WestJet and Make-A-Wish® team up to share happiness

Charity partner recipients surprise volunteer wish granter and longtime
WestJetter for #InternationalDayOfHappiness video

CALGARY, March 20, 2019 /CNW/ - In celebration of International Day of Happiness, WestJet and WestJet Cares for Kids charity partner, Make-A-Wish^® Canada, share a new video that is bound to bring a smile. Watch WestJet Connections: Share happiness here.

A very special group of Make-A-Wish^® alumni came together alongside WestJet and one of its longtime charity partners, to surprise WestJetter and volunteer wish granter, Karl, to say thanks for the happiness he's brought to Make-A-Wish recipients. Since 2016, Karl has volunteered with Make-A-Wish and has helped grant five wishes, spreading joy and making life-long connections along the way.

"In honour of International Day of Happiness we're thrilled to be able to celebrate the joy that Karl and the countless WestJetters and volunteers like Karl bring to the lives of Make-A-Wish recipients," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet's Vice-President Marketing Communications. "Through the caring culture of all WestJetters, we're delighted to be able to share in the hope, strength and joy wishes bring to recipients and their families and we hope that this special reunion encourages Canadians to share happiness with each other today."

"Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness," says Jennifer Klotz-Ritter, President and CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. "Thanks to the incredible support of dedicated volunteers like Karl and generous partners like WestJet, together we are able to create life-changing experiences for children at a time when they're needed most. When a wish is granted, a child replaces fear with confidence, sadness with joy and anxiety with hope – a powerful combination that may lead to better health outcomes. Such transformative moments are shared by wish families, Make-A-Wish staff, volunteers, and everyone involved."

Since 2007, WestJet and Make-A-Wish Canada have worked together to help thousands of travel wishes take flight. WestJet and WestJetters create a unique guest experience to ensure that the ultimate wish experience is had by all Make-A-Wish children and their families travelling via WestJet.

About Make-A-Wish Canada
Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible child's wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child's treatment journey. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight a critical illness. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Make-A-Wish is the world's leading children's wish-granting organization, serving children in every community in Canada, and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Together, generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 1,100 volunteers across the country grant more than one wish per day, on average. Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted more than 8,000 wishes across the country; 655 last year alone. For more information about Make-A-Wish Canada, visit makeawish.ca.

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airline, WestJet Encore, we offer scheduled service to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas.  Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.

WestJet is proud to be recognized as Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice winner – North America for 2017 and 2018 in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines. The airline was also named the Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.

WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada and Travellers' Choice Winner Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018 Travellers' Choice Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)
2016 Canada's most reputable company for Corporate Social Responsibility (Reputation Institute)
2016/2015/2014/2013/2012 Ranked top three for Canadian Brands (Canadian Business Magazine)
2016/2015/2014/2013 WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (MoneySense magazine)

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SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

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