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Two big HALO events on the horizon

Jun 27, 2022 | 2:13 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s a busy time for HALO as the air ambulance service will open its doors to the community, celebrate its 15th anniversary and hosts HALO Day all in a span of 10 days.

This Thursday is HALO in the Hangar at the Super T Aviation Academy hangar. The event is a come-and-go open house where the draw for the Cattle er’ Cars lottery will also take place.

Paul Carolan, CEO of HALO, is excited for the event to return after a few years away.

“We’ll have the helicopter in there, our pilots will be around, they’ll be available to answer questions, most of our board members will be there and mingling throughout just making sure everybody has a chance to ask questions about HALO,” he says.

Cypress County Emergency Services and Alberta Health Services are two close partners of HALO and will have some equipment and members on hand as well.

HALO history will also be shared and posted around the hangar as part of the 15th-anniversary celebration. Major milestones in that time include the purchase of a twin-engine BK 117 model aircraft and the original $1 million restricted grant that helped HALO transition to a twin-engine program.

Carolan adds the evening is also a chance to celebrate this spring’s announcement that HALO would be able to negotiate a sustainable contract with Alberta Health Services.

HALO in the Hangar takes place from 4-8 p.m. with a short program around 6 p.m.

Exactly one week later, July 7, is HALO Day.

People whose lives have been impacted by HALO will share their stories on CHAT 94.5 and MY96 throughout the day. Born out of the pandemic two years ago when typical fundraising events were cancelled, this is the first year it will be in-person. They’ll be set up at Adapt Mobility throughout the day accepting donations and meeting people.

“We’re so happy to be able to be there with the personalties on the radio and be able to have people come by and ask us questions and things like that,” says Carolan. “It is a really cool way for people to get close to the HALO program and hear those patients’ stories and the different impacts we’ve had over the years.”

For more on HALO or the upcoming event, visit the HALO website.