Air Jordans. Sony Walkman. Big Hair. Plastic neon bracelets. The Nintendo Entertainment System. These are just some of the hallmarks of the 80s that the bulk of those leading companies in the energy sector fondly remember. Then there were those vehicles. The muscle cars. The souped up trucks. The dragsters. The classics! Joining those heady times was Convey-All’s® first conveyor system, which hit the market in 1985.
Convey-All, a Meridian Manufacturing brand, has been building conveyors for the energy market since 1985. Over the decades, the company introduced industry-changing innovations, including the first commercial seed tender and hydraulic drive conveyors, features competitors are only now promoting as new.
Now, the company is channelling that history into a campaign that looks back to move forward – in a very unique and exciting way.
“The median age of entrepreneurs in the energy sector in Canada is between 55-60, which means many of their formative years go back to the 80s, says Jacob Welde, marketing manager at Meridian Manufacturing. “As we talked more about that era, we started noticing a lot of parallels with 1985 — the year Convey-All manufactured its first conveyor. When we discussed how to celebrate our company milestone, we drew inspiration from other milestones of that time, like the debut of Air Jordans and the release of Back to the Future. We kept digging into what else began in 1985, and that is when STARS Air Ambulance came onto our radar.”
He continues, “The moment we realized that STARS started in the same era as all of these other iconic milestones, we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to combine our celebration with supporting this cause. It just felt too perfectly aligned — almost destined.”
The result? A chance to bid on and win a beautifully restored classic from the 80s – a GMC C1500 truck.
Throughout the year, Convey-All has been touring the restored truck to trade shows and other events. On December 2, 2026, Ritchie Bros. will auction the truck at its Saskatoon sale, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to STARS.
STARS was a natural fit.
“Every farmer knows someone who’s alive today because of STARS, or they’ve experienced the emergency service themselves,” Welde says. “The same is true in the oil and gas industry. There are a lot of people in the far north who have relied on their services.”
The company is grateful to its partners for making the campaign possible. Ritchie Bros. is organizing the sale and waiving all auction fees, while Flaman Sales supplied an enclosed trailer to keep the truck in top condition.
“It’s been trailered everywhere, so we are not adding miles or wear and tear on the truck,” Welde adds.
There are two easy ways to take part in the campaign:
- Bid on the truck. The 1986 GMC C1500 is listed at Ritchie Bros. and closes at the Saskatoon auction on December 2. Every dollar supports STARS Air Ambulance. Check it out at www.rbauction.com/pdp/1986-gmc-c1500-pickup/15590215.
- Wear the 80s-inspired merch and enjoy a fun trip down memory lane! The brand is handing out 80s style promo items such as sunglasses, fanny packs and hats at tradeshows. Plan to stop by the booth at Agri-Trade, say hi and find out how to donate to directly to STARS.
Convey-All’s history shows a commitment to energy innovation that outlasts trends. This campaign invites the energy community to look back on that legacy while giving forward to a service that has saved countless lives across Western Canada. Bid on the truck, wear the gear, celebrate Convey-All’s anniversary and help STARS keep delivering critical care where it’s needed most.