The Ste. Anne Hospital Fund has announced an exciting project that will benefit from the funds raised at the annual Ste. Anne Hospital Walk Saturday. Lorraine Roziere, executive director of the Ste. Anne Hospital Fund shares the news.

"We are going ahead with the construction of a helipad for Ste. Anne Hospital. Estimated costs are $300,000. We're going to be receiving two very important donations at the walk, one from Lions International. They will be presenting a $100,000 grant and HyLife has donated $42,250."

Roziere says the STARS landing area next to the hospital was closed about seven months ago.

"It was closed in November of 2017 because it didn't quite meet the Transport Canada standards. Now we'll be located at the same site but with all of the standards being met. It is concrete and there will be special lighting that we have to consider."

The helicopter currently lands next to the RM of Ste. Anne office at the south end of the community.

Roziere says the new ground-level concrete helipad will be operational later this year.

"We are starting up the construction in June. The opening of the helipad will be, hopefully, by November of this year."