On Monday, January 10, 2022, Innisfail Town Council approved funding that will eventually see the Innisfail Heliport re-open to air ambulance service.
Council, upon the recommendation of Town administration, awarded the contract to Timcon Construction Ltd. of Red Deer, Alberta. Timcon submitted a bid of $489,955 in response to the Town’s public request for tenders.
With the approval of funding from the General Capital Reserve, the Town will work with Timcon to ensure the facility is in compliance with federal transportation regulations.
Over the past year, Council heard from many members of the community who believe that the facility is integral to ensuring the quality of health care residents have come to expect.
“After many months of stakeholder consultations, I am pleased to see the Innisfail Heliport project moving forward,” said Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay. “STARS provides an invaluable service to our community and having the Heliport across from the hospital saves critical time for the patient when it is most needed.”
In 2020, a risk assessment recommended the voluntary suspension of the facility’s operations to allow for required upgrades and improvements. The assessment indicated the facility was non-compliant with federal regulations and identified a number of operational challenges stemming from outdoor recreational uses around the site.
As a result, the Town – on June 18 of that year – suspended the Heliport’s operations and moved service from the current location to the Innisfail (Big Bend) Airport.
The Innisfail Heliport is unique among those in similar-sized communities, with the majority of others in the province operating under the direct ownership and management of Alberta Health Services.