The provincial government has announced a $2 million investment for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary.
The funding is being matched by the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The money will be put toward the planning of an expanded inpatient tower and new research centre at the health care facility.
“Expanding Alberta Children’s Hospital ensures Alberta children have access to the care they need, improves outcomes, and supports healthier, brighter futures for families across the province,” says Matt Jones, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services.
As it stands, the children’s hospital in Calgary has 141 inpatient acute care beds and 12 inpatient mental health beds.
The project will add 40 acute care beds and 10 mental health beds, increasing capacity by 32 per cent.
Additionally, a new Centre for Research and Innovative Care will help personalize treatment, advance precision medicine, and integrate research with clinical care.
Officials say this will help create family-friendly spaces, improve the quality of care that is delivered to patients, and support better outcomes.
“Our children are our future, and their mental health is a priority for our government. The collaborative work and investment into the Alberta Children’s Hospital strengthens and streamlines care for young people facing mental health challenges,” says Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
The planning process has started for the inpatient tower expansion, with officials saying the business and functional planning phase launched in September 2025.
The new Centre for Research and Innovative Care will be developed in tandem with Alberta Health Services, Alberta Children’s Hospital, the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
“This initiative will make Alberta a destination point for even more world-leading researchers and create a robust training and career pipeline hub for the next generation of child health scientists, specialists, and innovators,” says Myles McDougall, Alberta’s Minister for Advanced Education.
Officials say over 75,000 children are seen at the hospital’s emergency department each year, and over 10,000 surgeries are done at the Calgary hospital every year, with about 20 per cent of those happening on an emergency basis.
The province adds that the planning phase for the bed expansion will establish timelines for construction, and there are no disruptions expected to services or patients.
