September 2, 2025 | 40 Years of STARS, Allies, Innovation, Our Patients

Celebrating 40 years of STARS, August 2025

Every month, we’re collecting stories celebrating 40 years of STARS Allies, Very Important Patients, and Innovation. These were the stories we highlighted in the month of August 2025.

Forty Years of STARS Allies

Morden Community Thrift Store

Run entirely by volunteers, the thrift shop has supported STARS since 2019 with generous annual donations. Local residents donate items, more than 80 volunteers sort, price and sell, and shoppers find new treasures — all coming together to make difference in the communities we serve.

Through this unique circle of giving, their vital contributions help STARS be there for the next patient.

Forty years of STARS Very Important Patients

Carla Minogue

STARS Very Important Patient Carla Minogue sits on the footrail of a STARS air ambulance helicopter, posing for a photoshoot conducted at the STARS Calgary hangar.

While working on a road construction crew, Carla Minogue was struck from behind by a car as she was loading cones into her truck. The impact left her with severe spinal injuries, but paramedics stabilized her spine, and the smooth transit provided by the STARS helicopter prevented further injury. With the help of her medical team, Carla was able to walk again after her recovery.

CAMTS Accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems organization logo (in blue) as a decal applied to the side of a STARS helicopter air ambulance.

STARS is the first international organization accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Since 1998, STARS has undergone CAMTS reaccreditation every three years, evaluating all operational aspects of our Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), and remains one of only five international programs to hold this distinction.