June 2, 2025 | 40 Years of STARS

Celebrating 40 years of STARS, May 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 May 2025.

Forty Years of STARS Allies

Jayden and Melanie Sorsdahl

STARS Allies Jayden Sorsdahl and his mom Melanie pose at a community fundraiser they hold raising funds for STARS. Jayden is also a STARS Very Important Patient.

Since becoming a VIP in 2015, Jayden and his mom, Melanie, have been busy STARS allies. Jayden started his own fundraiser, Hot Chocolate for Helicopters, and Melanie has been a monthly donor ever since. Together, they help make second chances possible for other patients.

Forty years of STARS Very Important Patients

Kelly Waldron

STARS' first Very Important Patient Kelly Waldron poses in a STARS blue suit alongside the STARS air ambulance bearing the call sign C-GKLY, named in her honour.

Forty years ago, STARS flew its first ever patient: a premature baby girl named Kelly, who needed life-saving critical care that the local hospital was unable to provide at the time. Kelly has since become a lifelong advocate for STARS. In recognition of her being the first patient, STARS named one of its H145 helicopters in her honour, C-GKLY. Read more about Kelly’s story.

Forty years of STARS Innovation

Blood on Board

STARS air medical crew staff hold a cooler bag that's used to transport blood products on STARS missions in a photo from 2013.

In 2013, the Regina base of STARS became the first air medical service in Canada to carry blood on board. Today, the program has expanded across all six bases, with each base carrying four units of blood to make lifesaving transfusions possible mid-flight.