Calgary, Alberta
Calgary sledders support STARS
Emergency rescue service is an endeavour worthy of support.
A good cause: The Calgary Snowmobile Club is a long-time supporter of STARS—Alberta's Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society—which uses state-of-the-art medical equipment and a fleet of helicopters for the care and transport of critically ill and injured individuals. Club members recently toured the STARS facility in Calgary.—Photo courtesy Calgary Snowmobile Club
The Calgary Snowmobile Club ended its 2008-2009 sledding season with a very meaningful final executive meeting.
Executive members and their spouses were given a tour of the Calgary STARS facility. As a club, the Calgary Snowmobile Club has been supporting STARS—the Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society—for about 19 years.
"It was astounding to find out all the various functions and co-ordinating that happens when an emergency call is received by the STARS Links Command Centre," said Ralph Dahlke, public relations co-ordinator for the Calgary club.
Dahlke said the tour guide explained that STARS started up in 1985, meaning next year will be its 25th year in operation. An initial donation from the Lions Club of Alberta got the service off the ground.
Today, the STARS emergency rescue operation is available in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie at an annual cost of $6 million per location per year, Dahlke said. Once the helicopters are purchased, they still need to be maintained, and there are ongoing costs to fly. Last year, many small clubs raised over $1 million for STARS.
The Alberta provincial government funds between 25 and 30 per cent of the costs of actual flying, Dahlke explained, with the balance of the STARS program funded by private donations—corporate and individual—and from such fundraising events as the STARS lottery.
Dahlke said that, in the past, the Calgary club's fund-raising for STARS was linked with a particular ride, with sledders asking for pledges-per-kilometre. But for the past few years, the snow cover in the Cataract area, where club members like to snowmobile, has been unreliable, Dahlke said.
"We get chinooks and the snow disappears," he said.
But the club has continued to accept straight donations, recently sending a cheque for $1,300 to STARS, Dahlke said. "It won't buy them a helicopter," he said, but agreed that every bit counts.
The STARS operation model is unique in Canada and continues to grow. STARS is awaiting their new AW139 long-range helicopters which feature extensive upgraded critical care capabilities, faster service, space for two patients at one time, plus an extended flying range over a much larger area of the province of Alberta. Each of these new helicopters costs in the range of $12 million.
"With an average of three to four flights per day, this is truly a very worthwhile endeavour that requires our continued club support," said Dahlke.
Although based in Alberta, STARS helicopters offer their services to other provinces too, including the East Kootenay area of British Columbia.
And STARS recently supported Manitobans during the significant floods that Manitoba experienced in April. STARS entered into a limited-time service engagement with the province of Manitoba.
"STARS' role is to support our neighbours during their unique time of need," according to a STARS news release. The service agreement with Manitoba does not impact on donor funds in Alberta.
Alberta Central contacts
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How Does Snowmobiling Affect Caribou?
As most snowmobiling occurs in high elevation areas, there is the potential for snowmobiling to disturb and displace these animals from their preferred habitat into areas less suitable and more prone to avalanches. Mountain caribou may also become stressed, which can affect energy reserves during critical time periods. In addition, snowmobile trails can provide easier access for predators into areas occupied by mountain caribou. Please take caution and be aware of, and avoid, mountain caribou in your riding area.
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Rimby, AB
Make the Rimbey Super 8 your choice in accommodation
The Super 8 hotel in Rimbey offers an on-site fitness centre, indoor pool, water slide and hot tub. We have an on-site meeting room, guest laundry and business centre for your convenience. We are conveniently located off Highway 20 near restaurants, shopping and area attractions (including some top-notch sledding terrain).
All rooms offer free high speed internet, fridges, microwaves, iron and boards, in-room coffee, and hair dryers. In the morning we also offer our guests a Super Start breakfast. Pets are allowed with permission in designated rooms, for a modest fee per pet, per day. There is ample room for parking large vehicles, even trucks and buses.
Super 8 -
Whitecourt, AB
Enjoy your stay in Whitecourt Super 8
Welcome to the Super 8 in Whitecourt. We are conveniently located off Highway 43, close to restaurants, shopping and area attractions. Some rooms offer high speed internet, and all rooms offer fridges, 27' televisions and in-room coffee. We offer Super Start Plus breakfast in the morning as well as an on-site fitness centre, guest laundry and meeting facilities. Pets are allowed.
Any local snowmobiler can tell you that Whitecourt offers some of the most prominent sledding terrain in the country. With trails of all kinds, and plenty of rental facilities and snowmobiling authorities, any sledder will feel at home in this warm community.Super 8 -
Rocky Mountain House, AB
Enjoy top-notch accommodation
When visiting Rocky Mountain House, you can't go wrong with the Super 8 motel. We are located just minutes away from some of Alberta's finest attractions and most incredible scenery. With a hot tub, pool/water slide, fitness centre and numerous in-room amenities including high speed internet, Super 8 is built to accommodate your every need. Enjoy a free Super Start Plus breakfast, and take advantage of our meeting area and guest laundry room. Pets are allowed for a reasonable fee.
Winter in Rocky Mountain House brings sledders from all over, and there is no better place to warm up after a day on the trails than our local Super 8. Book your stay today.Super 8 -
Bonnyville, AB
Have fun, work hard, play harder.
With experienced technical staff and well equipped facility, T & T Power Sports Ltd. is capable of servicing all of the products we sell. Motorcycles, outboards, personal watercrafts, snowmobiles or ATVs—we handle it all. Our techs are masters at installing all kinds of performance upgrades. Get the most out of your bike, ATV or sled—talk to our service department for more information. They say the key to every business is customer service, which I believe is right. We do our best to ensure the customer is always on top of any service repairs that are being done, so there are no surprises. Have fun, work hard, play harder.
T&T Power Sports
