To Give Or Receive: A WestJet Christmas Miracle

WestJet’s new Christmas Miracle video, To Give or Receive, highlights real acts of giving and receiving, with a twist.

This year, families visiting a market in Toronto were invited into a life-size WestJet blue Santa hat for an experience they would never forget. WestJet left it up to them, with help from a holographic, interactive Blue Santa and his newest co-star, Ebeniza Scrooge, to determine whether to give or receive the presents waiting under the Christmas tree.

Richard Bartrem, WestJet vice-president marketing communications, said: “The conversation around giving and receiving is a powerful one and this year’s video finds inspiration in both sides of the story. The authentic reactions and emotions made possible through these acts make this year’s Christmas Miracle truly heartwarming.”

With presents like a $2,500 WestJet gift card, a beach vacation and more, the choice was up to Canadians to either give the gift to families with sick children staying at a Ronald McDonald House or keep it for themselves. There were no wrong answers and the touching moments are captured in the WestJet Christmas Miracle video here.

WestJet is committed to keeping families close when a child is sick by providing the gift of flight to its WestJet Cares for Kids partner Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. To Give or Receive participants who chose to donate their gift were also invited to join a special celebration at Ronald McDonald House Charities South Central Ontario in Hamilton, Ont.

Cathy Loblaw, CEO, RMHC Canada, said: “For over 10 years, our incredible partners at WestJet have helped us keep families from across Canada close together during a very difficult time in their lives. We are so humbled by the generosity of Canadian families who chose to donate their gifts to Ronald McDonald House families this holiday season, giving them the greatest gift of all: family.”

WestJet created the magical Christmas experience for participants by working alongside partners ARHT Media Inc., leaders in holographic telepresence, who created the projections of Blue Santa and Ebeniza Scrooge.

Said Bartrem: “The incredible hologram technology allowed us to create immersive and personalized experiences in real-time. We wish guests and WestJetters throughout our network a merry Christmas.”

To find out more about WestJet Cares for Kids and its partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, go to https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/about-us/community-investment/cares-for-kids/ronald-mcdonald-house

For more on Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada, visit https://www.rmhccanada.ca/ .