The Efforts to Deliver 24/7 Emergency Helicopter Services
Local HERO (Helicopter Emergency Response Organization) Foundation Executive Director Lorna Ash is busily preparing for the HERO IN FLIGHT fundraising campaign, starting this month. The annual initiative highlights the incredible efforts made to deliver 24/7 emergency helicopter services to Northeastern Alberta.
Since fall 2023, Lorna has made significant strides in her role. We caught up with her before the event to learn more about her and the importance of the foundation’s presence in the Wood Buffalo region.
“Every day in this role reminds me why the Local HERO Foundation exists,” she said. “It’s about ensuring that no matter where someone lives in our region, they have access to life-saving emergency care.”
Lorna loves knowing that their work directly impacts lives. “It’s humbling and motivating to be part of a team that helps people on their worst days, alongside passionate professionals who believe in the mission as deeply as I do,” she said. “There’s a real sense of purpose here, and I don’t take that for granted.”
Originally from Halifax, Lorna moved to Vancouver Island at age four before settling in Fort McMurray for the past 22 years. Her career has been enriched by diverse experiences in health care. When asked about interesting insights from healthcare in the aviation world, she mentioned the language.
“Aviation has its own language of acronyms. I worked in healthcare both as a lab technician and on the fundraising side, where you’d expect to hear a lot of acronyms. But aviation takes it to a whole new level. It’s like learning a second language,” she joked. “What’s really interesting is the focus on safety. It’s fascinating to see the coordination and precision that goes into every flight. The Operator of HERO1, Phoenix Heli-Flight, goes above and beyond mandated safety protocols. It’s not just about flying; it’s about flying safely.”
Lorna is inspired by the words of the foundation’s founder, Paul Spring: “We know medevacs save lives; the question always comes down to who is going to fund it.” This mantra drives her commitment to advocating for essential services that often go unnoticed.
Keep watch on the Local HERO Foundation’s website and socials for the HERO IN FLIGHT presented by Suncor, Moments of Impact video series running from May 5 to June 6. The series includes a powerful collection of stories told by patients, physicians, donors and sponsors. A new story will be released and shared each week.
Photo: Lorna Ash, Executive Director of Local HERO Foundation, with HERO1 at its helicopter hanger on May 1, 2025.