, go to aircanada.com/foundation. To donate points, click here.