Jamie Brown (left) and Jordan Gunderson competing at the 2023 STARS Mixed Volleyball Tournament. The Fort Macleod Volleyball Club once again hosts the fundraising event this year, from April 12-14, 2024. (Photos: Frank McTighe, The Macleod Gazette)

By Justin Goulet

STARS fundraising volleyball tournament returning to Fort Macleod

Apr 2, 2024 | 12:47 PM

FORT MACLEOD, AB – A southern Alberta town is ready to bump, set and fundraise!

The Fort Macleod Volleyball Club hosts its STARS Mixed Volleyball Tournament April 12-14, 2024. This year marks the event’s 20^th anniversary.

Club president Mike Bourassa says the tournament helps raise funds for Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service (STARS). The non-profit helicopter air ambulance organization is headquartered in Calgary and provides rapid emergency care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients.

“All the proceeds we raise from every tournament goes toward STARS and the goal is to fund a flight, or multiple flights. Each STARS flight costs between $5,500 and $6,000,” Bourassa says.

Over the past 19 tournaments, the club has raised more than $140,000. Bourassa hopes that this year, they can collect enough donations to support at least three STARS flights.

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This year, Bourassa says 60 teams have signed up to play, which is a new tournament record. In addition to local teams, participants will include players from across the province, as well as British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The event is split into four divisions: competitive, intermediate, recreational and beer league, to account for various levels of playing experience and skill.

Karen Kramer participating in the 2023 tournament in Fort Macleod. (Photo: Frank McTighe, The Macleod Gazette)

Bourassa says the public is welcome to watch the action, with games hosted at F.P. Walshe School, W.A. Day Elementary School and at the Fort Macleod & District Sports Centre.

“It’s a real community event [with] lots of support from all the businesses in town, [there’s] lots of volunteers,” he adds.

THE BEGINNING

Bourassa says after he was named president of the club, he knew he wanted to give back.

“STARS has always been important to me,” he remarks.

He believed the creation of a tournament inviting teams from out of town to Fort Macleod could gain some traction and support the non-profit.

“The first year, I had to struggle to get 10 teams. I was at nine,” Bourassa says.

He notes that a friend of his sponsored a team of grade 12 students at F.P. Walshe to round out the initial tournament roster at 10 teams.

“That was one of the real building blocks for this tournament to get started because the younger kids played – the grade 12 students and what happened is, the next year, those kids that had played had gone off to university and college, came back and played with some friends that they made there and that’s how it’s grown,” Bourassa says, adding he sees many familiar names year after year.

COMMUNITY BOOST

Bourassa says the event attracts many individuals and groups from outside of Fort Macleod, creating a strong social and economic boost for the town.

“I think that’s why we have such a buy-in from the Town [of Fort Macleod],” he notes.

“The Town of Fort Macleod helps out in many ways, the administration and council helps out in any way they possibly can, as well as the businesses in town and citizens. It’s definitely a very busy weekend and it’s gotten busier and busier [every year]. Hotels are full, restaurants are full the whole weekend, the stores are full.”

Bourassa explains that in addition to fundraising for STARS, the club works alongside different community groups to bring the event to life.

He says the club employs the help of graduating students at F.P. Walshe to set up and tear down equipment. Bourassa adds organizers also work with the local Lion’s Club and fire department and that “lots of groups benefit from it”.

Scores throughout the tournament will be posted at the Fort Macleod Volleyball Club website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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