The HALO Air Ambulance service has been running since 2007. (CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

HALO FUNDING

‘A symbol of hope’: HALO Air Ambulance receives $1M cheque from Medicine Hat

Nov 15, 2023 | 11:42 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The city for the first time formally presented HALO Air Ambulance with financial support on Wednesday.

A $1 million cheque handed over to HALO officials at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport comes after council approval in July.

READ MORE: Medicine Hat provides HALO funding for the first time

The funding is split in half with $500,000 for 2023 and the other half set aside for 2024, providing two years of financial support.

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It’s the first time the city has provided the air ambulance with funding despite the service operating out of the regional airport for some 16 years.

The city now joins Bow Island, Cypress County and the Counties of Newell and Forty Mile as well as several other municipalities who financially support helicopter operations.

Mayor Linnsie Clark said HALO contributes to the area’s health.

“It’s moments like these that allow us to reflect on the value and contribution of organizations like HALO and the broader implications they have on health, safety and vitality of our region,” Clark said.

“HALO, since its inception in 2007, has not only flown thousands of missions but also become a symbol of hope.”

Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark hands $1 million cheque to HALO Air Ambulance CEO Paul Carolan. (CHAT News)

HALO chief executive Paul Carolan said the partnership was overdue.

“The City of Medicine Hat is the last piece in making sure that we have this area of the province covered,” Carolan told CHAT News.

“Having the city onboard is truly a milestone and we’re looking forward to the partnership going forward.”

The HALO service only receives 29 per cent of its operating budget from the Alberta Health Services so funding from local businesses and municipalities is crucial to keep the air ambulance flying.

While the helicopter is covered with decals from supporting businesses and organizations, the City of Medicine Hat’s sticker was placed on a part of the rear wing called the vertical stabilizer, along with other major investors critical to HALO’s future.

“In 2020, we didn’t know the program would continue after COVID and so the counties and municipalities really stepped up and so those vertical stabilizers stabilized the program,” Carolan explained.

“The city joined that group when they joined us as a funding partner.”