Sunshine, pancakes and a bright red STARS helicopter touching down were all part of Mountain View County’s annual Canada Day ratepayer appreciation breakfast on Thursday, June 25th.
Since 1988, the County has donated more than a half million dollars towards the air ambulance’s ability to be in the air for its life saving missions.
Jason Nixon – the province’s Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board and MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre – was on hand for the special unveiling of a Mountain View County logo on a STARS helicopter in recognition of the milestone. Nixon says “I mean you heard today 276 missions inside our County alone in five years. it is an extraordinary number when you stop and think about it. I like many of those families are very, very grateful to STARS. My son Austin was one of those 276 missions not far from where we are standing today and let me tell you, I was on the that scene that day and when that red helicopter come down it is a pretty good feeling. I have no doubt and I know for sure that Austin would not be with us today if it wasn’t for STARS and many families have that type of a story. What it really emphasizes is why we have to continue to support the important mission of STARS to make sure that we can save future lives both in our County and across Alberta.”
Blaine Calkin, the Member of Parliament for Ponoka-Didsbury provided his remarks from the podium before the logo unveiling. He also had a personal story to share. Calkins says “I would think that there would be lots of people that know somebody who has been on an air ambulance and both myself and Minister Nixon shared very close family connections. My Dad, I got to visit him yesterday as I said, and I don’t know if that would have been the case if it wasn’t for STARS because he needed to be air lifted and moved to the heart institute in order to survive the heart attack that he had. I’m just really, really grateful. Really, grateful.”
Jackie Seeley with STARS adds, they are overwhelmed with gratitude for the County’s support. She says “Mountain View County has been donating to STARS back as far as 1988 and thanks to them and the help of many we’ve been able to be in the air for over 40 years for our life saving missions. We’re just overwhelmed with gratitude for the continued support and appreciate that Mountain View County reached over $500,000 in cumulative giving so that we can feature their logo on our helicopter is a symbol of that dedication and commitment to saving lives within the area.”
Mountain View County’s Deputy Reeve Dwayne Fulton notes it is a long-term commitment councils before this one made and they’ve continued that support for STARS. He says “oh it was awesome. This is the way you want to see the helicopter in a non-emergency situation because, you know, it is awe inspiring. Just to see it here sitting on the ground and all the technology that is in it, we are so thankful we have this in the province. If things go sideways, there is a solution there that didn’t exist before.”
