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WestJetters come together to build five more homes for families in Dominican Republic

Since 2012, more than 450 WestJetters have built 48 homes through WestJet Live Different Builds

CALGARY, Nov. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, 48 WestJetters are back in Canada after returning from the Dominican Republic for WestJet's ninth humanitarian trip with WestJet Live Different Builds. The team spent 11 days building five homes for families in the local community of La Union in Puerto Plata.

More than 450 WestJetters have volunteered their time to WestJet Live Different Builds over the past eight years. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

"It is inspiring to see the transformation of the communities that more than 450 WestJetters have volunteered their time and given their hearts to over the past eight years," said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President Marketing Communications. "As a brand and airline with caring at its core, we are grateful there are hundreds of WestJetters who have significantly changed the lives of these deserving families in the Dominican Republic. We are thankful to work alongside Live Different to continue making these important trips happen."

This year, in addition to constructing the homes, WestJetters immersed themselves within the local community and raised more than $18,000 to refurbish a community playground and renovate two additional homes that were in disrepair.

"We are extremely proud to work with WestJetters who all exemplify our shared values," said Alison Willis, Live Different Director of International Programs. "The annual WestJet Live Different Build is only possible because of the commitment of the entire WestJet community. On behalf of all of us at Live Different, and from our friends and partners in the Dominican Republic, a huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year's work possible."

Since 2012, WestJet has partnered with Canadian-based charity Live Different  to make international community investment possible in one of the airline's most popular Caribbean destinations.

The Live Different Builds team is WestJet's on-the-ground charitable partner in the Puerto Plata area. The team works with the local community to ensure the build addresses the neighbourhood's needs and is done in a healthy and sustainable manner. Live Different Builds also oversees the project management, hires local contractors and translators to work alongside the WestJet volunteers and provides on-site instruction and support. WestJet Live Different Builds would not exist without Live Different's careful guidance and years of experience doing this type of work.

To find out more about WestJet Live Different Builds, click here. For information on Live Different visit their website here.

About WestJet
Together with WestJet's regional airlines, WestJet Encore and WestJet Link, we offer scheduled service to more than 110 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe and to more than 250 destinations in over 20 countries through our airline partnerships. WestJet Vacations offers affordable, flexible vacations to more than 60 destinations and the choice of more than 800 hotels, resorts, condos and villas.  Members of the WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of flights and vacations packages to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods, and have access to Member Exclusive fares offering deals to WestJet destinations throughout our network and those of our partner airlines.

WestJet is proud to be recognized for three consecutive years as Best Airline in Canada (2017-19) and awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (2019). From 2017-2018, WestJet was also awarded among travellers' favourite Mid-Sized and Low-Cost Airlines in North America. The airline was also recognized among the Economy Class winners in North America, 2018. All awards are based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site. We are one of very few airlines globally that does not commercially overbook.

WestJet is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol WJA. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:
 2019/2018/2017 Best Airline in Canada (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
 2019 Winner Among Mid-Sized Airlines in North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
2019 Number-One Ranked Canadian Airline Loyalty Program in Member Engagement (Bond Brand Loyalty)
2019/2018 Number-One-Ranked Airline Credit Card in Canada (Rewards Canada)
2018/2017 Winner Among Mid-Sized and Low Cost Airlines – North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
 2018 Winner – Economy, North America (TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Airlines)
 2018 North America's Best Low-Cost Airline (Skytrax)
 2018/2017/2016 Canada's Most Trusted Airline (Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria)

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The WestJet Live Different Builds team spent 11 days building five homes for families in the local community of La Union in Puerto Plata. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

Since 2012, WestJetters have built 48 homes through WestJet Live Different Builds. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

This year, 48 WestJetters immersed themselves within the local community and raised more than $18,000 to refurbish a community playground and renovate two additional homes that were in disrepair. (CNW Group/WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership)

SOURCE WESTJET, an Alberta Partnership

For further information: Media contacts: To contact WestJet media relations, please email media@westjet.com.