work sites are connected directly to the centre on any given day for immediate response when emergencies occur. In 1998, the STARS Seconds Count Capital Campaign was launched to buy two STARS helicopters and establish the STARS Legacy Fund. STARS also received full accreditation as an international critical-care provider from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). The Human Patient Simulator program was established in Alberta through the support of founding donors. In 2001, the International Association of Air Medical Services awarded STARS the prestigious Program of the Year award. STARS was the first international and first Canadian program to receive this honour. In this same year, STARS also purchased a fourth BK117 helicopter. STARS opened a third base in Alberta in 2006 in Grande Prairie. In its first year, the Grande Prairie base flew more than 116 missions. Saskatchewan STARS launched operations in Saskatchewan in 2012 with BK117 helicopters based at the Regina International Airport and the Saskatoon International Airport, flying 217 missions in 2012. The Saskatoon base was equipped with an AW139 helicopter until fall 2019, which was funded through a donation by Potash Corp. STARS currently conducts 24/7 operations from both their Saskatoon and Regina bases using the H145 Helicopter. STARS also coordinates with Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service, which operates four King Air B200 aircraft based out of the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. Manitoba In 2009 and 2011, STARS was contracted to the Government of Manitoba to assist with emergency response during major flooding that affected the province. In June 2011, STARS was asked by the provincial government to maintain a permanent base within the province. Shortly after, STARS signed a 10-year service agreement with the Government of Manitoba on February 22, 2012, to provide helicopter air ambulance service to Manitoba. STARS operates on the west side of the Winnipeg International Airport, in close proximity to CFB Winnipeg, using the H145 helicopter. STARS currently conducts 24/7 operations from their Winnipeg base. As of December 2021, STARS has conducted more than 5000 missions from the Winnipeg base. In Manitoba, STARS is dispatched from the provincial Medical Transportation Coordination Center (MTCC) in Brandon, MB. The MTCC is the EMS dispatch center for rural Manitoba outside of the City of Winnipeg. Nova Scotia STARS managed the air ambulance service in Nova Scotia from 1996 until 2001, when their contract was not renewed. Then Health Minister Jamie