Hundreds of Quebec children embark on magical one-day trip to Disney World

Hundreds of Quebecers were up bright and early Tuesday morning as they arrived at Air Canada’s hangar to catch their plane for the ultimate destination to Disney World, Florida.

All thanks to the Dreams Take Flight nonprofit organization, the magical adventure uplifts children with serious illness or social adversities. Today, 160 kids are taking this trip of a lifetime.

Since 1989, the organization has created unforgettable memories like these for more than 35,000 children.

“It’s always just me and her,” said Konwatharani Jacobs, as she accompanies her daughter, Iakotarakehte Dailleboust, to Disney World this time around. “So, being able to bring her somewhere that I wouldn’t be able to do is going to be amazing,” she added.

“To see the parade,” boasted the 7-year-old, as she recalled her favourite memory of the iconic Festival of Fantasy Parade during her first trip to Disney World years ago.

Spanning across Canada, this adventure also takes place in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, and Halifax. But this year, the city of Montreal celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Some of the volunteers like Brian Roscoe – President of the Montreal Chapter for the Dreams Take Flight non-profit organization – have been part of the project since its inception in Montreal in 1994.

“We can’t save the world, but if you can put a smile on a kid’s face for a day, it’s a start,” said an emotional Roscoe. “That just makes my day when I see these smiling faces,” he said.

The all expense paid daytrip to the “happiest place on earth” is made possible through funds raised and partnering with the Air Canada foundation, as well as the crew and pilot staff who ensure to have the day off in preparation for the trip.

“I’ve been working for Air Canada, for 28 years and I’ve been involved in the foundation for 20,” said Air Canada Captain Frederick Belanger. “This is my best flight of the year, every year.”

A lot of effort goes into planning these trips and each year volunteers like Roscoe begin preparations ahead of time.

“It takes a year to plan this flight,” said Roscoe. “When we come back tonight, we will have a meeting next week to decompress from this flight, and then we’ll start planning next year’s flight right away.”

As for this year’s adventure and for those in attendance, their dreams took flight.

“I hope she remembers this when we get older,” Jacobs said while holding her daughter mere moments before embarking on the plane.