High Flying Hopes

A round-the-world flight fundraiser

By Rebecca Dumais

As the 27-year-old pilot and Oakville resident Callum Wallace will tell you, nobody does a round-the-world flight in a single-engine aircraft just for a joyride. To undertake the journey is done out of purpose. Wallace took a meaningful cause under his wing and, at the controls of his V35B Beechcraft Bonanza, embarked on a worldwide journey to raise money for Home Suite Hope (HSH), a Halton-based charity that helps mothers with children overcome homelessness. Selected families are taken through a four-year program that provides housing and college tuition for the mother to help the family become strong and independent.

When Wallace got to know his aircraft hangar neighbour where he rented space for his plane, the British man told Wallace about a round-the-world journey he’d done with his partner in 2014. “Hearing about the mission and stories, set the idea in my mind at this time,” he says. No one does this trip ‘for fun’ – small airplanes like this are NOT made to go these distances and through a lot of the countries I had to navigate. I knew it would be a challenge but one that I was up for!”

His solo journey began on May 23, 2023, flying east from Canada with stops in about 26 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and island-hopping along Pacific Island nations. He even received donations midair. “Even when I’d been over the ocean and I made a radio call – the pilots flying the airline heard me and questioned why and how I am where I am, Googled me, and made donations!”

The fundraiser campaign began on June 25 at the Burlington Executive Airpark Airport, the starting and finishing points of his three-month round-the-world journey.

Wallace approached HSH on his own. An undertaking like this has the legs to generate meaningful contributions to a deserving charity. “Home Suite Hope was the first organization that came to mind as I know first-hand the work they do through previous support and colleagues of mine also supporting them,” he says, adding that they were thrilled to know they were selected as the recipient of Wallace’s fundraiser. “I think at the beginning no one believed I would do it. It’s one thing to have an idea but to execute it is the real challenge. It’s a logistical challenge more than anything and very tough to plan, especially if there are areas of the world in conflict/wars.”

The foundation is an important cause for Wallace because as a Realtor, affordable housing is a hot topic he encounters often in the industry. Also key, was knowing that the funds he’s worked hard to raise go somewhere he knows are allocated appropriately and have a meaningful impact. “Part of the issue HSH is having right now is housing affordability for their families in the program,” he says. Throughout his journey and the places he’s landed, Wallace says it’s been made clear that homelessness is a global issue, not just in Canada.

Wallace had hopes of his own as a child; he’s loved aviation since he was young but thought his colour blindness was a barrier to becoming a pilot. “I later, through a pilot I was working on a real estate transaction with, found out this is not true and was able to pursue the passion. The feeling of flight for me was something special. I can’t think of anything else that I could put on par with the feeling of flying.” In 2020 he earned his Private Pilot certificate with Spectrum Airways in Burlington Ontario, followed soon after with successful completion of the instrument rating.

Even though it might seem that Wallace would be battling jet lag along the way, he says it’s not that bad. “My plane isn’t like an airliner going massive distances at once, changing time zones. Often a five- to eight-hour flight results in one hour of time change. Only two flights on this trip did I have a two-plus-hour time change on the day/flight leg: Sri Lanka to Malaysia – two and a half hours change and Hawaii to California – was three hours (difference). For reference, this leg was 15 hours of flight time – also the longest leg of all.”

How did he keep himself focused? “Coffee… lots of Coffee!” 

Besides finding the need for an overabundance of caffeine, Wallace says he’s found a new appreciation for living and the opportunities available in Canada and North America overall.

The Gala event, held on November 10 at the Pearle Hotel in Downtown Burlington culminates the campaign, and Wallace will share some of the craziest stories from his trip. Money raised will act as seed funding for HSH to build its own multi-unit dwelling. 

First things first when Wallace returned home, besides returning to his day job selling homes:  to take comfort in his community. “I’ve been away for more than two months now, in hotels and it was NOT glamorous,” he admits. “I look forward to seeing all my friends and family, and my puppy, and sleeping in my bed!”

The list of courageous and capable volunteers willing to set out and achieve a large goal like this is probably a short one. The feat of flying solo across the globe in a single-engine aircraft has only been done by about 140, Wallace says – three of whom were Canadians. 

Wallace faced some very hard moments not only with flying the plane but also mentally. “I had a terrible experience in Pakistan and India. If I had a button I could push to abort the mission and teleport myself and my plane back home, I very likely would have pushed it,” he says. “I remember thinking this in the hotel room. I hadn’t eaten in 24 hours because my stomach was in knots. I told myself that what the families are going through with their children is extremely hard and they have no ‘out/abort’ button. I knew I just needed to continue forward, just like they’re doing, and would be in a better place eventually.” 

For more information, visit: FlightForHope.com / HomeSuiteHope.org