Walking the walk: TravelBrands & redtag.ca step up for SickKids

Blue skies, sunshine and a good cause put some extra spring in every step Tuesday (Aug. 25) as the H.I.S. Canada team hit the pavement for its annual SickKids Walk Fundraiser.

PAX was on location as employees from H.I.S., inclusive of TravelBrands and redtag.ca, gathered at the company’s Etobicoke-area offices for a group photo before setting off on a roughly five-kilometre walk through the greater Toronto neighbourhood.

The favourable summertime conditions were ideal as the team walked, chatted and rallied around a cause that has become deeply rooted in the company’s culture.

“We're extremely thrilled to bring back the walk for SickKids. It's our 11th year's anniversary,” Sam Youssef, executive vice president, marketing & partnerships at H.I.S. Canada, told PAX. “We have a great team and see great support from everyone.”

And the fundraising spirit stretched beyond Ontario. A similar walk led by H.I.S. took place in Montreal, led by Nathalie Tanious, president and CEO of H.I.S. Canada Travel, that same day.

“Giving back has always been an important part of who we are, and this walk is an opportunity to bring our travel community together around a cause that means so much to us,” Tanious said previously. “Every person who walks alongside us helps strengthen our collective support for the extraordinary work SickKids does for children and families every day.”

More than $3 million raised

The walk is part of a much bigger commitment to SickKids that has grown steadily over the years.

TravelBrands and parent company H.I.S. Canada Travel Inc. have now raised more than $3 million for SickKids through various fundraising initiatives.

The SickKids Foundation supports The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto by helping finance pediatric care, scientific research and capital improvements.

Every dollar raised this year will directly support the Labatt Family Heart Centre (LFHC) at SickKids.

The team hopes to raise $10,000 through this year's walk, but the finish line is still ahead: the fundraising link from Tuesday's events will remain active until TravelBrands' annual SickKids golf tournament on Sept. 9 at Eagles Nest Golf Course in Maple, ON (meaning supporters can continue donating).

The golf tournament represents another major piece of H.I.S. Canada's fundraising efforts. The company has set a goal of raising $500,000 for SickKids this year, with even greater ambitions of ultimately writing a cheque for $1 million.

Helping that mission go further in 2026 is a corporate matching gift secured by the company. Every dollar raised or donated will be matched, effectively doubling contributions and helping more children receive life-changing care.

Fundraising isn't limited to walks and golf clubs, either. For one day, at the end of July, H.I.S. Canada contributes one per cent of all wholesale and retail sales to SickKids, adding another layer to the company's year-round support.

“We all come together”

For Youssef, the longevity of the initiative speaks to the generosity of Canada's travel industry – from employees and suppliers to partners and even people with no direct connection to the company.

“We couldn’t have done it without the support of our travel partners, vendors and suppliers. We all come together,” Youssef said.

“It's incredible how everyone is willing to contribute and do everything they can to raise funds. Even strangers. People we don't necessarily know are contributing to the cause. It’s amazing to see.”

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