Welcome Home, Orion

STARS’ new accredited facility dog is a very good boy.

Orion, a three-year-old Labrador retriever, officially joined the STARS team in February 2025 as an accredited facility dog whose role is to provide emotional support to team members across the organization.

Orion came to STARS through a partnership with the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS), a highly respected Canadian organization that breeds, raises, and trains certified assistance dogs.

To ensure a great fit, PADS conducted its multi-step application review process that included two interviews with STARS and a base inspection. Following this, Grant Therrien, STARS’ Manitoba provincial director and Orion’s primary caregiver, underwent a week
of intensive handler training in Vancouver before welcoming Orion to the Winnipeg base.

While Orion supports the whole organization, he is especially impactful for STARS’ frontline staff, who regularly embark on psychologically difficult missions. When crews return to base, Orion greets them, checks in with them during the day, and provides one-on-one visits. He is also available for emotional support across all STARS bases — he’ll travel whenever he is needed.

“A big success here in caring for our people is the STARS peer support team,” said Therrien. “Orion can play a vital role in reducing stress and promoting emotional well-being as part of that team. His calm presence helps to boost morale and provides comfort whenever it’s needed most.”

Orion’s ability to comfort others is the result of extensive training and an impressive command repertoire — he knows up to 20 commands tailored to his role.

“There’s a command where he can ‘go visit,’” explained Therrien. “He will hop on the couch and lean on the person he’s visiting, providing that physical touch, that pressure contact. It’s really quite relaxing.”

Orion is truly the STARS team’s best friend. His wagging tail, people-loving personality, and calm demeanour bring out the best in everyone he meets. He is more than a facility dog; he is a cherished member of the STARS family.

Welcome home, Orion.

Donors Help Support the Mental Health of the STARS Team

Ensuring access to staff training and resources for mental health and well-being is a priority at STARS. To help with this, partnerships with donors like TC Energy and its Build Strong program enables STARS team members to seek timely, professional mental health support without financial barriers. This reduces stress, increases productivity, and lowers absenteeism. Support extends beyond the workplace to team members’ families, fostering work-life balance and overall family wellness.

The Peer Support Program Team empowers members to recognize signs of mental distress in colleagues and offer informed, compassionate support. In particular, support after difficult missions with emergency debrief sessions provides essential psychological first aid,
supporting teams to process traumatic events, prevent long-term emotional strain, and return to work more confidently. “Thanks to donors like TC Energy, these initiatives allow STARS to offer a safer, more supportive workplace, demonstrating our genuine commitment to mental health and employee well-being,” said Tracy Hughes, STARS human resources business partner.