Special Areas logo takes flight on STARS helicopter
Community members, students from Youngstown School and representatives of the Special Areas Board gathered at Blood Indian Park on June 17 to celebrate the unveiling of the Special Areas logo on a STARS air ambulance helicopter.
The event marked more than 30 years of partnership between STARS and the Special Areas Board, recognizing a shared commitment to providing critical, life-saving care to rural communities across southeastern Alberta.
STARS Touches Down
A STARS air ambulance helicopter lands at Blood Indian Park during the June 17 event celebrating the unveiling of the Special Areas logo on the aircraft. The Special Areas Board has supported STARS since 1989, helping ensure emergency medical care remains accessible across southeastern Alberta. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Flying the Special Areas Colours
The STARS helicopter on display at Blood Indian Park now carries the Special Areas logo, recognizing more than three decades of partnership between the air ambulance service and the Special Areas Board. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Community Celebration
Residents, students from Youngstown School, Special Areas representatives and STARS personnel gather around the helicopter during the logo unveiling ceremony at Blood Indian Park on June 17. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Inside the Aircraft
Students and community members line up for a close look inside the STARS air ambulance helicopter following the official unveiling of the Special Areas logo. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Recognizing a Longstanding Partnership
Community members and emergency responders listen to remarks during the June 17 ceremony marking the addition of the Special Areas logo to a STARS helicopter. The logo will travel on missions across Alberta as a symbol of the partnership between the two organizations. PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL AREAS
Special Areas first began supporting STARS in 1989 and has remained a dedicated municipal partner ever since. Today, the organization contributes $35,000 annually, bringing its total support to more than $590,000. The ongoing investment reflects Special Areas' commitment to ensuring accessible emergency medical services are available throughout the region.
In recognition of that support, STARS named the Special Areas Board as one of its Provincial Leads. Special Areas is now the 10th municipality to have its logo displayed on a STARS helicopter. The logo will accompany crews on every mission, symbolizing the Board's continued support of emergency medical care.
"Today's unveiling is a powerful symbol of what over three decades of partnership truly looks like, a community coming together to ensure life-saving care is there when it matters most," said Dr. John Froh, president and CEO of STARS. "Special Areas' extraordinary commitment sets a standard across Alberta and will now be carried with us on every mission, reminding us who we serve and why."
Since STARS began operations in 1985, the organization has completed 279 missions to 21 communities within the Special Areas region. Between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, STARS carried out 10 missions serving residents in local communities.
The addition of the Special Areas logo to the STARS helicopter serves as both a tribute to the longstanding relationship between the organizations and a visible reminder of the vital role partnerships play in sustaining emergency medical services in rural Alberta.