Emergency response organization STARS presented its annual report to Grande Prairie City Council on April 30th.
During her presentation, STARS Senior Municipal Relations Liason Genda Farnden thanked the city for standing by the organization for so long and serving as one of three operations bases for STARS across the province.
“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the municipalities that support it,” she says.
In her report, Farnden highlighted the fact that more than 300 Grande Prairie residents flew on STARS helicopters in 2023, which she says shows the need for the organization in the north.
“We were able to rescue 300 some that were all Grande Prairie residents that had been flown from almost 200 other locations across two provinces so accidents and illness do not happen just because you’re close to home,” she says. “We have unanimous support from every municipality across the north in the region that we serve, including into northeastern BC, so that really says it all, we do not see borders.”
Farnden says the collaboration between municipalities has truly paid off as the organization continues its lifesaving efforts for so many Albertans. She went on to thank the City of Grande Prairie specifically saying- “They didn’t see borders either, they were a part of the helipad project in the beginning at the old QE 2 Hospital so we could deliver patients in a timely manner.”
As for future endeavours, Farnden says she is looking forward to continuing the fruitful relationship between the City of Grande Prairie and the organization.
“Moving forward, I think the collaborative effort of everyone together just doing a little something has really helped the sustainability piece that the Grande Prairie base needs so badly,” she says.
When it comes to funding, Farnden says of the more than $40 million in annual operating costs, $15 million comes from AHS, $10 million comes from the STARS Lottery, and the remaining $18 million comes from corporate partners, community events, and just over $2 million from collaboration with the municipalities STARS operates out of.