Community Articles (listed by posting date)
General News · 18th June 2026
Ester
Last year we posted an article regarding Accessible Travel For Medical Appointments and we want to make sure you know about Island Health travel support.
Travel assistance
Do you live in a rural or remote community and need a ride to medical appointment in another community? Reach out. We may be able to help. Visit https://www.islandhealth.ca/travel-support
This service may help if:
You need to travel to a non-emergency medical appointment in another community
Your appointment is with an Island Health facility or affiliate site
You live in a rural or remote community within the Island Health region
You are having difficulty arranging or paying for transportation on your own
You need door-to-door travel support to get to care safely and reliably
How to begin
1. Book by phone or email: 1-844-940-6617
Email: Info.Patient.Transportationislandhealth.ca
2. Share details about yourself and your appointment:
Your full name,contact information and date of birth
Your home community
Appointment date, time and location
Physician name
Any accessibility or mobility needs (wheelchair, walker, support person, etc.)
Our team will help coordinate travel options with you.
Cost and fees
This service is free.
Service area:
North, Central and South island
Visit https://www.islandhealth.ca/travel-support
Hope Air
Hope Air is a Canadian non-profit organization that provides free air travel to individuals in need of medical treatment. Specifically, it helps people who require medical care that is not available in their local area, connecting them to healthcare facilities by covering the cost of flights, typically through donations of frequent flyer miles or flights provided by volunteer pilots. Hope Air's mission is to ensure that financial or geographical barriers do not prevent people from accessing the medical care they need. They serve individuals across Canada, particularly those in remote or rural areas who may face difficulty in reaching specialized healthcare services. This organization works with volunteer pilots, airlines, and partners to arrange flights, ensuring that those who are ill or injured can travel for consultations, treatments, surgeries, and other medical needs. https://hopeair.ca/
Angel Flight (Canada)
Angel Flight is a volunteer-driven charity offering free air transportation for non-emergency medical treatment, primarily for those who cannot afford the travel costs or do not have access to public transportation options. Primarily operates in Western Canada but offers services across the country on a case-by-case basis. https://angelflight.ca
Air Canada Foundation
The Air Canada Foundation provides support for children and families in need, including those who require transportation to medical appointments. While not a direct air travel service like Hope Air, the foundation may arrange for travel or assist with airfare through their charitable programs. They typically help children who need to travel for critical treatments or surgeries, often through a partnership with Hope Air or other charitable organizations. https://www.aircanada.com
The Canadian Cancer Society (Travel Assistance Program)
The Canadian Cancer Society offers travel assistance to cancer patients in some provinces. This can include transportation to and from cancer treatment centers or accommodations during treatment. While this service doesn’t always include flights, it can be a valuable resource for those who need help accessing specialized cancer care. The program provides travel assistance based on need, including gas cards, accommodations, and sometimes transportation for out-of-town treatments. https://www.cancer.ca/
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
While primarily known for providing accommodations for families with sick children, RMHC also supports travel assistance in certain situations, especially for families requiring medical care far from home. Nationwide, with houses in multiple provinces. https://www.rmhc.ca
Seniors Helping Seniors
We offer rides for seniors on and off island with volunteers (reimbursement for mileage is covered). Carina Verhoeve is our SHS coordinator. You can call her Monday-Friday between 10& 5 at 250-935-6793
Klahoose Bus - Free
We offer free trips with the Klahoose Health Bus for every Better at Home client. Bookings must be made by 8:00 AM, the day on which you’d like to ride. It leaves every Tuesday and Thursday. For booking, call/text or email driver, Ian Ross (250)203-8360 or email ianrossklahoose.org Please mention to Ian you are a Better at Home clients when you book your seat.
CR Shuttle
Transportation between Quathiaski Cove and Heriot Bay. Parked at Q cove to meet every ferry coming across from CR. If you want to get picked up in Heriot Bay you will need to call ahead to book because they don't drive back and forth unless they have passengers. Call Ester for more details if you are a BAH client wanting to use this service.
If you are not a Better at Home client yet and want to sign up, please contact Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250.204.2116
Funding for the Better at Home program comes from the Government of BC, through the Ministry of Health, who provides funding to the United Way to manage the Better at Home programs across BC. The Support Our Seniors Society runs the program.
The Support Our Seniors Society accepts donations if you want to support our programs:
Non Taxable Donations:
- Send an etransfer to sos.society.cortesgmail.com
- Send a cheque to the Support Our Seniors Society, PO Box 97, Mansons Landing VoP1Ko (memo: donation)
Tax-deductible Donations:
- Donate to us via the Cortes Foundation
Visit https://cortesfoundation.ca/donate-now and choose Better at Home - Pay it Forward in the drop down menu.
Travel assistance
Do you live in a rural or remote community and need a ride to medical appointment in another community? Reach out. We may be able to help. Visit https://www.islandhealth.ca/travel-support
This service may help if:
You need to travel to a non-emergency medical appointment in another community
Your appointment is with an Island Health facility or affiliate site
You live in a rural or remote community within the Island Health region
You are having difficulty arranging or paying for transportation on your own
You need door-to-door travel support to get to care safely and reliably
How to begin
1. Book by phone or email: 1-844-940-6617
Email: Info.Patient.Transportationislandhealth.ca
2. Share details about yourself and your appointment:
Your full name,contact information and date of birth
Your home community
Appointment date, time and location
Physician name
Any accessibility or mobility needs (wheelchair, walker, support person, etc.)
Our team will help coordinate travel options with you.
Cost and fees
This service is free.
Service area:
North, Central and South island
Visit https://www.islandhealth.ca/travel-support
Hope Air
Hope Air is a Canadian non-profit organization that provides free air travel to individuals in need of medical treatment. Specifically, it helps people who require medical care that is not available in their local area, connecting them to healthcare facilities by covering the cost of flights, typically through donations of frequent flyer miles or flights provided by volunteer pilots. Hope Air's mission is to ensure that financial or geographical barriers do not prevent people from accessing the medical care they need. They serve individuals across Canada, particularly those in remote or rural areas who may face difficulty in reaching specialized healthcare services. This organization works with volunteer pilots, airlines, and partners to arrange flights, ensuring that those who are ill or injured can travel for consultations, treatments, surgeries, and other medical needs. https://hopeair.ca/
Angel Flight (Canada)
Angel Flight is a volunteer-driven charity offering free air transportation for non-emergency medical treatment, primarily for those who cannot afford the travel costs or do not have access to public transportation options. Primarily operates in Western Canada but offers services across the country on a case-by-case basis. https://angelflight.ca
Air Canada Foundation
The Air Canada Foundation provides support for children and families in need, including those who require transportation to medical appointments. While not a direct air travel service like Hope Air, the foundation may arrange for travel or assist with airfare through their charitable programs. They typically help children who need to travel for critical treatments or surgeries, often through a partnership with Hope Air or other charitable organizations. https://www.aircanada.com
The Canadian Cancer Society (Travel Assistance Program)
The Canadian Cancer Society offers travel assistance to cancer patients in some provinces. This can include transportation to and from cancer treatment centers or accommodations during treatment. While this service doesn’t always include flights, it can be a valuable resource for those who need help accessing specialized cancer care. The program provides travel assistance based on need, including gas cards, accommodations, and sometimes transportation for out-of-town treatments. https://www.cancer.ca/
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
While primarily known for providing accommodations for families with sick children, RMHC also supports travel assistance in certain situations, especially for families requiring medical care far from home. Nationwide, with houses in multiple provinces. https://www.rmhc.ca
Seniors Helping Seniors
We offer rides for seniors on and off island with volunteers (reimbursement for mileage is covered). Carina Verhoeve is our SHS coordinator. You can call her Monday-Friday between 10& 5 at 250-935-6793
Klahoose Bus - Free
We offer free trips with the Klahoose Health Bus for every Better at Home client. Bookings must be made by 8:00 AM, the day on which you’d like to ride. It leaves every Tuesday and Thursday. For booking, call/text or email driver, Ian Ross (250)203-8360 or email ianrossklahoose.org Please mention to Ian you are a Better at Home clients when you book your seat.
CR Shuttle
Transportation between Quathiaski Cove and Heriot Bay. Parked at Q cove to meet every ferry coming across from CR. If you want to get picked up in Heriot Bay you will need to call ahead to book because they don't drive back and forth unless they have passengers. Call Ester for more details if you are a BAH client wanting to use this service.
If you are not a Better at Home client yet and want to sign up, please contact Ester at betterathomecortesgmail.com or 250.204.2116
Funding for the Better at Home program comes from the Government of BC, through the Ministry of Health, who provides funding to the United Way to manage the Better at Home programs across BC. The Support Our Seniors Society runs the program.
The Support Our Seniors Society accepts donations if you want to support our programs:
Non Taxable Donations:
- Send an etransfer to sos.society.cortesgmail.com
- Send a cheque to the Support Our Seniors Society, PO Box 97, Mansons Landing VoP1Ko (memo: donation)
Tax-deductible Donations:
- Donate to us via the Cortes Foundation
Visit https://cortesfoundation.ca/donate-now and choose Better at Home - Pay it Forward in the drop down menu.
