There are many ways to help.
Help us keep moving up!
In late 2021, AROHWS launched a groundbreaking fundraising campaign to strengthen helicopter rescue capability in the Southern Interior. Our goal was to raise $400,000 to acquire a dedicated rescue winch. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our donors and the support of BC Community Gaming, we successfully reached this milestone and purchased a state-of-the-art rescue winch.
The winch is a Collins Goodrich external hoist featuring 290 feet of cable, a 600-pound lift capacity, and a high-speed deployment rate of 260 feet per minute — a critical capability for time-sensitive rescues in complex terrain.
Following this achievement, AROHWS focused on securing a dedicated rescue aircraft to fully integrate this capability. In 2024, we reached a major operational milestone by contracting a dedicated Bell 412EP rescue helicopter through our air carrier partner. The aircraft underwent extensive modification to serve as a specialized rescue platform, and the helicopter and winch became fully operational in December 2024.
Today, AROHWS is actively conducting helicopter rescue operations across the region — but our work is not finished.
Our current priorities include improving the outfitting of our medical and rescue interior, maintaining continuous crew training, and advancing critical system upgrades to improve mission performance. At the same time, AROHWS is working toward two major next-phase objectives: the development of a dedicated rescue base and training facility, and the implementation of night vision capability to expand safe rescue operations into low-light and nighttime conditions.
These advancements will significantly increase readiness, safety, and the number of lives we can reach.
Your support keeps this life-saving service operational and moving forward. Together, we can ensure helicopter rescue remains ready day, night, and year-round - when it is needed most.
Share your story.
Sharing the story of your rescue is one of the most powerful ways you can give back. AR1 is called to help people at their moment of crisis in the back country. Your story can help others to see the difference we make, and shows to our funders just how important our service is.
AROHWS is actively working toward collecting the stories of people who have been helped by AR1. If you’re a patient we have flown and would like to share your story please reach out to us.
Donate.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to help AR1 stay in the air, you can donate through Canada Helps.
Volunteer.
We’re always on the lookout for people who would like to help and give back to AR1. If you are interested in making a difference in the community and volunteering your time, we would love to hear from you.