Health Care Access: Airdrie’s Critical Gap

 

Despite a population of over 85,000, Airdrie has zero hospital beds. In contrast, St. Albert (pop. 73,000) has 167 beds at the Sturgeon Community Hospital. The nearest major facility for Airdrie residents is Peter Lougheed Hospital, 29 km away, with travel times reaching up to an hour during rush hour.

 

Systemic Issues:

 

• North Calgary Health Centre remains in planning after 20 years—no construction has begun.

• South Campus Hospital Plan could be revived for staged construction starting in 2026.

• Canada’s hospital bed ratio dropped from 6.8 to 2.6 beds per 1,000 people between 1980 and 2020 (WHO data).

• UK Department of Health research shows a 10-km increase in hospital distance raises mortality by 1% for emergency cases.

 

Comparative Models:

 

• Logan Health (Kalispell, MT): 150 beds for 114,000 residents.

• ASU research suggests Airdrie needs a similarly scaled facility.

 

💡 Proposed Solutions

 

1. Community Bond Financing

• Local health foundations could float community bonds to fund new facilities.

• This bottom-up model may bypass provincial delays and empower residents.

2. Federal–Provincial–Municipal Collaboration

• Through Invest Greater Calgary, coordinated investment could fast-track transit and healthcare infrastructure.

• Federal support could be leveraged for shovel-ready projects with regional impact via the Invest in Canada Infrastructure Fund.

3. Urgent Care Reform

• Airdrie Urgent Care’s performance lags behind smaller centers like Diamond Valley and Didsbury.

• A new regional emergency facility could relieve pressure on Calgary hospitals and improve outcomes.