Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service

Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service, commonly known as STARS, is a Canadian nonprofit helicopter air ambulance organization that provides specialized emergency medical care and rapid transportation for critically ill and injured patients. Its service model combines aviation, advanced pre-hospital medicine, emergency communications and hospital coordination. STARS is particularly focused on rural, remote and geographically dispersed communities where ground transport to a major trauma centre may take too long. The organization was established in Calgary, Alberta, in 1985 after emergency physician Dr. Gregory Powell experienced the death of a rural patient whose condition deteriorated during a lengthy ground journey to hospital. Powell had previously served as a physician with Mobile Army Surgical Hospital units during the Vietnam War and believed that a helicopter-based emergency service could bring critical-care expertise to patients before they reached hospital. With seed funding from the local Lions Club, a nonprofit foundation was created to support the service. STARS undertook its first mission on December 1, 1985, initially operating as the Lions Air Ambulance Service. STARS has developed from a single Calgary helicopter into a multi-province air medical network. Its bases have included Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie in Alberta; Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg in Manitoba. The organization also operated in Nova Scotia from 1996 to 2001, but that contract was not renewed. STARS has supported emergency response during major incidents, including flooding in Manitoba, and has been incorporated into provincial emergency-planning systems. The organization’s missions are carried out by aviation and medical teams. A typical air medical crew includes a critical-care registered nurse and an advanced-care paramedic. Transport physicians may fly on selected missions and are available for consultation through the Emergency Link Centre. The aircraft carry equipment used for advanced critical care, including transport ventilators, invasive monitoring systems, portable blood-gas analysis, video laryngoscopy and point-of-care ultrasound. Pediatric, neonatal and other specialist teams can be added when a patient’s needs require them. STARS also operates or supports emergency communications infrastructure. Its Emergency Link Centre provides round-the-clock coordination among emergency responders, physicians, hospitals and other health-care services in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The centre also supports registration and location information for remote industrial and work sites, helping emergency planners identify the location of workers who may require rapid evacuation. STARS is funded through a mixed nonprofit model. Revenue comes from individual donors, service organizations, corporations, provincial government contributions and fundraising activities. Lotteries in Alberta and Saskatchewan have been an important source of private funding, while provincial service agreements help support operational delivery. The STARS Foundation acts as the organization’s fundraising arm. The service’s capital campaigns have funded aircraft, facilities, training and long-term reserve funds. Its aircraft fleet has evolved from Eurocopter BK117 helicopters to newer AgustaWestland AW139 and Airbus H145 aircraft. The fleet and base network allow STARS to provide 24-hour operations in its current service areas, while coordination with fixed-wing air ambulance operators enables longer-distance transfers when helicopters are not the most suitable option. STARS remains a nonprofit emergency medical service rather than a conventional commercial airline or hospital provider.

STARS was created in Calgary in 1985 by emergency physician Dr. Gregory Powell. Powell’s motivation came from a fatal delay involving a rural patient who required urgent hospital treatment but had to travel by ground ambulance over a long distance. His experience with military medical units had shown him the value of bringing advanced care and rapid transport together. The local Lions Club supplied early funding, allowing a nonprofit foundation and an operating service to be established. The first mission took place on December 1, 1985, carrying a critically ill infant to a Calgary hospital. The service was initially known as the Lions Air Ambulance Service before adopting the STARS identity. The Calgary operation gained institutional recognition in 1988, when it was incorporated into emergency planning for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games. STARS opened an Edmonton base in 1991, initially operating from Edmonton City Centre Airport before relocating to Edmonton International Airport. In 1996, it created the Emergency Link Centre with support from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The centre became a major communications link for emergency services, physicians, hospitals and EMS agencies in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and also developed a remote-worksite registration program. The organization expanded its capital base in 1998 through the Seconds Count campaign, which supported the purchase of two helicopters and creation of the STARS Legacy Fund. That year it also received international accreditation as a critical-care medical transport provider from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems and established a human patient simulator program in Alberta. In 2001, the International Association of Air Medical Services named STARS Program of the Year, making it the first Canadian and first international recipient of that award. STARS also acquired an additional BK117 helicopter during the same period. A third Alberta base opened in Grande Prairie in 2006. The organization later became involved in Manitoba emergency operations, assisting with major floods in 2009 and 2011. Following those responses, Manitoba asked STARS to establish a permanent presence. STARS signed a 10-year service agreement with the province in February 2012 and opened a Winnipeg base. The province later expanded the organization’s responsibilities, including coordination of fixed-wing air ambulance operations when a fixed-wing aircraft was more appropriate than a helicopter. Saskatchewan operations began in 2012 from Regina and Saskatoon. STARS coordinated its work with Saskatchewan Air Ambulance, which operates fixed-wing aircraft, allowing the two services to complement one another. The organization also expanded its aircraft capability during this period. New AW139 helicopters offered greater cabin space, lifting capacity, operating range and weather capability than the earlier BK117 fleet. Later fleet modernization introduced Airbus H145 helicopters, while AW139 aircraft were retired from the fleet in 2020. Leadership also changed in 2012, when Andrea Robertson succeeded Powell as president and chief executive officer after Powell’s 27-year tenure. Across its history, STARS has remained a nonprofit charitable service supported by public donations, corporate and community fundraising, provincial agreements and lotteries in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Its operating model has continued to combine aircraft, highly trained flight and medical crews, specialist consultation, emergency communications and partnerships with provincial health systems. By the early 2020s, STARS had completed more than 24,000 missions overall and more than 5,000 missions from Winnipeg since that base opened.

1. 2020AW139 aircraft retired

   STARS retired its AW139 helicopters as its fleet modernization continued.

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2. 2012Saskatchewan expansion and leadership transition

   Bases opened in Regina and Saskatoon, while Andrea Robertson succeeded Gregory Powell as president and CEO.

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3. 2006Grande Prairie base opens

   STARS expanded its Alberta network with a third provincial base.

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4. 1998Seconds Count campaign and critical-care accreditation

   A major capital campaign funded helicopters and a legacy reserve, while STARS received CAMTS accreditation.

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5. 1996Emergency Link Centre established

   The organization launched a 24-hour communications centre supporting emergency coordination and remote-site response.

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6. 1991Edmonton base opens

   STARS established its second Alberta base, later moving operations to Edmonton International Airport.

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7. 1988Recognized in Olympic emergency planning

   STARS was incorporated into emergency planning for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games.

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8. 1985STARS is founded in Calgary

   A nonprofit air ambulance service was established with support from Dr. Gregory Powell and the Calgary Lions Club. The first mission took place on December 1.

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A donor-supported, nonprofit critical-care air medical provider serving rural, remote and urban communities across Western Canada.

• Helicopter air ambulance responseAir medical transport1985

  STARS dispatches helicopters to serious medical incidents and transports patients to appropriate trauma or tertiary-care facilities. Its crews can provide advanced treatment at the scene and during flight, making the service especially valuable where road distances, terrain or weather would create dangerous delays.

• Emergency Link CentreEmergency communications1996

  The Emergency Link Centre is a round-the-clock coordination function connecting emergency responders, physicians, hospitals and EMS systems. In Alberta and Saskatchewan it also supports remote-worksite registration, helping dispatchers identify locations and improve the speed and accuracy of emergency response.

• Critical-care medical transportPre-hospital medicine1985

  STARS provides intensive pre-hospital and in-flight care through teams normally composed of a critical-care registered nurse and advanced-care paramedic, with transport physicians available on selected missions or by consultation. Equipment supports ventilation, invasive monitoring, airway management, blood-gas analysis and ultrasound.

• Air medical coordination in ManitobaMedical transportation coordination2012

  In Manitoba, STARS works through the provincial Medical Transportation Coordination Centre and can provide helicopter service or coordinate fixed-wing medical transportation when longer-range aircraft are more suitable for the patient and route.

• 1998Seconds Count Capital Campaign

  Alberta · Saskatchewan · Manitoba

  The campaign raised capital for two helicopters and established the STARS Legacy Fund to support long-term service sustainability.

  Outcome. It strengthened the fleet and created a continuing reserve for future operations.

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• 2020Expand Manitoba transportation responsibilitiesStrategy

  The Manitoba government sought to consolidate and extend air ambulance responsibilities after STARS had provided emergency support during earlier floods and established a permanent base.

  What changed. The province expanded STARS’ contract to include responsibilities associated with Lifeflight, including helicopter service and coordination of fixed-wing medical transport.

  Aftermath. STARS continued 24-hour operations from Winnipeg and used provincial coordination systems to determine the most suitable aircraft for each mission.

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• 2012Expand into SaskatchewanStrategy

  Saskatchewan required rapid air medical access across a large rural and sparsely populated territory.

  What changed. STARS established permanent helicopter bases at Regina International Airport and Saskatoon International Airport.

  Aftermath. The organization flew 217 missions in Saskatchewan during its first year and coordinated with the province’s fixed-wing air ambulance service.

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• 2012Introduce AW139 helicoptersProduct launch

  STARS sought aircraft with more medical cabin space, stronger lifting capability and improved performance in difficult operating conditions.

  What changed. The organization introduced donor-funded AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters for Alberta operations and later deployed another aircraft to Saskatoon.

  Aftermath. The AW139s expanded capability before later being retired in September 2020 as the fleet moved toward Airbus H145 helicopters.

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• 2020STARS expands Manitoba air medical responsibilities

  Manitoba expanded STARS’ role to include responsibilities previously associated with Lifeflight, including air ambulance and selected fixed-wing medical transportation coordination.

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• 2012STARS begins helicopter air ambulance operations in Saskatchewan

  STARS established bases at Regina and Saskatoon, extending its helicopter emergency medical network into Saskatchewan.

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• 2012STARS adds AW139 helicopter capability

  The organization announced the arrival of a donor-funded AgustaWestland AW139 at its Edmonton base, beginning an expansion toward larger and more capable aircraft.

  Product launchProduct generation
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1. Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service
2. STARS official website