The STARS air ambulance service responded to an interfacility patient transfer in Gimli, Manitoba, early on April 6, 2026. The helicopter, known as STAR-7, arrived in the community at approximately 5:37 AM to transport a patient to a larger hospital for specialized care.
The flight is part of the regular operations for the air ambulance organization, which has been serving Manitoba since 2012. Operating 24 hours a day from a base in Winnipeg, the service conducts more than 700 missions each year. These flights are coordinated through the provincial Medical Transportation Coordination Centre and are provided at no cost to the patients.
This transport highlights the essential medical link between local facilities and urban hospitals. The Gimli Community Health Centre, also known as Johnson Memorial Hospital, provides primary care for the area, but relies on specialized transport when patients require a higher level of care in Winnipeg, which is located about 77 kilometres away.
The long-term availability of this service in the province was recently secured through a 10-year funding agreement signed with the Manitoba government in 2024. Additionally, the organization is currently working to expand its Winnipeg base, a project supported by a donation from Manitoba Blue Cross that is expected to be completed later in 2026.
During each mission, the air ambulance crew consists of two pilots, a critical care nurse, and a critical care paramedic. An emergency physician is also available to provide guidance by telephone for every response.
