40 Years of Care

40 Years of Care

A Legacy of Care

Over the years, STARS has evolved significantly. We’ve grown from a modest beginning to a sophisticated network of highly skilled professionals and advanced technology. In the air, on the ground, or virtually, we’ve always been committed to providing critical care, anywhere, to patients who need us.

A Lions Air Ambulance, the original name of STARS, comes in for landing at the old Calgary General Hospital early in STARS' operations.

1985

Lions Air Ambulance Service is established. The first mission in December transports a critically ill infant—Kelly Hulstein—to tertiary care in Calgary

Portrait of STARS' first patient Kelly Waldron seated in front of STARS H145 helicopter, callsign C-GKLY.

1985, continued

Now married with two children, Kelly Waldron is an important ambassador for STARS and her initials mark the call sign (C-GKLY) on a current STARS H145 Helicopter.

A group of seven early STARS pilots stand in front of a helicopter, all wearing white pilot shirts with black ties, smiling for the camera.

1986

Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) is incorporated as a not-for-profit.

An archival photos shows an overhead view of emergency service vehicles and representatives posing for a shot, including a STARS helicopter in the centre.

1988

STARS receives formal recognition as an essential service when the organization is integrated into emergency planning for the 1988 Calgary Olympic Winter Games.

An early photo of a red painted STARS helicopter, STAR-1, making a patient transfer on a roadside incident.

1988

STAR-1 is painted its now iconic red colour for the first time in the last spring/early summer.

STARS crew unloads a patient from the back of a STARS helicopter on the rooftop helipad at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton in 1991.

1991

STARS Edmonton base is established and carries out its first mission on October 7.

1991

The Alberta provincial government awards rotary- and fixed-wing air medical contracts to STARS for Calgary and Edmonton bases.

A photo of STARS' mascot, Starbear, posing in front of a STARS helicopter.

1992

Starbear, the official mascot of STARS, is born.

A vintage calendar cover featuring two red STARS helicopters flying over a mountainous landscape, with the text 'Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society' and 'STARS' in bold red letters at the top.

1993

The first STARS calendar campaign takes place to raise funds to ensure STARS can respond to critical care calls in Alberta.

1994

The first STARS lottery is held in Alberta.

1995

STARS celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The Emergency Link Centre in 1996 - an office space with multiple workstations, computers, and office supplies. Two people are standing and discussing something on a desk.

1996

The STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC) is established in Alberta with funding received from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

A vintage photo of a red and white STARS helicopter in flight near a lighthouse against a clear blue sky.

1996

STARS establishes the first helicopter air ambulance program in Nova Scotia with a five year contract. STARS exits the province in 2001 at the contract's conclusion.

A close-up of a STARS helicopter red surface with a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems logo and text.

1998

STARS receives full accreditation as a critical care provider from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). STARS is the first Canadian program to receive accreditation.

Two STARS medical staff in uniforms working on a medical simulation mannequin, with one performing an intubation and the other monitoring the procedure, in a training room with medical equipment in 1999.

1999

The STARS Human Patient Simulator Program is established in Alberta through the support of founding donors Lions International Multiple District 37 and Lockerbie & Hole.

A 2000 picture of STARS medical staff in blue flight suits transporting a patient on a stretcher away from a STARS helicopter on a rooftop helipad, with a bright blue sky and scattered clouds in the background.

2000

STARS' third helicopter takes flight as the back-up and support helicopter for use during times of maintenance and repair.

A 2001 photo of a STARS helicopter on the ground with its door open in a dry grassy field, with pine trees behind the helicopter

2001

STARS buys a fourth helicopter, STAR-4, to provide parts for STAR-1, 2 and 3 and to meet future additional aircraft requirements.

A STARS helicopter on a rocky landing pad in Kananaskis, with a backdrop of a lake, pine trees, and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky.

2002

STARS is requested to participate as the air medical provider for the G8 Summit in Kananaskis. To ensure mission availability, STAR-4 is upgraded to flying status.

2002

STARS flies its 10,000th mission.

A close-up of a STARS crew member wearing a helmet and night vision goggles with a green light, in a low-light setting.

2003

A mission to carry a patient from southeastern Alberta to Calgary marks STARS' first mission using Night Vision Goggle (NVG) technology. STARS is the first civilian air carrier to use NVG technology in Canada.

2004

The Vision Critical Campaign is launched to raise funds for the purchase of two new helicopters and to establish a centre for education—efforts leading toward enhanced patient care.

2005

STARS celebrates its 20th anniversary.

An early photo taken at the Grande Prairie base shows a large group of people, including STARS medical staff in blue flight suits and other attendees, standing in front of a STARS helicopter inside a hangar. They are raising their hands and smiling for the camera.

2006

STARS Grande Prairie, the third Alberta base, opens on November 1. Within one year, crews fly over 116 missions in Peace Country from this base.

Dr. Greg Powell being inducted into the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaëlle Jean, who is smiling as she places a medal around his neck.

2007

Dr. Greg Powell, STARS Founder and CEO, is appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaëlle Jean.

2009

The inaugural class of the STARS Critical Care and Transport Medicine Academy graduates.

A young boy wearing glasses and a blue plaid shirt, STARS Very Important Patient Samuel Gross, standing and smiling in front of a STARS helicopter.

2009

STARS responds to a request from the Manitoba government for assistance during historic flooding in southern Manitoba. Samuel Gross is one of our first Very Important Patients (VIPs) in Manitoba.

Two men in suits signing documents at a table in front of a red red STARS Emergency Medical Education Unit vehicle.

2011

The Province of Saskatchewan signs an agreement with STARS to establish helicopter air medical service in that province. The Regina base opens in April 2012, Saskatoon follows in October 2012.

Dr. Greg Powell and Andrea Robertson, both wearing dark suits, standing and smiling in front of a STARS helicopter.

2011

Andrea Robertson joins STARS as Chief Operating Officer. In 2012, she assumes the role of STARS second President and CEO.

A STARS helicopter on a platform with a ground support vehicle nearby, on a cloudy day at the early Winnipeg base.

2012

STARS signs a 10-year agreement with the Government of Manitoba to provide helicopter air ambulance service from a permanent base in Winnipeg.

Two STARS medical staff in blue flight suits standing in front of a STARS helicopter inside a hangar. They are holding a medical cooler and a bag of blood, smiling at the camera.

2013

The Regina STARS base becomes the first air medical service in Canada to stock blood to be used for transfusions on air medical missions. the STARS Blood on Board initiative expands to all six STARS bases.

Two STARS medical staff in blue uniforms and orange vests standing beside an AgustaWestland AW139 STARS helicopter on a sunny day, with medical equipment visible inside the helicopter.

2013

Two new donor-funded AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters begin operation. The AW platform will fly more than 5,300 missions for STARS before being retired in 2020.

2015

STARS honours 30 years of care in the air. More than 29,000 missions have been carried out since opening in 1985.

Three red STARS H145 helicopters, with one on the ground and two in flight above it, against a backdrop of a cloudy sky and open landscape.

2019

After years of planning and anticipation, the first of STARS H145 fleet arrives in Calgary in April. The first mission with this helicopter takes off in July.

A group of four STARS pilots wearing protective gear, including helmets, masks, gloves and yellow gowns, standing in front of a STARS helicopter on a sunny day.

2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is declared. Operations staff adjust protocols to continue flying patients in need of critical care. STARS administration and foundation staff shift to work-from-home.

A BK117 STARS helicopter with its rotors spinning, parked on a yellow platform in a snowy landscape.

2022

With the delivery of the last H145, the final operational flight of a familiar BK117 touches down in December, capping off a legacy of safe and reliable service.

Andrea Robertson and Katherine Emberly stand in front of a STARS helicopter in the Calgary hangar, both wearing blazers and smiling while shaking hands.

2023

Andrea Robertson retires after 12 years of leading STARS. Katherine Emberly is named STARS third President and CEO.

STARS Helicopter C-FLNK takes off during sunrise on a blue sky day.

2025

STARS will celebrate 40 years of providing critical care, anywhere, to patients in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, eastern British Columbia and western Ontario.

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