Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/976794
YES! WINNIPEG 17 AIR CANADA CELEBRATES its 80th birthday in 2017. The company is proud that Winnipeg has featured prominently in its history since its beginning. Air Canada's first president, Samuel Hungerford, built his career in Winnipeg and is honoured as a "Memorable Manitoban" by the province's historical society. Within a few months of Air Canada's very first commercial flight in 1937, the company started a regular Winnipeg-to-Vancouver cargo service, marking this city among the Day 1 destinations within the airline's network, which today extends to more than 200 locations on six continents. Air Canada's Winnipeg network currently includes some 200 weekly flights to nine Canadian cities. Multiple daily flights to its global hubs in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver enable people to be one convenient flight to Winnipeg from almost anywhere in the world. This easy access supports the province's tourism industry, natural-resource initiatives and business community. Air Canada ranks among the largest local private-sector employers, with about 700 employees living and based in Manitoba today, including vice-president and controller Chris Isford, who oversees the company's accounting and finance teams. Other highly skilled, well-paying Air Canada jobs based in Winnipeg include those in airline and airport operations and in high-tech. Counting salaries, wages, benefits and operational expenses, Air Canada spends about $115 million per year locally. This makes the company a major economic contributor, especially when spinoff economic benefits are incorporated. Air Canada is also among the proud sponsors of the Winnipeg Jets and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. And on the charity side, through the Air Canada Foundation and other initiatives, the company supported 13 local groups last year with cash or in-kind contributions ranging from the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba to the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. One charity especially close to employees' hearts is Dreams Take Flight, a national organization that flies ill and disadvantaged children to Disney for a day using aircraft and crew supplied by Air Canada. The Winnipeg chapter started in 1997, and its national president is actually based in the city. Air Canada is honoured to support Dreams Take Flight, having flown thousands of children from across the province on this magical journey. Ever since its inaugural flight 80 years ago, the company has been a strong partner in the growth and development of cities across Canada, which is linked with convenient air service to an increasingly globalized world. Air Canada is committed to ensuring Winnipeg remains an important part of its overall global network. AIR CANADA Air Canada's Links to Winnipeg