STARS files three-year funding request with Town of Ponoka

PONOKA -- STARS has submitted its new three-year funding request to the Town of Ponoka.

The request aims to secure a municipal contribution of a minimum $1.00 per capita per year over a three-year term from 2027 through 2029. In their letter to Ponoka Council, the air ambulance service says that over the past five years, including up to Sept. 10, 2026, STARS has flown a total of 139 missions throughout Ponoka County. 41 of these missions were for inter-facility transfers requested by Ponoka Hospital when a patient has been deemed critical. An additional 27 missions were flown as scene calls near Ponoka.

"After provincial funding, STARS must fundraise a minimum of 59 per cent of our direct operating costs in Alberta," writes STARS Development Officer Jackie Seely. "STARS Municipal initiative provides a sustainable pillar of funding with over 95% of rural Alberta municipalities supporting our lifesaving mission."

In her letter, Seely also congratulated the Ponoka community for its fundraising efforts to bring a new helipad to the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre. The helipad project is currently in progress, and we're expecting to get more information on that soon. Meantime, Seely reiterates the positive impact their service has on communities across western Canada.

"STARS was born out of necessity to serve rural and remote areas -- built by the community, for the community," writes Seely. "Since STARS inception in 1985, over 66,000 missions have been flown across western Canada.  Averaging 10 missions per day, with almost half of these missions flown in Alberta."

After provincial funding, STARS must raise a minimum of 59 per cent of their direct operating costs in Alberta.