Photo: Resident Erin da Luz with the SaveStation placed in memory of her father. LJI photo/Randy Barba
Three new outdoor SaveStation AED cabinets are being installed in Stouffville’s Memorial Park following a community fundraising campaign led by resident Erin da Luz in memory of her father, Ricardo Miguel da Luz, who died from cardiac arrest in 2024.
The first AED was unveiled on March 25 near the skating trail and pickleball courts, with two more units planned for the park washroom building and Latcham Hall. The project was funded through community donations alongside support from the Town of Stouffville.
“As I did everything I could in that moment, a quiet question formed in the back of my mind: if an AED had been available, could it have changed this?”
— Erin da Luz
Following her father’s passing, da Luz partnered with Action First Aid and town officials to bring accessible public defibrillators to one of the community’s busiest gathering spaces. Her crowdfunding campaign reached its goal within a week, helping fund two of the three units.
The SaveStation cabinets are accessible 24/7 and designed for public use without formal training. Each unit provides step-by-step audio instructions and will only activate if a shock is medically required.
“Every minute that goes by, the chances of survival drops 10 percent. We can’t have people afraid of the defibrillators, they will not hurt you.”
— Deb Hennig, President of Action First Aid and Co-Founder of SaveStation
Officials at the unveiling emphasized how critical rapid response can be during sudden cardiac arrest emergencies and noted the installations will improve both public safety and awareness throughout the community.
