Rod Gantefoer and Carole Gantefoer pose with a new STARS helicopter at the Melfort Hospital. (Brendan Mayer/northeastNOW Staff)

By Brendan Mayer

new STARS aircraft

STARS welcomes new helicopter named after Gantefoer to Melfort

Jun 28, 2021 | 5:49 PM

STARS air ambulance welcomed its latest Airbus H145 helicopter named after Melfort resident Rod Gantefoer to the Melfort Hospital Monday.

The aircraft’s registration marks are “C-GFRG,” and the last three letters stand for “Founder Rod Gantefoer.”

“It’s unexpected and an honour,” Gantefoer said.

Gantefoer was instrumental in the development and implementation of STARS in Saskatchewan.

“He got us going,” STARS president and CEO Andrea Robertson said. “We’re forever grateful. We’ve had incredible support here in Saskatchewan.”

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Gantefoer also led the fundraising initiative for the Melfort Heliport project.

“It’s good to see people in the northeast coming together and doing what we can to work together,” Gantefoer added. “We’ll do better at that in the long run.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe paid tribute to Gantefoer during the event.

“It’s great to come over to Melfort again,” Moe said. “It’s even greater to come over for this day to honour Rod Gantefoer in many ways but also to celebrate the next steps of our fleet renewal for STARS air ambulance and the service it provides in the province. Rod has always understood that everyone has to be involved in order for STARS to be successful in the long term and that includes government. He’s an exceptional man with an exceptional career in the community, an exceptional career in the province and an ongoing exceptional effort that he’s giving to the STARS organization.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks outside the Melfort Hospital Monday. (Brendan Mayer/northeastNOW Staff)

The new aircraft is the fifth of 10 helicopters needed to replace STARS’ fleet in Western Canada.

“We expect to be flying this aircraft here for at least 30 years,” Robertson said. “It’s a generational investment for the people of Saskatchewan.”