A central Alberta family has marked a bittersweet milestone in their ongoing mission to protect rural residents from sudden cardiac arrest, unveiling their eighth donated public defibrillator at a local school.
Leanne and Mike Lougheed joined community members at Gus Wetter School in Castor on June 3 to cut the ribbon on a new, 24/7 publicly accessible SaveStation defibrillator cabinet.
The outdoor installation is the latest achievement of the Smile Like Emily Foundation, which the couple founded following the sudden death of their seven-year-old daughter, Emily, in 2020.
Emily, who was a student at Gus Wetter School, died from cardiac arrest caused by a rare, undiagnosed heart condition that showed no prior warning signs.
The event included AED demonstrations to teach community members how to use the outdoor unit.
Unlike typical indoor defibrillators, the alarmed cabinet allows the public to access the lifesaving device around the clock.
The devices provide voice prompts and visual diagrams, ensuring they can be operated by anyone.
Officials emphasized that quick bystander action during medical episodes is critical, particularly in rural areas where ambulances may take longer to arrive.
Castor Mayor Trudy Kilner attended the ribbon-cutting to help honor the Lougheed family’s contribution to the region.
Since 2022, the foundation has placed AED cabinets across the County of Paintearth, at golf courses, campgrounds, and municipal buildings in Castor and Coronation.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
