Buffalo Narrows Heliport

The closure was likely due to evolving Transport Canada safety and certification standards for hospital heliports (specifically, the stricter H1 standards). Many older, ground-level helipads at medical centers across Canada were decommissioned because they did not meet new requirements for approach/departure paths, lighting, and safety zones. It is more operationally and financially feasible for air ambulance services like STARS to use the nearby, fully-equipped Buffalo Narrows Airport (CYVT) and complete the patient transfer via a short trip in a ground ambulance.

The physical infrastructure of the helipad, a circular paved pad, still exists on the grounds of the Buffalo Narrows Health Centre, immediately adjacent to the building. However, it is no longer a certified or active aviation facility. The site is now simply unused pavement. All air ambulance and other helicopter operations for the community are handled at the main Buffalo Narrows Airport (CYVT).

Designated as the Buffalo Narrows (Health Centre) Heliport, its sole purpose was to support medical operations for the Buffalo Narrows Health Centre. It served as a critical link for medical evacuations (medevac), allowing helicopters to land directly at the facility to rapidly transport critically ill or injured patients to larger, better-equipped hospitals in cities like Saskatoon or Prince Albert. This direct access was vital for time-sensitive medical emergencies in the remote northern Saskatchewan community.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening or recertifying this heliport. The current model of using the main Buffalo Narrows Airport (CYVT) for helicopter operations is considered the standard, safe, and effective procedure. Building a new heliport or upgrading the old one to meet modern Transport Canada H1 standards would require a significant financial investment, which is deemed unnecessary given the proximity and capabilities of the main airport.