October 1, 2025 | 40 Years of STARS, Allies, Innovation, Our Patients

Celebrating 40 years of STARS, September 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 September 2025.

Forty Years of STARS Allies

Alexis Moore

STARS Very Important Patient and Ally Alexis Moore stands next to her Lemonade stand she's called Sips for STARS. She wears a STARS helicopter tee while a boxed STARS H145 air ambulance helicopter toy sits on top of the stand.

“Sips for STARS” — that’s what 7-year-old Very Important Patient Alexis Moore called her special lemonade stand to help raise money for the organization that once flew to her rescue!

With help from her community, she raised enough money to have her name displayed as a proud supporter on the STARS retired BK117 helicopter, soon to be showcased at the Hangar Flight Museum in Calgary.

Forty years of STARS Very Important Patients

Willem van Lankvelt

STARS Very Important Patient Willem van Lankvelt smiles while seated in the STARS Winnipeg base locker room, STARS orange jackets and helmets are in the background.

During what Willem thought was going to be a pleasant afternoon on his bike, his ride took a life-threatening turn when he was struck by a truck.

The impact caused significant head trauma and severe internal bleeding.

Willem, a longtime ground paramedic familiar with STARS, had even worked alongside the crew that came to his rescue.

Thanks to the rapid provision of critical care, together with the coordinated efforts of our allies on the ground and at the trauma centre, Willem has made a successful recovery.

Automated CPR Machine

A composite image showing STARS flight paramedic Scott McTaggart posing with a LUCAS 3 auto CPR device. To the right, a STARS mannequin lays on a stretcher as the LUCAS 3 is demonstrated.

STARS has introduced automated CPR machines to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of resuscitation efforts during emergency flights. These machines deliver consistent compressions at the exact depth and rate the patient requires, allowing the crew to focus on other important aspects of patient care, such as managing the airway and administering medications.