Co-op commits $1 million to support STARS critical care operations across Western Canada
WINNIPEG, Nov. 6, 2026 – STARS and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) today announced a new landmark $1 million partnership to further strengthen critical care access in communities across Western Canada.
On behalf of nearly 150 local Co-ops across the Co-operative Retailing System, FCL is committing a total of $1 million that will support STARS Western Canadian operations to help ensure that people have access to lifesaving care, no matter where they live, work, or play.
“We’re proud to partner with STARS and support the critical care it provides for Western Canadians at their most vulnerable moments,” said Leanne Hawes, vice-president, Co-op & external relations, FCL. “With Co-op serving more than 650 communities, a STARS patient could be one of our Co-op members, a customer, a colleague, a neighbour, a friend or a loved one, and that’s why this commitment deeply matters.”
Built on shared values and a promise to serve people and local communities, this partnership will enable STARS to continue providing critical care, while advancing medical transport and lifesaving interventions to help improve patient outcomes in the most critical of situations.
“As an organization built by the community, for the community, we are only able to serve our patients thanks to the unwavering support of partners like Co-op,” said Dr. John Froh, president and CEO, STARS. “From the Rocky Mountains, across the Prairies, to the North, and beyond, we believe that every person should have access to quality, lifesaving care, no matter where they are. This incredible $1 million donation from Co-op will help ensure we can continue delivering the highest standard of care, wherever it’s needed, when it matters most.”
With approximately 50 per cent of its funding across Western Canada coming from community fundraising, charitable donations from partners like FCL made it possible for STARS to fly 3,575 missions last year, from its six bases across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
For more information about STARS, please visit stars.ca
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For more information contact:
Natalie Hofstetter, Communications Manager, STARS | mediainfo@stars.ca | 1−866−966−8277
Brad Delorey, Director, Communications and Public Relations, Federated Co-operatives Limited | Brad.Delorey@fcl.crs | 306−719−4548 or 306−541−7643
ABOUT STARS
STARS is a charity, born from the conviction that no one should go without the care that could save their life. Operating 24/7 from bases in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg, STARS is many patients’ best hope in a worst-case scenario. Thanks to support from generous community partners, we provide critical care — physically or virtually — in whatever capacity we can help. Because when it comes to the next patient who needs us, it’s never too far.
Learn more or donate at STARS.CA
ABOUT FEDERATED CO-OPERATIVES LIMITED AND THE CO-OPERATIVE RETAILING SYSTEM
Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), based in Saskatoon, is focused on providing more than 150 local Co-ops across Western Canada with strategy and leadership, wholesaling, manufacturing, logistics, operational support, business-enabling services and marketing support. Together, FCL and those local co-operatives form the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS). The CRS serves our members and communities with products and services that help grow, build, feed, and fuel individuals and communities from Vancouver Island to northwestern Ontario. Our total workforce of over 27,500 employees serve more than 2.2 million individual members and many more non-member customers at 1,600+ retail locations in more than 650 communities. We are a different kind of business – we are locally invested, community-minded, care for the environment and offer lifetime membership benefits, including patronage refunds, quality products, quality service and fair prices. More information is available at www.fcl.crs and www.co-op.crs.
