Kamloops family pledges $500,000 to RIH Foundation

The RIH Foundation says in a news release that Linda is a retired nurse and Ralph is president of Westcan Aircraft Sales. Two more of their sons, Brad and Jeff, were born at Royal Inland Hospital.

Brad is the current vice president of Westcan Air. He says his daughter was born at RIH and his family was always impressed by the level of service and care they received while at the hospital.

“The family also has a particularly strong connection with the current helicopter pad on the hospital grounds and the medivac program itself,” RIH Foundation says. “In the 1980s, Ralph joined Seymour Air Ltd. with owner, Abe Giesbrecht, flying charters and medivacs for the provincial government until the mid-1990s. Ralph also started Westcan Aircraft, in 1987, selling aircraft and parts, later branching into helicopter leasing.”

Ralph and Brad worked on the initial pilot project for the helicopter medivac program in the Interior.

“Helicopters were using the original helipad at the hospital for decades until it was deemed not to code by Transport Canada in 2010,” Ralph explains. “After that, we were then forced to use a pad at the city works yard in Mission Flats, which was not ideal as it meant that patients still had to be transported a distance by ambulance to the hospital. Local and provincial efforts allowed for the hospital helipad to be rebuilt so that we could once again land close to the Emergency Department.”

The RIH Foundation says the current helipad still requires a short trip by ambulance, but the new helipad that will be located on the roof of the Patient Care Tower will eliminate the need for ambulance transport. The new set up will allow patients to be taken directly to the Emergency Department.

“Kamloops and the surrounding area are very fortunate to have a rotary medivac program based here. There are countless stories of the Bell 412 making a difference in people’s lives during their time of need, and I’m sure there will be many more. The rooftop helipad really does complete the program here in Kamloops,” Brad says.

The air ambulance is currently available 12 hours per day, seven days a week, and is one of four dedicated rotary air ambulance in the province.

“We have been thinking for quite some time about making a donation to RIH Foundation,” Ralph says. “The Patient Care Tower with the helipad on the roof was the perfect opportunity for us to contribute to something we believe in, and in an area that has significant meaning to us. We are hoping also that our contribution will be an example to the community and will encourage others, both individuals and companies, to also donate.”

RIH Health Service Director Meagan Hanson says the hospital is “thrilled” to see this donation.

“We feel the Patient Care Tower is going to transform the way health care is delivered in Kamloops and the region,” she says. “The support the tower is receiving from the Kamloops’ community, in this case, the Emsland family, is heart-warming and we are very grateful for their donation.”

by Ashley Legassic

Kamloops family pledges $500,000 to RIH Foundation

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