Eight “remarkable” Albertans are being recognized with the prestigious Alberta Order of Excellence, including a Peace Country local.
The Alberta Order of Excellence was created in 1979 and is described as the single highest honour the Province of Alberta can bestow on a citizen.
Fairview’s Kim Ruether is being recognized with the Order of Excellence for her work in founding the Project Brock Society to save lives. According to the province, Ruether has taught thousands how to treat sudden cardiac arrest through the use of AEDs, while expanding research on resuscitation and improving international 9-1-1 dispatch protocols.
Ruether says she started Project Brock after her 16-year-old son experienced a sudden cardiac arrest event during volleyball practice before he passed away due to a lack of education on AEDs, which Ruether maintains would have saved his life.
Now, Ruether works with her team to change the outcome for future children affected by sudden cardiac events in memory of her son.
She joins seven others from across the province as this year’s inductees, bringing the total membership of the Alberta Order of Excellence to 220 over the past 45 years.
Ruether and her fellow inductees will be recognized on the evening of October 17th at the Government House in Edmonton.