The Alberta government has officially selected a location for the new standalone Stollery Children's Hospital, marking a significant milestone in pediatric healthcare for the region. The announcement, made on Monday, confirms the facility will be built on a green space at the University of Alberta's south campus.
Prime Location for Future Growth
The chosen site sits near the intersection of 122 Street and 51 Avenue, adjacent to the University of Alberta farm. Infrastructure Minister Martin Long emphasized the strategic value of this location, stating it offers ample space and flexibility for future expansion.
"Choosing this site is a promise to Alberta's children and families," Long said. He highlighted the proximity to the university's north campus as a critical factor, ensuring strong connections with clinicians, researchers, and training programs.
Planning Phase and Funding Initiatives
While the site is confirmed, the project's detailed planning phase is ongoing. Officials expect to finalize the hospital's space, service, and infrastructure requirements by 2026. Until this planning is complete, the government cannot determine the final costs or funding model for the construction.
Concurrently, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation has launched an ambitious campaign to raise $1 billion to support the building of the new facility.
Construction Timeline and Future Use of Current Facility
Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones provided context on the expected timeline, noting that constructing towers at existing hospitals typically takes between five and eight years. Building an entirely new, standalone hospital is expected to take even longer.
Once the new Stollery is operational, Minister Jones suggested the existing facility could be repurposed to backfill acute care capacity for the neighboring University of Alberta Hospital. "It's difficult to add on to major urban centres and regional hospitals, so it does make sense," he noted, adding that these plans are still under evaluation.
The current Stollery Children's Hospital opened in 2001 and has grown to become the second-largest children's hospital in Canada. It serves a massive patient load, with more than 300,000 children from across Western Canada receiving care each year. This includes approximately 55,000 emergency visits and 12,000 surgeries annually. The need for expanded facilities is clear, as Edmonton's population has surged from about 666,000 when the Stollery opened to over one million residents today.
