Dr. Joel Kroeker is a medical specialist who uses his private aircraft to commute from Ontario to Vermilion and to other prairie communities.
Dr. Kroeker sent this remarkable letter to the mayor and council in June, 2023.
The letter was not published as Correspondence at the next council meeting.
Why not? Because, according to one councillor some months later, that was “not specifically requested”.
It was re-submitted to the mayor and council in March, 2024, specifically requested to be presented to the council meeting as Correspondence.
At the March 19, 2024 council meeting, this letter was momentarily displayed on the screen as Correspondence “for information”.
It was not read aloud at the meeting.
Text of Dr. Kroeker’s letter:
Joel Kroeker MD FCFP
Endoscopist at Vermilion Health Centre
8th June 2023
Town of Vermilion
5021 – 49 Ave
Vermilion AB T9X1X1
Cc: Vermilion Airport Advisory Council
Dear Mayor and Council
For the past year I have been providing endoscopy services on a regular schedule at the Vermilion Health Centre, and have enjoyed the use of the Vermilion Airport. This airport makes Vermilion easily accessible from anywhere, and has allowed me to conveniently travel to the town for work. I have heard from locals that the town has considered closing the airport, and I am writing to urge you not to give up this valuable resource. I have commuted by air to many small towns in central Alberta, and the proximity of your airport to the town (and hospital) is exceptionally good, with good facilities available on-site, particularly the sale of aviation fuel.
I accepted the offer of work in Vermilion in large part due to the presence of an airport in town, and I count on it for access to the hospital from spring to fall. You are already aware of the value of the airport to the hospital and citizens in terms of allowing emergency medical transfers to occur, as well as potentially for fire-fighting operations, disaster relief, and other public service roles. I would like to point out that the airport also allows providers like myself to work here, and can be seen as both a recruitment and a retention tool for medical service providers, many of whom are pilots. My service model is not unique, as I have many colleagues in Alberta who serve remote communities the same way, through fly-in visits.
I am very grateful for your airport, and you should be proud to have it. Please do what you can to keep this asset, it is a literal gateway of opportunity for you. As author Karon Waddell wrote: “Appreciate what you have because someone else is wishing for it”!
Sincerely..
Fly YVG 