Community Partners: A Q&A with Kayla Primm of Hope Air

We're thrilled to highlight Hope Air for our first Community Partners Q&A of 2026. We interviewed Kayla Primm, Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships, about the vital work they do and why support matters.

In two to three sentences, tell us a bit about your organization.

Hope Air, is a National Canadian charity that provides free travel supports, including flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation, for low-income Canadians requiring access to vital healthcare appointments not available in their home community.

This support is especially critical for patients requiring frequent, long-term, or specialized medical treatments. By ensuring timely and consistent access to care, Hope Air helps improve health outcomes, reduces the risk of delayed or missed treatments, and enhances overall quality of life for thousands of Canadians each year.

Tell us why support from organizations such as OpenRoad Foundation is important for charities and non-profits?

Support from organizations like OpenRoad Foundation is vital for charities and non-profits because it provides more than just financial resources—it enables stability, growth, and greater impact. Reliable funding allows charities to plan ahead, expand programs, and reach more people in need, rather than operating in a constant cycle of uncertainty.

Beyond funding, partnerships with corporate foundations also bring credibility, visibility, and community awareness, which can open doors to additional support and collaboration. This kind of backing helps charities strengthen their operations, invest in innovation, and ultimately deliver more meaningful, long-term outcomes for the communities they serve.

How did our grant help Hope Air?

Hope Air was extremely grateful to be selected as one of the 25 organizations through OpenRoad Foundation’s 25 in 25 initiative. The grant directly contributed to reducing financial barrier for patients, allowing more individuals and families to access treatment they might otherwise have to delay or forgo. Ontario and British Columbia are two of our most significant provinces when it comes to patient travel. We've seen demand for our services increase dramatically over the last several years, and significant contributions like this from new supporters are critical to keeping pace. It enabled us to reach more patients in their time of greatest need, providing not just transportation, but peace of mind during what is often a very difficult journey.

Overall, the donation played an important role in advancing equitable access to healthcare across Canada. Many Hope Air patients live in rural, northern, or low-income communities where travel costs can be prohibitive. By helping to offset these expenses, OpenRoad Foundation’s support ensures that access to healthcare is determined by medical need—not by geography or income.

What's coming up for Hope Air (or, what's new)?

This year marks a significant milestone for Hope Air as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary! For four decades, Hope Air has helped to deliver on Canada’s promise of universal healthcare. Since our founding, we have remained committed to this simple but powerful mission, helping patients access life-changing treatment no matter where they live.

In 2026, that commitment continues to take flight in meaningful ways. We’ll be hitting the tarmac for the 4th annual Haul for Hope, in partnership with WestJet and Porter, bringing communities together at six airports across the country in support of accessible healthcare. Our Give Hope Wings expedition will also see pilots travel to patient communities and key aviation hubs throughout Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and Northern Ontario—highlighting both the reach of our work and the partnerships that make it possible.

Throughout the year, we’ll be celebrating our 40 years of connecting patients from home to health—honouring the patients, volunteers, donors, and partners who have helped shape Hope Air into what it is today, while looking ahead to the future of accessible healthcare for all Canadians.

What's your favourite part of working with Hope Air?

Knowing that you’re making a difference for someone during what is likely the most challenging time in their life. In many cases, Hope Air is the last line of defense—a critical connection that makes it possible for someone to access the treatment they need.

Many Canadians don’t realize that while we have universal healthcare, much of that care is concentrated in urban centres. For those living in rural, remote, and northern parts of our country accessing specialized or life-saving treatment can mean traveling hundreds, sometimes thousands, of kilometres—not everyone has the financial means or is capable of doing so on their own. Hope Air exists so that no parent has to choose between getting their child to SickKids or BC Children’s Hospital and putting food on the table; no senior has to decide between paying rent and attending chemotherapy; and no young adult has to delay or forgo care because the cost of travel is out of reach. 

Every day, I’m reminded that what we do at Hope Air isn’t just about coordinating logistics—it’s about removing barriers, restoring hope, and ensuring that where you live should not determine if you live.

To learn more about Hope Air and all they do, please visit hopeair.ca.