While residents enjoyed a free pancake breakfast hosted by Rocky View County (RVC) July 18 at county hall, STARS Air Ambulance landed nearby to unveil the newest addition to its fuselage – the RVC logo.
RVC is the first municipality in all of central and southern Alberta to reach logo status in STARS history, according to a press release, and has been supporting the organization since 1991. In 2016, RVC joined the STARS Municipal Initiative Program – contributing $38,000 per year – and in 2017, the County increased its commitment to $2-per-capita per year, joining the majority of municipalities across Alberta to help STARS maintain sustainability. Now, RVC has reached more than $500,000 in cumulative giving, earning a logo on the helicopter.
“As a rural community, seconds count and STARS is there for us,” Reeve Greg Boehlke said. “In 2018, STARS landed in our region multiple times to provide care for patients in our community. The nature of partnership is clear – helping to safeguard lives.”
The STARS Municipal Initiative is an ally-funding program that includes rural and urban municipalities across the province, ensuring the highest level of critical-care services will continue to be available to Albertans, according to the release.
“Thank you RVC for your generous support since 1991,” said Wendy Beauchesne, executive vice-president, STARS Foundation. “Your funding is essential to keeping STARS in the sky, and your commitment ensures we can continue to put the right tools in the hands of the best talent. This doesn’t just save time in responding to critically ill and injured patients, it saves lives.”
