What happens when healthcare becomes personal and local? That’s exactly what Episode 3 of the Okotoks Podcast, hosted by Carlin Lutzer, explores with the inspiring Andrea Mitchell, Executive Director of the Sheep River Health Trust (SRHT). As Okotoks continues to earn national recognition — recently winning “Best Event for a City or Municipality” for Light Up Okotoks — it’s clear this town’s heart beats through its people and organizations. Andrea and her team at SRHT are proof of that.
Founded in 1994, SRHT started humbly with a group of passionate volunteers aiming to support the Oilfields General Hospital. Today, it has grown into a dynamic nonprofit that supports urgent care, long-term care, seniors programs, and wellness initiatives across Okotoks and surrounding communities like Diamond Valley, Millarville, and Longview. As Andrea emphasizes, healthcare doesn’t begin at the hospital doors. It starts in the community — whether that’s helping a senior get to their appointment or making sure a child has access to mental health programs.
The podcast dives deep into the scope of SRHT’s work. Their five pillars — medical equipment, community care programs, families, seniors, and children & youth — ensure that no demographic is left behind. Whether it’s funding portable ultrasounds to keep expectant mothers local or supporting Rising Sun Long-Term Care with secure wander guards and a beloved seniors “Fun Bus,” the Trust makes a profound impact every day.
Of course, none of this is possible without community support. Fundraisers like the Radiothon (June 19th, 2025), which aims to surpass last year’s $75,000 milestone, and the wildly popular Photos with Santa, which brings in around $35,000–$40,000 annually, are essential. These events, alongside initiatives like Avenue of Trees, make giving back fun and engaging for everyone in the Foothills.
Andrea also highlights the often overlooked heroes of healthcare: volunteers and donors. Whether it’s helping at events, contributing financially, or providing in-kind services, the Okotoks community continually steps up. Andrea herself is deeply rooted in this mission, not just professionally but personally, having grown up in a family where giving back was second nature.
This episode is a heartfelt reminder that healthcare is about more than medicine — it’s about connection, compassion, and community. From reducing trips to Calgary for urgent needs to making long-term care feel like home, Sheep River Health Trust and its supporters are creating a model of care that is truly local and truly meaningful.
To learn more, get involved, or donate, visit sheepriverhealthtrust.ca. Whether you have time, money, or simply care about your neighbours, there’s a place for you in this community-driven movement.