​Bervie Women’s Institute learns about “Hope Air”

The Bervie Women’s Institute met at the Bervie United Church, Wednesday morning, with the theme being “Outreach.” After the usual openings, president Bev Berndt read two poems, “Mother’s Day” and “Her Hands.”

Convener Islay Eby introduced Burt Hodgins who spoke to us about his involvement with “Hope Air” which is an emergency assistance program for those needing to get to medical appointments by air. The program started in 1986 as “Mission Air” and the name changed to “Hope Air” in 1999.

By 1993, the program had completed 10,000 flights with mainly cancer patients. It is used a lot in British Columbia (B.C.), flying patients from the north down to southern B.C. hospitals and since 2010, the B.C. government has supported it there.

WestJet, Porter and Air Canada donate seats and some are paid for by Hope Air. Personal pilots (such as Burt) provide flights too, which is what Burt does. He donates his own plane and receives money for half of his gas from Hope Air – he donates the rest and his time. His flights have been from northern Ontario to London. In 2023, Hope Air had arranged 25,000 trips for people needing vital care at no cost.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic Burt and his wife, Maria, and some other couples have been organizing fund-raisers, such as barbecues, silent and live auctions, airplane tours, etc., at the Hanover and Goderich airports to raise funds locally for Hope Air. The next one is at the Goderich Airport, June 8.

Islay thanked Burt and presented him with a donation to Hope Air.

The Roll Call, “What do you know about Hope Air,” was answered by 13 members. There were also a few guests present to hear Burt. 

Betty Jean then read the minutes of the last meeting and Islay gave the treasurer’s report, followed by Sandra MacDonald with the Sunshine report. Ellen Waye reported from the Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) regarding its newsletter and ongoing digitizing of the Tweedmuir books. She also noted that the Bruce District Annual is in Chesley, May 23 – several from Bervie will attend.  

The Bervie W.I. Plant and Bake Sale will be at the Bervie Church, Saturday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to Noon.

The meeting closed with the closing ode and “The King.”

The next meeting is June 12 at 1 p.m., combined with the Bervie United Church Women (UCW) ladies with a speaker from Home and Community Support Services.