Transcribed with permission from The Vermilion Voice Volume XX-Issue 1060 January 7, 2025

Dear Editor,

We would like to commend the Vermilion Flying Club members and community volunteers who worked to clear the airport runway of snow and ice a couple of weeks ago, restoring its condition so that the airport could be operational again.

We live alongside the airport and have a clear view of the tarmac. It needs to be noted that this week alone the Alberta Health Services fixed-wing Medi-Vac plane came in 3 times in 7 days! December 25, Christmas Day, Sunday, December 29, and WednesdayJanuary 1. All were daytime flights, so there may have been more that we did not observe.

All town residents need to realize the importance of this critical infrastructure. It could be your family member or you who needs to be air-vacced out of Vermilion due to trauma or another medical emergency. It is assumed that “STARS” will come directly to the hospital if we need it, but in reality, ground ambulance and STARS often are not readily available. It is reassuring to know that we can be transported in a timely manner to access vital medical equipmentand support because we have an airport runway that is safe and operational.

Thanks again to all who worked to clear the runway! Our lives depend on it!

Gloria & Leo deJong, Vermilion