Children with serious illnesses, along with their families, got a once-in-a-lifetime experience Wednesday.
The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada teamed up with Air Transat to take them on a unique flight to the “North Pole” to see Santa Claus.
Planes took off in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, marking the 12th edition of the event.
About 250 passengers were greeted at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Montreal.
The children were welcomed by several holiday activities before being given a special boarding pass for a direct flight to the North Pole.
During the 90-minute flight, Santa Claus himself made a surprise appearance, distributing special gifts to the sick children.
Air Transat took the opportunity to announce it donated $98,975 to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
The money was raised throughout the year through various fundraising campaigns, bringing Air Transat’s total contribution to over $5 million since the start of its partnership with the foundation.
WATCH: A very special flight lifted off from YVR Wednesday. Close to 200 children flew from Vancouver to the North Pole in search of Saint Nick. But as Nadia Stewart reports, they got more than they wished for.