SEASON OF SHARING
Friends Helen Ling, left, and Evelyn Ma enjoy skating at the Rosemont Community Centre as the weather continues to stay warm in Calgary this week. Inside, WestJet and the Stampeders are inspired by the Christmas spirit of giving.
Growing up in an industrial town in South Wales, I had plenty of exposure in my early years to many who were not lucky enough to have the supportive, close-knit family network I enjoyed. My parents and siblings all chose careers in service industries like nursing and teaching so our environment was one of constant reminders of the need for volunteerism to support and sustain their efforts.
Over the course of my own aviation career in the U.K, Australia and New Zealand, I had heard about a wonderful Canadian airline and its staff. In 2017, when an opportunity arose at WestJet, I jumped at the chance to work with 13,000 caring employees. Arriving here in Canada and working with our WestJetters over the last two years has reinforced that care is alive and well here. WestJet is a better service provider because of the company we keep.
WestJet’s flagship community investment program WestJet Cares for Kids, has over the last 10 years, donated more than 65,000 flights to the charitable partners we support in communities across Canada. We have helped raise funds for community organizations and programs including children’s hospitals and pediatric wards, social services, humanitarian, sport and recreation, animal welfare and arts and culture, to name a few.
Given my upbringing, I truly appreciate the volunteer program we have in place at WestJet called WestJetters Caring for Our Community. Those WestJetters who volunteer their time giving back to their communities are provided with the Gift of Flight which is in turn used to raise funds in the community, further reinforcing the positive impact we can have on those around us.
Our employees have inspired my own giving and since arriving in Calgary I have been dedicating my time to raising funds for partners with whom I have a personal motivation like the Canadian Cancer Society, the WE movement to incentivize school-aged children to contribute, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.
This Christmas, if you see someone in a blue Santa hat doing a good deed, there’s a good chance they’re one of ours. From my own family and my WestJet family, we wish you a merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful 2019. Ed Sims is the CEO of WestJet.
If you can, please consider donating to the Herald Christmas Fund which supports 12 worthwhile service agencies in Calgary. To donate, call 403-235-7481 or go to calgaryherald.com/christmasfund, where you’ll also find more stories about the fund.