In the field of healthcare, the quality of services and the professionalism of specialists are of paramount importance. Calgary boasts several outstanding medical institutions, some of which consistently rank among the top hospitals in Canada. Learn more about six of them below on icalgary.
1. Alberta Children’s Hospital
This world-class pediatric facility is Alberta’s provincial center for bone marrow transplantation. The hospital opened in 1922 as the Red Cross Children’s Hospital with 35 beds and was staffed by volunteer doctors. Initially, it specialized in treating children with polio, becoming a pioneer in pediatric orthopedic surgeries, attracting patients from across the country. In the early years, the hospital also treated children with septic tonsils and clubfoot deformities. In 1934, after the Red Cross withdrew its sponsorship, it was registered as a non-profit organization and renamed the Alberta Children’s Hospital for Crippled Children. In 1960, it was renamed the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and 12 years later, the Alberta government purchased it. In 2006, a new building resembling toy blocks was opened. Over time, the hospital became a leader in congenital cataract surgery and a center for advanced research. It also created Canada’s first pediatric neurostimulation center.
2. Rockyview General Hospital
Opened in 1966 as a 200-bed medical and surgical facility, this hospital has since grown into a massive institution offering comprehensive medical and surgical services. Rockyview General Hospital is renowned for its urology department and is a Canadian leader in urological care. The hospital provides emergency care, intensive care, day surgeries, psychiatric services, and specialized care for the elderly. While primarily for adults, it also offers a maternity program for newborns. Designed by the firm Culham Pedersen Valentine, the original construction cost $90 million. Over the years, the facility has been expanded and modernized. The hospital is home to the Lions Eye Bank, a regional center for eye tissue recovery and corneal transplants. It also houses an educational unit where medical residents gain hands-on experience.
3. Foothills Medical Centre
One of the most renowned healthcare institutions in Canada, this facility is a leading research and teaching hospital. It provides advanced medical services and is an accredited trauma and stroke rehabilitation center. The main building was opened in 1966 under the name Foothills Provincial General Hospital. Today, it collaborates with the University of Calgary for student education and medical research. The center includes the Cumming School of Medicine, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, the Cancer Centre, the Grace Women’s Health Centre, Alberta Health Sciences Association, and the North and South Towers offering a wide range of outpatient services. In 2010, the state-of-the-art McCaig Tower was added, featuring ICU beds, short-stay beds, and operating rooms. Foothills was the first hospital in the world to introduce a powerful mobile MRI machine in 2009. It also conducted the first robotic brain tumor removal surgery.
4. South Health Campus
This hospital, opened in 2016, redefines healthcare delivery by integrating leading technologies, research, and education with healing environments and sustainable design. Many expectant mothers dream of giving birth here due to its excellent maternity department and aesthetically pleasing patient rooms. The facility offers emergency care, intensive care, and day surgeries, treating a wide range of acute and chronic conditions. Most inpatient rooms are private, ensuring patient safety and the ability to host family members. The campus features a wellness center with a fitness gym, a health-conscious kitchen, and a knowledge center where librarians help find the latest health-related information. The South Health Campus team includes nurses, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, pharmacists, social workers, cardiologists, and occupational therapists. The building’s exterior color scheme reflects the prairie landscape, forested areas, and the bright blue sky.
5. Peter Lougheed Centre
This hospital offers medical and surgical services, including 24/7 emergency care, intensive care, and outpatient services. Opened in 1988, it was named after Peter Lougheed, Alberta’s Premier from 1971 to 1985. In 2008, a new east wing was completed, housing expanded intensive and coronary care units. The building features a rooftop helipad for emergency cases. The Peter Lougheed Centre is renowned for its vascular surgery program and serves as a training ground for Western Canadian surgeons specializing in anterior hip replacements and same-day knee replacement surgeries.
6. Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
This health center provides 24/7 urgent care but is not a full-service hospital and does not offer overnight stays. Opened in 2008 on the site of the former Colonel Belcher Veterans’ Hospital, the facility is named after Sheldon Chumir, a civil liberties lawyer and long-time Alberta Liberal MLA who championed the interests of Calgarians. The center provides diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, and other services, including the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic and the STI Clinic.
Calgary’s healthcare framework took shape after Alberta became a province in 1905. The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons was established in 1906, followed by the Alberta Medical Association. By 1910, the University of Alberta took over physician licensing, and public health nursing services were introduced to address the doctor shortage.