The Municipal District of Smoky River has fallen the lead of other municipalities by approving a three-year funding framework in support of STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) Air Ambulance service based in Grande Prairie. The decision, which will see the M.D. pay $2 per capita to the STARS base in Grande Prairie over the next three years (beginning in 2008) was reached April 9 following a motion from Coun. Andy Trudeau. It comes after a meeting that same day between council and Glenda Farnden, major gifts manager of STARS, and general manager Andy Stewart. Both representatives were on hand to provide a power-point presentation to council which consisted of an overview on the present status of the STARS base, future plans, and current financial shortfalls being experienced by the non-profit emergency air rescue base. “We kindly ask for council’s consideration of our proposal requesting a gift of $2 per capita (for three years) in support of operations at the STARS Grande Prairie base,” Farnden explained at the meeting. The request for financial assistance is based on a temporary shortfall of funding support from Alberta Health & Wellness, which presently provides an annual block funding cap of 29 per cent to help cover the operational costs incurred at both the Edmonton and Calgary STARS bases. Farnden says that to date the Grande Prairie base has not received a similar share of the funding pie, adding that negotiations are ongoing. “It will take some time, but until that happens we will remain heavily reliant on donor support,” she explains. The M.D. is one of a growing number of municipalities which have come forward in recent weeks by pledging a financial commitment to STARS in Grande Prairie for continued emergency air rescue services in northwestern Alberta. Others include the M.D. of Northern Lights, Clear Hills County, Birch Hills County and the M.D. of Greenview. A similar presentation is being made to McLennan town council at its May 12th regular monthly meeting. STARS in Grande Prairie also announced plans to construct a helipad at some point in the future at Sacred Heart Healthcare Centre in McLennan. “We will complete information, including site design and the definite advantages of having a helipad at that time,” says Farnden, adding that the cost is expected to be around the $10,000 mark. To date, the STARS base in Grande Prairie has fielded 361 calls, 238 of which were actual dispatched missions. A total of 16 of those calls have originated from the Smoky River region with nine calls for critical care transfers from the McLennan-based healthcare facility. “By working together to inter-link rural northern Alberta’s healthcare facilities with regional and tertiary health facilities we can develop partnerships which will save lives,” Farnden says.