The Fort Macleod Coed Volleyball Tournament raised $16,500 for STARS air ambulance. From left: Mike Bourassa, Angela Martin STARS community engagement officer Sadie Fraser, Leanne Neels, Lauren Roelofsen and Chelsie Wolff.
Although smaller than in recent years, Fort Macleod’s annual charity coed volleyball tournament still raised $16,500 for STARS air ambulance.
Organizers had to reduce the number of teams to 36, from 60, due to the arena being closed for construction, but the community’s generosity was as strong as ever.
“We had debated at first whether we were going to do it, but then we decided that we would because even if we raised enough for one flight, that’s important,” tournament founder Mike Bourassa said Friday.
“We didn’t know what to expect, and we were blown away, really, by how generous people were. It didn’t seem to matter that it was going to be smaller.”
The tournament ran over four days in April on the courts at W.A. Day and F.P. Walshe schools, with 36 teams competing in competitive, intermediate, recreational and beer league divisions.
In addition to the registration fees paid by teams, fund-raising was assisted by donations from local businesses and live and silent auctions.
The result was a profit of $16,500 that the committee presented to a STARS representative on Friday.
That brings the total raised since the tournament was founded to about $190,000.
“The generosity of the community is great to see,” said Sadie Fraser, a community engagement officer with STARS. “I mean, this tournament has been going on longer than I’ve been alive, so that shows the commitment for sure.”
“It’s just always nice to see a community come together for the same cause.”
Now in its 41st year, the STARS helicopter has flown more than 65,000 missions.
STARS’ direct operating costs total $36.6 million, or $12.2 million for each base in Alberta.
The provincial government provides STARS with $15 million, with business, corporate and individual donations, community fund-raising; municipalities and lotteries covering the remaining 59 per cent.
The STARS lottery generates enough money to fund the operation of one base.
Ninety-five per cent of Alberta municipalities, including Fort Macleod, fund STARS on a per capita base.
“It takes a village to keep STARS in the sky, and we appreciate all our partners,” Fraser said. “The Fort Macleod volleyball tournament has been going for 20-plus years, and without them, STARS would not be able to fly.”
Fraser said the $16,500 donation from the 2026 tournament will fund about three missions by the air ambulance.
“Those are three more people who will receive the care of STARS, which I think speaks to the importance of the tournament.”
That “village” Fraser mentioned raises money in creative ways, from golf tournaments to horse rides, and from softball tournaments to lamb and steer auctions.
The tournament will return in April 2027 with room for 60 teams.
Tournament organizers have a long-term goal of reaching $250,000 in fund-raising.
When the tournament hits that level, the name “Fort Macleod Volleyball Tournament” will be inscribed on the STARS helicopters — an honour that few have attained.
“It’s definitely a milestone,” Fraser said. “Not everybody reaches that goal.”
The tournament organizing committee includes Bourassa, Chelsie Wolff, Zach Grant, Leanne Neels, Lauren Roelofsen, Lindsey Zielinski, Abby Van Herk, Landon Schneider, Breanne Van Herk, Tom Lyon, Angela Martin, Brandy Sharma and Paige Knauf.
The following is a five-year (2021-’25) overview of STARS missions in the MD of Willow Creek:
- • Claresholm Hospital critical inter-facility transfers — 42.
- • Claresholm scene — 18.
- • Fort Macleod Health Centre critical inter-facility transfer — 16.
- • Fort Macleod scene — 10.
- • Near Glenwood in the MD of Willow Creek — one.
- • Near Granum — six.
- • Near Nanton — 13.
- • Near Pearce in the MD of Willow Creek — two.
- • Near Stavely — four.
