UNITY — Since 1985, STARS has flown more than 55,000 missions across Western Canada. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, STARS reports that they have flown 3,365 missions from their six bases in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. STARS has been operational in the Saskatchewan landscape since April 30, 2012.
Saskatchewan had STARS serving 1,018 missions in 2022-23. Kerrobert had 10 of those STARS missions while Unity landed STARS 16 times and once in Wilkie. There were no STARS landings listed in Luseland or Macklin
Mission incident types included medical, trauma cardiac, pulmonary, vehicle incident, non-trauma neurological, obstetrical and environmental.
“As a non-profit charity, STARS is owned by the donors and community members we serve,” Mark Oddan, program manager, Lotteries and Fundraising Initiatives says.
“STARS was built by the community for the community, and we have relied on the people of Saskatchewan since we established operations here in 2012.”
Oddan reminds residents that community support helps STARS provide the best care to critically ill and injured patients.
“The provincial government generously provides approximately 50 per cent of the funds needed to operate STARS in Saskatchewan. The remaining $10.5 million is raised annually by the STARS Foundation through corporate gifts, donations and fundraisers – both STARS-led fundraisers and community-organized events,” adds Oddan.
Oddan also notes, “STARS lottery is our largest fundraiser of the year and absolutely critical to our operations in this province, with a goal to net STARS at least one-third of the $10.5 million we need to raise annually to operate 24/7 from our two bases in Saskatchewan. “
Ask Unity resident, Sheldon Ducherer, who helped with a story in March of 2023, Unity resident thanks STARS for life-saving recovery in 2022 - Â鶹ÊÓƵ.ca, what STARS meant to his family, saying, “They save lives, and they certainly saved mine and I will always be grateful.”
