History

In 1978, The Northern Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation was established to advocate for a children’s hospital in Edmonton. In 1992, the name was changed to the Children’s Health Foundation of Northern Alberta to more accurately reflect the role of the Foundation in raising funds to support the regional Child Health Program. For the next seven years the work of the Foundation became far-reaching, with children from across Canada benefiting from specialized services provided through the Child Health Program. Subsequently, the name was abridged to Children’s Health Foundation in 1999.

With the generous support of the community, the Children’s Health Foundation launched a successful capital campaign that raised more than $10 million dollars towards the construction of a children’s hospital in Edmonton. It was determined that the concept for a free-standing children’s hospital could not be rationalized, therefore, the facility would be constructed within the existing walls of the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre. The space would be shared with the University of Alberta Hospital, in turn, minimizing the significant overhead costs associated with the operation and maintenance of a free-standing hospital. In 2001, the Stollery Children’s Health Centre became the Stollery Children’s Hospital, reflecting the fact that the facility is a separate, independently operated hospital. At the time, the Stollery Children’s Hospital was the only hospital in Edmonton that did not have a foundation specifically dedicated to supporting its needs.

As the primary facility for specialized pediatric services, the Stollery Children’s Hospital attracts many donors who wish to specifically support the children’s hospital. For this reason, the Children’s Health Foundation changed its name to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and is dedicated to specifically supporting the needs of the Stollery Children’s Hospital.