Air Canada Foundation Achieves Historic Charity Breakthrough in Québec as 14th Annual Golf Tournament Raises Record One Point Five Million Dollars to Transform the Lives, Health and Future Opportunities of Children and Youth Across Canada
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The Air Canada Foundation successfully conducted its 14th annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Club de golf Le Mirage in Terrebonne, Québec, achieving a historic fundraising milestone by collecting a record $1.5 million. The funds will be dedicated to improving the health, development, and overall well-being of children and young people throughout Canada.
The year’s fundraising event attracted 375 attendees and received strong backing from more than 100 sponsors, including corporate partners, suppliers, and vendors who contributed to the success of the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraising initiative.
The money raised will be distributed through the Air Canada Foundation’s annual grants program, which provides essential support to children and youth facing challenges, particularly those from equity-deserving communities. Through these contributions, the Foundation aims to create greater opportunities, strengthen access to vital resources, and help young Canadians reach their highest potential.
“I want to thank every participant for having joined us for this very special occasion. I’ve had the privilege of being part of this event for quite a few years now and I remain amazed by the generosity of our guests, friends and partners, year after year,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer at Air Canada. “It takes a lot of people to pull this tournament together every year and I want to express my sincere gratitude to all our employees and retirees who volunteered this week and volunteer year-round in the Foundation’s events. Since 2012, the Foundation has raised $20 million raised for children across the country, an important accomplishment and I speak on behalf of everyone at Air Canada when I say this: thank you to every single person who has donated in the past 14 years. Thank you for sharing our mission and thank you for making a difference.”
“There is a lot to be proud of,” said Louise-Hélène Sénécal, Chair of the Air Canada Foundation. “Not only have we reached an incredible milestone, but days like these remind us all of how important and dear to so many people the Foundation’s mission is. A heartfelt thank you to all of our participants, this year and every year before, and also to our volunteers for their support in helping us make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families.”
The Air Canada Foundation has continued to expand its commitment to supporting children, families, and communities across Canada through impactful charitable initiatives and fundraising efforts. A recent community event highlighted the strong partnership between Air Canada employees, retirees, charity organisations, and supporters who came together to create positive change and raise awareness for important social causes.
The event was organised and hosted by a dedicated group of 50 volunteers consisting of current Air Canada employees and retired team members. Their involvement reflected the organisation’s strong culture of community engagement and volunteerism. By contributing their time, skills, and energy, the volunteers helped ensure the event ran smoothly while creating a welcoming and meaningful experience for all guests.
The gathering also featured the participation of the Dr. Clown Foundation, a long-term partner of the Air Canada Foundation. The organisation played an important role in bringing entertainment, happiness, and emotional support to attendees through its unique therapeutic clown programmes. Guests were able to interact with representatives, capture memorable photographs, and learn more about how therapeutic clown activities support patients in hospitals and individuals in Indigenous communities.
Through its specialised programmes, the Dr. Clown Foundation focuses on improving the well-being of children and vulnerable individuals by using humour, creativity, and human connection as part of care and recovery environments. Its presence at the event helped showcase the importance of partnerships in creating stronger and more compassionate communities.
One of the biggest highlights of the event was a popular lemonade stand that became a major fundraising attraction. The stand was operated by Sylas, who served as the 2025 Ambassador for the Air Canada Foundation’s Hospital Transportation Program, together with Alessandro, who represented paediatric hospitals in British Columbia and Quebec.
The initiative successfully attracted significant attention from guests and supporters, generating nearly $10,000 in donations. The funds raised will contribute towards helping children and families who require medical support and transportation assistance. The success of the lemonade stand demonstrated how simple community-driven activities can create meaningful financial contributions for important healthcare-related causes.
Beyond the success of the event, the Air Canada Foundation continued its broader mission of supporting communities throughout Canada. In 2025, the Foundation provided $1.8 million in donations to charitable organisations across the country. These contributions supported a wide range of programmes focused on improving access to food, healthcare assistance, and opportunities for children facing difficult circumstances.
A significant portion of the funding was directed towards addressing food insecurity, helping provide approximately 550,000 meals to individuals and families in need. The support also benefited schools in Indigenous communities by improving access to nutritious meals and essential food programmes. In addition, the funding helped provide healthy food options for children during the summer period when schools are closed and regular meal support may not be available.
The Foundation’s contributions also helped fulfil 1,113 dreams for children experiencing adversity. These initiatives provided moments of hope, happiness, and encouragement for young individuals dealing with challenging situations.
In May 2025, the Air Canada Foundation published its annual Impact Report, highlighting the organisation’s achievements and community contributions throughout the year. The report showcased the progress made through various charitable programmes, partnerships, fundraising campaigns, and employee engagement activities.
The Impact Report demonstrated how collaboration between employees, volunteers, charity partners, and communities has remained central to the Foundation’s approach. By combining fundraising efforts with long-term partnerships, the organisation continues to deliver meaningful support to people across Canada.
Through events like this and ongoing charitable programmes, the Air Canada Foundation continues to strengthen its role as a major contributor to social responsibility initiatives. Its efforts highlight the power of teamwork, compassion, and community involvement in creating lasting benefits for children, families, and communities nationwide.
