Kélie-Ann and sisters Geneviève and Maély were the lucky recipients of a special surprise on November 7, thanks to Dreams Take Flight. Their destination? Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for their first trip ever!

Dreams Take Flight is a national volunteer charitable organization dedicated to providing the trip of a lifetime to selected children. With the help of Air Canada and other organizations, funds are raised to make dreams come true for young people across the country.

We talked to the three very excited girls just before they took off on their adventure!

Kélie-Ann, 8

The outgoing third-grader has been a Club member for a little over a year.

What does she like most about Breakfast Club of Canada? “I really like the English muffins and eating breakfast with my cousins who go to the Club too!” She also likes the volunteers, who she says are very nice. “My favourite is Linda. Every time it’s someone’s birthday, she decorates the room!”

How did she find out she had been picked for Dreams Take Flight? Her mother told her she was bringing her to do something special. They ended up at the Air Canada offices where Kélie-Ann learned about the trip. On the way there, her mother asked her what her biggest dreams were. Without suspecting what was going on, Kélie-Ann answered, “I’d love to get on a plane and go to Disneyland!”

What was her reaction when she got back? She said that if she ever had kids herself, she would like them to have the same experience.

Geneviève, 11 

She’s in Grade 5. She’s quiet and mature for her age. She has a great relationship with Sylvie, her favourite volunteer. “I like to go see Sylvie. We tell each other jokes before school starts.”

When she found out she was headed to one of the most magical places on earth, she was surprised and overjoyed! She said she was looking forward to meeting her favourite princess, Moana, and telling her family and friends about her adventure when she returned. “I’m going to bring back all sorts of souvenirs and pictures, and I’ll tell my class and my teacher all about it!”

Maély, 7

Maély is a fair-haired second grader with a beautiful smile. Her favourite breakfast? “I like bread, bagels, toast and English muffins.” If it comes from a bakery, she likes it!

When we met her, she told us she was looking forward to her trip because she knew the experience would be unforgettable. She said she would miss her parents and would give them lots of hugs before she went. She was eager to watch airplanes taking off from the ground and to see clouds outside the window once she was in the air. Why was she picked? “My mother told me I’m very generous and my teacher Marilyn says I’m a hard worker.”

The big day

Early in the morning, all three girls left for the Air Canada hangar for an unforgettable 24-hour adventure. They shared a couple of selfies with us before they left. Each picture is indeed worth a thousand words!

   

Thank you to Dreams Take Flight and the Air Canada Foundation for giving children the chance to take a trip they will remember for the rest of their lives!

On June 3, Maya, Carl and Michaël were given a very special assignment: attend our signature event and report back on the experience. Here, in their own words, are their impressions of what they saw.

MAYA, YOUNG REPORTER

Hello!

My name is Maya. Two of my friends and I were picked to be the young reporters at Breakfast Club of Canada’s 23rd Rendez-vous annuel de la Classique at Le Mirage golf club owned by Céline Dion.

When we got there, we had to hurry up to go listen to a guest speaker. There were 43 people in the room. Pierre Riel, the Chair of the Board of Directors of Breakfast Club of Canada, explained that his involvement started with the muffins from Costco. Daniel Germain knocked on his door and asked him: “I’d like some of your muffins to feed our kids at breakfast.”

After the talk, we ate a great brunch. There was lots of fruit and desserts. Then we stayed inside to ask the guests some questions. My question was “Why are you helping Breakfast Club of Canada?”

Answer from Benoît Gagnon (TV and radio host): When he was younger, he didn’t know that a friend of his never got the chance to eat breakfast in the morning. When he found out about Breakfast Club of Canada, he immediately fell for the idea.

Answer from Roch Voisine (singer): He has two children, aged 13 and 15. He thinks it’s important for all children to start their day on the right foot. He likes playing in golf tournaments and if he can help feed kids while he’s at it, that’s even better.

Maya, Grade 4

AN UNFORGETTABLE HALF-DAY

One beautiful Monday morning, I woke up knowing I had an unforgettable day ahead of me at Club de golf Le Mirage.

Josée, our coordinator, took us to the Club and gave us a very specific set of instructions. When we arrived, there was a press conference. Then we were invited to enjoy a delicious buffet-style brunch.

After that, we started to interview people. It went very well and it was a lot of fun. We got to play with Youppi, the Canadiens’ mascot, and had a very long photo session. Then the celebrities who were there went to play golf.

In the end, it was definitely an unforgettable half-day!

Carl, Grade 5

AN AMAZING ADVENTURE

I’m going to tell you what happened to me when I went to Céline Dion’s golf club!

To start, I went to a press conference, where I learned that there are 3,400 volunteers in Quebec working for Breakfast Club of Canada.

The Club was started in 1994 by Daniel Germain when he found out that there were children going to school without breakfast. He thought, “I’ll start something to feed children… for the ones who don’t get breakfast.”

So it’s because of him that Breakfast Club of Canada exists. If a school doesn’t have the right supplies, he gets it for them, and the food too. There are 1,000 schools in Quebec and 800 that could have a breakfast program.

Michaël, Grade 6

 

Is there anything more endearing than a sparkle of wonder in a child’s eyes?

Have you ever heard of Dreams Take Flight?

It’s a charity that current and former Air Canada employees created in collaboration with the Air Canada Foundation to give children from underprivileged communities the chance to experience a day of pure magic.

Every year, young recipients are selected from a number of organizations, including Breakfast Club of Canada, to take part in a very special 24-hour trip to Walt Disney.

This year, the big day came on November 6. On board the southbound plane were one student from Adrien-Gamache School and three from Curé-Paquin School.

Their trip was many things: jam-packed, fun-filled, awe-inspiring and, most of all, chock-full of magical moments.

Jean Pelletier, assistant principal of Adrien-Gamache School, asked Magalie Dalcourt, the student who was chosen for this year’s trip, for her impressions. She had nothing but glowing remarks. In fact, she described the entire day without pausing for a breath!

“There were Disney characters at the airport. And you know what? They had great big fairy-tale doors. And the clown in the airplane was so funny! My ears hurt a little, but I flew right above the clouds. What I liked the most was the rollercoaster in the dark. It was amazing. There was magic everywhere – everywhere! Then I met Tinkerbell and she watched the fireworks with us. After, we took a boat to go back to our plane and I even almost lost my glasses! Good thing I didn’t! And it was such a nice warm day – not like it is here right now!”

It’s easy to imagine Magalie’s eyes glisten with joy and excitement as she recounted her adventure – and feeling that may stay with her forever. The day was a hit in so many ways.

But how did Magalie get picked for the trip? Simple! She was nominated by Mr. Pelletier and Club volunteer Linda Gauthier. Linda sees Magalie every morning at the school breakfast program. Linda had witnessed first-hand how much of a go-getter Magalie is and how quick she is to lend a helping hand, always treating others with respect. Congratulations, Magalie! That’s something to be very proud of!

Her travel companions were three students from Curé-Paquin School, some of whom come from a bit of a rocky background. The trip was a unique experience that got them out of their comfort zone and boosted their self-esteem: remember they were travelling by themselves, without their parents, and taking the plane for the very first time. They were practically bursting with pride!

Josée Brunelle, the principal at Curé-Paquin, was effusive in her praise for the initiative: “When we let parents know their child has been chosen for such an incredible experience, they are overcome with emotion. They are often moved to tears – of joy, naturally. And their gratitude is palpable – as is their children’s!”

When all is said and done, this is much more than a simple trip to Disney. It’s a voyage of discovery, designed to show students how fantastic life can be and to let them know that their efforts do not go unnoticed.

The breakfast program at Curé-Paquin School is greatly appreciated by parents, too. The volunteers who work there are extraordinary. They are students from high school and CEGEP and adults who come help out before their work day begins. They generously give more than just their time: they are a source of comfort, security and friendship.

Together, these volunteers are pointing the way to a better world. They are showing their young charges how beautiful life can be.

After their day of enchantment, the kids return home, still with a dreamy look on their face and their hearts overflowing with delight.

Thank you to Dreams Take Flight and our partners at Air Canada Foundation, as well as other sponsors who make this uplifting initiative possible – and put that special sparkle in so many eyes!