Welcome to Local Helicopter Emergency Response Organization (HERO) Foundation’s Moments of Impact video series sharing the stories, voices, and moments that make every mission matter.
Since 2013, the Local HERO Foundation has completed over 700 medevac missions across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, providing rapid access to emergency care when every second counts.
In this series, you’ll hear from patients, frontline responders, physicians, supporters, and community leaders, sharing how HERO1 continues to save lives in our vast, remote, and beautiful region.
We invite you to follow along, share these moments, and help us spread the word. When you feel inspired, and I am sure you will be, make a donation – because it is only together we can continue to save lives by saving time.
Come along for the ride, and let’s keep HERO IN FLIGHT!
Episode 1 – The Launch
Episode 2 – Naomi’s Story
In Episode 2 of HERO IN FLIGHT, presented by Suncor, Moments of Impact video series we share the powerful story of Naomi MacDonald-White, a patient whose life changed in an instant.
When Naomi was critically injured in a remote area, HERO1 became the lifeline that made sure she could get the emergency care she needed. Her story is a reminder that a moment can change everything, and of why access to medevac services matters in our vast and beautiful region, from rural communities to remote worksites to recreational activity to long stretches of highway.
Every mission tells a story. Every dollar makes a difference. Let’s keep HERO IN FLIGHT!
Watch and share Naomi’s story and see the impact of donor support.
In 2024 every 67 hours, HERO1 was dispatched to respond to an emergency.
In this episode of Moments of Impact, we hear from Marty Giles of Northstar Ford Lincoln, a long-time Fort McMurray resident, business owner, and passionate supporter of the Local HERO Foundation.
Marty and Dennine Giles moved to Fort McMurray in 1995 and have built more than a business, they’ve built a legacy of giving back. Their commitment to safety and community is why they support HERO1 and why they believe this region deserves access to lifesaving care, no matter where you live, work, or play.
Learn why the Giles family stands behind HERO, and what every 67 hours really means to them.
In Episode 4 of Moments of Impact, we go back to the beginning, to a pivotal moment when the need for a dedicated medevac service in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo became undeniable.
Dr. Brian Dufresne, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, saw the impact of delayed access to care firsthand. Too many patients weren’t making it to the hospital in time. He reached out to Paul Spring, the owner of Phoenix Heli-Flight who had been doing ad-hoc helicopter emergency calls for over 20 years in our region, with a simple but urgent question: Could we do better?
This conversation became the spark that ignited the creation of the Local HERO Foundation and the dedicated 27/7/365 helicopter emergency medical service – and changed the future of emergency care in our region. Immediate impact was seen.
When access is limited, HERO1 extends the reach of care.
In Episode 5 of Moments of Impact, Ray Rupertus, General Manager of Rivers Casino & Entertainment Center, shares why HERO1 is essential to ensuring paramedics can reach the most remote and hard-to-access areas in our region.
Speaking from the heart, Ray reflects on her passion for this region, her care for her team, and the importance of HERO as a critical link in our emergency response system.
By supporting HERO, Rivers Casino is helping ensure that lifesaving care isn’t limited by geography — because every life, and every minute, matters.
Watch Ray’s powerful message of community and commitment.
At ATB, supporting community isn’t just a priority — it’s a promise.
In Episode 6 of Moments of Impact, Chris Reitz, Relationship Manager with ATB Financial, shares why ATB proudly supports the Local HERO Foundation as part of its ongoing commitment to building sustainable communities across Alberta.
Chris was born and raised in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and knows firsthand the vital role HERO1 plays in ensuring emergency medical access across rural and remote areas.
Keeping HERO1 flying is about more than funding a service, it’s about investing in people, safety, and the future of our region.
Watch now to hear how ATB is helping make a lasting impact.
In Episode 7 of Moments of Impact, Renee Edwards, General Manager of Tridon Communications Fort McMurray, highlights the essential role communication plays in emergency response, especially in rural and hard-to-reach parts of our region.
For 40 years Tridon has been supporting the community. Tridon’s connection to the Local HERO Foundation is rooted in shared purpose: ensuring access, safety, and timely response when it matters most.
From supporting frontline responders to enabling faster coordination, communication systems are a critical piece of the lifesaving work HERO1 provides across northern Alberta.
Thank you Tridon!
Hear why Tridon proudly supports HERO, and why communication is at the heart of every mission.
In northern Alberta, connection is everything — and sometimes, air is the only way.
In Episode 8 of Moments of Impact, McMurray Aviation speaks to the importance of keeping communities connected – whether through passenger flights, freight services, or supporting emergency operations like HERO1.
Working in the North means knowing how time, distance, and access can change everything. It’s why McMurray Aviation supports the Local HERO Foundation and understands firsthand the critical role air service plays. Time does save lives.
Hear their story and why flight continues to be a vital lifeline in our region.
Suncor has been a proud supporter of the Local HERO Foundation since 2014 — and their commitment goes far beyond funding.
In Episode 9 of Moments of Impact, we hear from Suncor’s Senior Vice President of Operations, Andrew Rosser, on Suncor’s commitment to our region, and why Local HERO Foundation is a part of that.
Their unwavering support helps keep HERO1 in the air, ensuring that emergency medical care reaches those in need, no matter where they are in our vast region.
This is what corporate leadership looks like.
Watch now to learn why Suncor believes HERO1 is more than a helicopter – it’s a lifeline.
Missed an episode? Catch the full Moments of Impact video series
Living in the north means living large, but it also means planning for when things don’t go as planned.
In Episode 10 of Moments of Impact, we hear from MNP, one of Canada’s leading accounting firms with a strong local presence in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.
With team members who live and work right here in Fort McMurray, MNP understands how important it is to have reliable emergency services like HERO1 — especially for those enjoying outdoor activities in remote areas, working off the beaten path, or simply needing timely care.
Supporting Local HERO is about more than business; it’s about protecting the people who make this community what it is.
Hear why MNP stands behind HERO1 and the lifesaving impact of medevac access.
Giving back isn’t just something Summit GM does — it’s something they believe in.
In Episode 11 of Moments of Impact, we hear from Summit GM, a proud supporter of the Local HERO Foundation.
With deep ties to Fort McMurray and a parent company grounded in community values, Summit sees their role as more than business, it’s about supporting the people who live and work here.
They’ve seen the impact of HERO1 firsthand, and they know what it means for families to have the reassurance that lifesaving care is never out of reach.
Hear why Summit GM is honoured to stand beside HERO.
In the north, many of us live close to the land — and sometimes, the land pushes back.
In Episode 12 of Moments of Impact, Joe, a hunter, trapper, and fisherman, shares his powerful story of being rescued by HERO1 after getting into trouble trying to return from his cabin on his trapline.
When every direction is wilderness and every second counts, HERO1 becomes more than a helicopter, it becomes hope.
In a region where people are out on the land for cultural practices, recreation, and industry, HERO1 provides critical emergency access where ground help simply can’t reach, or can’t reach quick enough.
MOMENTS OF IMPACT | Episode 13: Birch Mountain Enterprises
In the North, we don’t always have everything — but we have each other.
In Episode 13 of Moments of Impact, we hear from John at Birch Mountain Enterprises (BME), a company that has grown with the region and continues to give back to it.
Over the last 7 years, BME’s fleet has nearly tripled, a reflection of their responsiveness to community needs. And just like HERO1, that growth is about one thing: being there when it counts.
Living and working in the North means facing real gaps in acces. HERO1 helps fill that void.
Watch now to hear why this proudly philanthropic company believes Local HERO isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.. Catch up on the full Moments of Impact video series. https://localherofoundation.com/hero-in-flight/
When you’ve lived and worked in the North for 40 years, you don’t just know the region — you feel it.
In Episode 14 of Moments of Impact, we hear from Debbie and Dan, owners of SpeedPro Signs and long-time residents of Fort McMurray. As business owners, they’re often among the first to welcome new businesses to the community, and they care deeply about the people behind them.
That’s why they support the Local HERO Foundation. After four decades of living in the North, Debbie and Dan understand firsthand the critical need for HERO1, and they give back because they know what’s at stake.
Watch now to hear why their commitment runs deeper than business.
In Episode 15 of Moments of Impact, we hear from Nathan at APE Maintenance. For many years, APE’s impact has been felt across the region, thanks to the generous and ongoing support of its leadership and team.
For Nathan, the connection to HERO is both personal and professional. He encourages others to be proactive: invest in the organization, and hope you never need it.
APE Maintenance knows the realities of living and working in the North, and they’re proud to support the service that helps keep this region safe.
Watch now to hear why HERO1 matters to APE and the region it serves.
Supporting communities isn’t new for Canadian Tire — it’s part of who they are.
In Episode 16 of Moments of Impact, Nikki, General Manager of Canadian Tire Fort McMurray, shares why investing in the Local HERO Foundation is about more than charity, it’s about saving lives.
From natural disasters to local causes, Canadian Tire’s commitment has always focused on the safety and well-being of their staff, customers, and community.
Watch now to hear how one of Canada’s most recognized brands is making an impact right here at home.
When you operate in challenging environments, risk is real — and so is the need for a reliable safety net.
In Episode 17 of Moments of Impact, Finning shares why supporting the Local HERO Foundation aligns with their highest priority: safety.
Finning is a highly dynamic organization with people working in remote and demanding locations across our region. Knowing HERO1 is ready when needed brings peace of mind to their team, their families, and the communities they serve.
Supporting HERO means protecting the people behind the work, and ensuring that lifesaving care is never out of reach.
Hear how Finning stands with HERO and the community.