Pathways of Impact

2022 | 2023
Annual Report

Pathways of Impact

2022 | 2023 Annual Report

Impact at a Glance

Impact at a Glance

$

1 Million Distributed

$

0 Million

Distributed

during the 2022-2023 fiscal year

The Foundation pledged to distribute more than $10 million in the fiscal year 2022-2023. One of the most significant initiatives was to double the support for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women from the previous fiscal year. This increase in funding highlights the importance of women’s health and the Foundation’s commitment to promoting it.

$

0 Million over 16 years

$

0 Million Over

16 Years

Over the past 16 years, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has provided funding of more than $95.5 million to support various community organizations, contributed to post-secondary institutions, and contributed to research and care at the hospital’s medical centres of excellence. Over the past three years, the Foundation achieved an impressive feat of doubling the fundraising net revenues. As a result, we have been able to distribute an average of $10.2 million annually towards supporting various charitable initiatives and causes. Thanks to generous support from donors, the Foundation has made a significant and meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it most.

28 Endowment funds 90+ Donor Directed Funds

A Message of Thanks from Foundation Leadership

A Message of Thanks from Foundation Leadership

Pathways of Impact

When we consider the thousands of donors who support the Royal Alexandra Hospital each year, we stand in awe of the new and exciting pathways that are created in the advancement of patient care. Pathways that didn’t exist previously. 

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is privileged to sit at the crossroads of these pathways. What an honour it is to work directly with donors who are passionate about catalyzing the work of skilled health care teams and researchers—bringing innovation and opportunity to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its medical centres of excellence. 

These pathways lead to new technology at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, like the Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanner, which has vastly improved the diagnosis and staging of cancer and has led to breakthroughs in novel techniques for treatment of chronic conditions and multiple other diseases.

At the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, these pathways have led to an innovative pilot program that delivers a reconciled approach to medical care for Indigenous women and gender-diverse peoples in our community. The new program recognizes Indigenous healing practices and includes them in the treatment of patients, in collaboration with Indigenous healers and Elders. This work establishes our women’s hospital as a leader—nationally—in the path to improve health outcomes for Indigenous women and their families. 

At the CK Hui Heart Centre and Eye Institute of Alberta, these pathways have led to the announcements of exciting new physician and clinician leaders who are further buoyed by new and existing sources of endowed funding, and the collaboration of medical and nursing colleagues who are passionate about bringing bold new visions to life.

New pathways also help us see where gaps in knowledge still exist. Donor support for the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is catalyzing research opportunities in women’s health right here in our city and across Alberta. These researchers, through their collaborations with peers across Canada and around the globe, are forging pathways today that will change health outcomes for women and girls tomorrow.  

The 2022-23 Annual Report highlights and celebrates these and many other pathways.

Sincerely,
Sharlene Rutherford, BPA, MBA

President & CEO
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

George Coon, FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D, CFP
Chair of the Board
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Read More Read Less

On behalf of our Foundation, our Board of Directors, and the hospital we support, thank you for walking this path with us, and for entrusting us with your donor dollars in the advancement of care, treatment, and research.

Pathways of Impact

When we consider the thousands of donors who support the Royal Alexandra Hospital each year, we stand in awe of the new and exciting pathways that are created in the advancement of patient care. Pathways that didn’t exist previously. 

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is privileged to sit at the crossroads of these pathways. What an honour it is to work directly with donors who are passionate about catalyzing the work of skilled health care teams and researchers—bringing innovation and opportunity to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its medical centres of excellence. 

These pathways lead to new technology at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, like the Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) Scanner, which has vastly improved the diagnosis and staging of cancer and has led to breakthroughs in novel techniques for treatment of chronic conditions and multiple other diseases. 

At the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, these pathways have led to an innovative pilot program that delivers a reconciled approach to medical care for Indigenous women and gender-diverse peoples in our community. The new program recognizes Indigenous healing practices and includes them in the treatment of patients, in collaboration with Indigenous healers and Elders. This work establishes our women’s hospital as a leader—nationally—in the path to improve health outcomes for Indigenous women and their families. 

At the CK Hui Heart Centre and Eye Institute of Alberta, these pathways have led to the announcements of exciting new physician and clinician leaders who are further buoyed by new and existing sources of endowed funding, and the collaboration of medical and nursing colleagues who are passionate about bringing bold new visions to life.

New pathways also help us see where gaps in knowledge still exist. Donor support for the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is catalyzing research opportunities in women’s health right here in our city and across Alberta. These researchers, through their collaborations with peers across Canada and around the globe, are forging pathways today that will change health outcomes for women and girls tomorrow.  

The 2022-23 Annual Report highlights and celebrates these and many other pathways.

Sincerely, 
Sharlene Rutherford, BPA, MBA

President & CEO
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

George Coon, FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D, CFP
Chair of the Board
Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Read More Read Less

On behalf of our Foundation, our Board of Directors, and the hospital we support, thank you for walking this path with us, and for entrusting us with your donor dollars in the advancement of care, treatment, and research.

A Message of Thanks from Hospital Leadership

As leaders, we have the daily pleasure of witnessing incredible, and often life-saving acts, of care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the centres of excellence that thrive within it. Not a day passes that we aren’t acutely aware of the role donor support plays in making the highest quality care possible, and though we don’t often have the opportunity to say a direct thank you to each of you, please know that our gratitude knows no bounds.

The gifts you make year in and year out lay a path for our teams to follow. Whether it be through the purchase of new diagnostic equipment that provides a grandfather the answer he seeks, or funding for a new program that allows a mother to bring a child into the world surrounded by the cultural practices that bring her comfort, or something as small as a coffee that provides a nod to a healthcare worker that they are not in this alone, your contributions make a difference every day at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

On behalf of each patient, care provider, and support staff, we thank you today and every day in the future. This hospital could not operate the way it does today without you. Thank you for your support once again.

Sincerely,

Janie Clink, 
Senior Operating Officer, RAH & SCH

Dr. Colin Peterson, MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP
Facility Medical Director, RAH

Land Acknowledgement

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation respectfully acknowledges that we are on the traditional lands referred to as Treaty 6 Territory, and that the City of Edmonton and all the people here are beneficiaries of this peace and friendship treaty. Treaty 6 encompasses the traditional territories of numerous western Canada First Nations such as the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Metis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Metis and Inuit people who have called this area home since time immemorial.

Pathways of
Growth & Giving

The following five revenue categories have been combined and simplified for the sake of ease of understanding and do not necessarily imply operational procedures.

Community &
Corporate Support

Through the generosity of our individual donors, foundations and corporations in supporting efforts such as monthly giving, direct mail, annual programs, major gifts and grants, and more, we are powering the way forward for a variety of causes and initiatives. We are proud and humbled to earn the ongoing support of the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society and to have been named the recipient of many high-impact grant awards and, as a result of personal solicitation and the generosity of our community, we gratefully received over 7,000 individual gifts.

0 %
0 %

Investment
Income

Through closely managed financial investments and the maintenance of a number of endowed funds established by donors and the Foundation alike, the Foundation is able to grow and earn modest revenues. A significant amount of these investment earnings are reinvested to grow further, or distributed toward specific predefined uses that impact how care is delivered across our centres of excellence.

0 %

Lotteries & Events

The Foundation is engaged in charitable gaming via the Full House Lottery, a 30+ year-old dream home lottery marketed to Albertans in partnership with the University Hospital Foundation, and also the WinWin Staff Lottery, offered to healthcare providers in Alberta and touting participation from over fifty health foundations across the province. Being a beneficiary of a number of third-party events and through recurring online auctions like the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society’s Bid & Benefit and signature annual events like Harvest Celebration in support of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women–and of course the many sponsors, ticket and table purchasers, and engaged donors–we are able to provide significant financial support that impacts the hospital.

National
Partnerships

The Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC) is a national partnership in women’s health, currently consisting of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, Women’s College Hospital Foundation in Toronto, and the BC Women’s Health Foundation. This partnership has blazed the trail for Canada-wide campaigns working with corporate partners. From a national scale, these partnerships and campaigns are able to reach a wider network of donors passionate and willing to advance women’s healthcare.

0 %
0 %

Legacy
Giving

Legacy gifts to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation–whether though gifts in one’s will, gifts of securities, annuities, insurance policies, or otherwise–create a long term pathway of impact toward the donor’s goals and wishes. We are honoured to have been included and declared in the wills and testaments of many generous community members who have decided to tend to tomorrow. We celebrate our legacy givers for their contributions and welcome them to the Royal Willow Society as a token of gratitude and way to connect around long term impact.

Pathways of Growth & Giving

The following five revenue categories have been combined and simplified for the sake of ease of understanding and do not necessarily imply operational procedures.

0 %

Lotteries & Events

The Foundation is engaged in charitable gaming via the Full House Lottery, a 30+ year-old dream home lottery marketed to Albertans in partnership with the University Hospital Foundation, and also the WinWin Staff Lottery, offered to healthcare providers in Alberta and touting participation from over fifty health foundations across the province. Being a beneficiary of a number of third-party events and through recurring online auctions like the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society’s Bid & Benefit and signature annual events like Harvest Celebration in support of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women–and of course the many sponsors, ticket and table purchasers, and engaged donors–we are able to provide significant financial support that impacts the hospital.

0 %

Investment
Income

Through closely managed financial investments and the maintenance of a number of endowed funds established by donors and the Foundation alike, the Foundation is able to grow and earn modest revenues. A significant amount of these investment earnings are reinvested to grow further, or distributed toward specific predefined uses that impact how care is delivered across our centres of excellence.

0 %

Community &
Corporate Support

Through the generosity of our individual donors, foundations and corporations in supporting efforts such as monthly giving, direct mail, annual programs, major gifts and grants, and more, we are powering the way forward for a variety of causes and initiatives. We are proud and humbled to earn the ongoing support of the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society and to have been named the recipient of many high-impact grant awards and, as a result of personal solicitation and the generosity of our community, we gratefully received over 7,000 individual gifts.

0 %

National
Partnerships

The Women’s Health Collective Canada (WHCC) is a national partnership in women’s health, currently consisting of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, Women’s College Hospital Foundation in Toronto, and the BC Women’s Health Foundation. This partnership has blazed the trail for Canada-wide campaigns working with corporate partners. From a national scale, these partnerships and campaigns are able to reach a wider network of donors passionate and willing to advance women’s healthcare.

0 %

Legacy
Giving

Legacy gifts to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation–whether though gifts in one’s will, gifts of securities, annuities, insurance policies, or otherwise–create a long term pathway of impact toward the donor’s goals and wishes. We are honoured to have been included and declared in the wills and testaments of many generous community members who have decided to tend to tomorrow. We celebrate our legacy givers for their contributions and welcome them to the Royal Willow Society as a token of gratitude and way to connect around long term impact.

A Lifetime of Generosity

The late William K. (Bill) Robbins was a respected businessman, a visionary leader, and a dedicated supporter of healthcare. The longtime Patron of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation passed away in spring 2023, and his impact is still felt in virtually every corner of the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus.

$5.9 Million Distributed to the

$5.9 Million Distributed
to the

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

during the
2022 | 2023
fiscal year

0

Trauma
Patients

0

Medicine Program
Inpatients

0

Surgery
Inpatients

0

Outpatients

0

Emergency
Visits

0

Beds

0

minimally invasive surgeries performed via Da Vinci

0

unique addictions recovery community health consults

PET CT Scanner

Visualizing New Pathways in Diagnostics, Treatment and Research

When doctors can see more, they can do more. Donors were instrumental in first bringing a new PET/CT scanner to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 2011, providing physicians with new, critical lines of sight. Now, this same technology is enabling further discovery and research to save lives.

PET CT Scanner

Visualizing New Pathways in Diagnostics, Treatment and Research

When doctors can see more, they can do more. Donors were instrumental in first bringing a new PET/CT scanner to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 2011, providing physicians with new, critical lines of sight. Now, this same technology is enabling further discovery and research to save lives.

$340 Thousand Distributed to the</span?

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

0

Completed
Visits

for Stress Tests, Holter Monitors, Arrhythmia (+Heart Function & Pacemaker clinic)

0

Cases

for PCIs, Cardiac Catheterizations, and Device Implants (PMs and ICDs only)

0

Inpatient
Admissions

for CICU and 1E

An Innovative Pathway to Improved Heart Health

The CK Hui Heart Centre’s mission is to save lives and advance the science of cardiology through innovation. With his recent selection as the new Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Benjamin Tyrrell will be implementing a vision of further innovation, focused on exploration of emerging technologies and techniques, buoyed by the support of donors and supporters—and one crucial new fund established by a fellow CK Hui cardiologist and family.

$4.3 Million Distributed to the</span?

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

Babies Born
0
Ambulatory
clinic visits
0
minimally invasive surgeries performed via Da Vinci
0

2 new clinics funded – MHHC & Indeginous Heart Clinic

Working Toward a Better Path for All Peoples

Indigenous people experience many barriers in accessing healthcare systems due to ongoing trauma and colonial social determinants of health. A pilot program at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women aims to provide a culturally safe and integrative model of care. Known as the Indigenous Cultural Partnership, it is seeking to advocate for and establish a reconciled model of medicine–and seeing an influx of donor support.

1 New Chair of the

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

Total Eye
Clinic Visits
0
Emergency
Visits
0
Total Eye
Clinic Visits
0

Vision for the Future

The Eye Institute of Alberta, located on the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, is entering an exciting new chapter with a new face at the helm. Dr. Edsel Ing has stepped into the position of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation’s Research Chair in Ophthalmology.

$340 Thousand Distributed to the</span?

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

0

Completed
Visits

for Stress Tests, Holter Monitors, Arrhythmia (+Heart Function & Pacemaker clinic)

0

Cases

for PCIs, Cardiac Catheterizations, and Device Implants (PMs and ICDs only)

0

Inpatient
Admissions

for CICU and 1E

An Innovative Pathway to Improved Heart Health

The CK Hui Heart Centre’s mission is to save lives and advance the science of cardiology through innovation. With his recent selection as the new Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Benjamin Tyrrell will be implementing a vision of further innovation, focused on exploration of emerging technologies and techniques, buoyed by the support of donors and supporters—and one crucial new fund established by a fellow CK Hui cardiologist and family.

$4.3 Million Distributed to the</span?

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

Babies Born
0
Ambulatory
clinic visits
0
minimally invasive surgeries performed via Da Vinci
0

2 new clinics funded - MHHC & Indeginous Heart Clinic

Working Toward a Better Path for All Peoples

Indigenous people experience many barriers in accessing healthcare systems due to ongoing trauma and colonial social determinants of health. A pilot program at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women aims to provide a culturally safe and integrative model of care. Known as the Indigenous Cultural Partnership, it is seeking to advocate for and establish a reconciled model of medicine–and seeing an influx of donor support.

1 New Chair of the

during the 2022 | 2023 fiscal year

Total Eye
Clinic Visits
0
Emergency
Visits
0
Total Eye
Clinic Visits
0

Vision for the Future

The Eye Institute of Alberta, located on the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, is entering an exciting new chapter with a new face at the helm. Dr. Edsel Ing has stepped into the position of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation’s Research Chair in Ophthalmology.

$1.45
Million Distributed

$1.45 Million Distributed

Annually To WCHRI
for Research

Legacy Gift Committed
$ 0 Million
Researchers Funded
0 +
Projects
Funded
0
Trainees
Funded
0
Endowed Research
Chairs Supported
0
Endowed Research Chairs Supported
0

Amplifying Voices On The Path To Equity

Amplifying Voices On The Path
To Equity

It’s been said that silence is deafening. That’s why the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is committed to delving into the ‘silence’ around women’s health issues. With our community of donors and partners right beside us, we are carving new pathways of impact for women’s voices in healthcare.

2200+ People Represented in 1 Thought Leadership Report

Awarded Acclaim

Imagine Canada

The Standards Program Trustmark is a mark of Imagine Canada, offering a Canada-wide set of shared standards for charities and nonprofits. Since 2015, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has proudly been certified as part of the Standard Program, accredited for excellence and compliance in Board Governance, Financial Accountability and Transparency, Fundraising, Staff Management, and Volunteer Involvement.

Alberta's Top Employers

3 years running

Alberta’s Top Employers is an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, recognizing the Alberta employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. In a review process that includes thousands of applicants each year, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is thrilled to have been selected for three consecutive years as one of the 75 Alberta’s Top Employers.

The Queen's Platinum
Jubilee Medal

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal is a commemorative medal awarded to 7,000 outstanding Albertans for their notable contributions to the betterment of society. In a ceremony that took place on November 15th, 2022, our President and CEO Sharlene Rutherford humbly accepted a medal for her service in support of the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the advancement of healthcare for Albertans, with a special emphasis on Sharlene’s work championing women’s health and health research.

Board of Directors

Board of
Directors

What 'pathways of impact' have you seen activated through the support of donors or work of the foundation?

What 'pathways of impact' have you seen activated through the support of donors or work of the foundation?

Financials

A Message From Our Financial Leadership

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation Board is pleased to present the Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023. These statements represent our fiduciary duty to report to donors of the Foundation’s achievements in fundraising activities, investment returns, and disbursements made to the Royal Alexandra Hospital and its medical centers of excellence.

The Foundation’s hard working teams continue to strive to achieve financial growth with agility in an ever-changing landscape for charitable healthcare foundations in Alberta. With a focus on building fund development capacity the Foundation achieved a 30% increase in fundraising revenue over the prior year–the highest fundraising revenue in the Foundation’s history. The continued growth in fundraising revenue was instrumental in the Foundation’s ability to offset declines in charitable gaming revenue and continued uncertainty in investment markets. The Foundation’s prudent financial management and tight control over operating expenses contributed to an overall positive financial performance. This allowed the Foundation to concentrate on impact by distributing $10.7 million in funds during the fiscal year, funding many priority needs and investment in research.

Community and donor support for the Foundation remains steadfast, and the pathways of impact inspirational. On behalf of the Foundation and Board of Directors, we say thank you to the many donors and corporate partners who create impact each day through their support. Your gifts allow for the best care possible for the hundreds of thousands of patients who rely on the Royal Alexandra Hospital each year. 

Dan Lefavire, FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D
Vice-Chair and Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee for FY 2022-23,
Incoming Chair of the Board Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Carlie Persson, CPA, CA, CIA
Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee Member for FY 2022-23,
Incoming Chair, Finance Audit and Risk Management Committee Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

Read More Read Less

George Coon, Chair

FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D, CFP

During my time with the foundation, I have seen so many wonderful projects advanced by the foundation and donors. As someone who experienced various eye issues since birth, being involved in the fundraising campaign for the newly renovated Eye Institute of Alberta was personally very meaningful, as were the many milestones achieved in women’s health. Having a mother, sister, wife, and two daughters, it has been inspiring to see the development of a national and provincial voice for women to provide lasting research that will benefit all women, improving care and providing hope for so many families in our community. What a wonderful legacy of impact.

Dan Lefaivre, Vice Chair

FCPA, FCMA, ICD.D

To me, the level of high-risk obstetrical care provided at the Lois Hole Hospital is the most personally inspiring and impressive. It was impressive nearly nine years ago when my own daughter experienced a high-risk pregnancy and safely delivered “preemie” twin girls, and continues to be more impressive every day, thanks to so many donor-supported projects: the OBIX system expanding the impact of the expertise of the Lois Hole to expectants mothers all throughout the province, the Indigenous Cultural Partnership program working to deliver more culturally appropriate care for all our peoples, and others. In fact, the care the Lois Hole Hospital provides was a major motivator in my decision to join the board.

Dr. Bill Anderson, Director

B.Sc, M.D., FRCP(C), FCAR

When I think of all the pathways of impact that the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has generated over the years, in addition to the larger accomplishments such as advancing women’s health research through the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, I also think about the more focused areas and technologies that are changing pathways of care for patients.

For example, donors were instrumental in securing the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, as well as bringing the highest resolution digital PET/CT system to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. In the Royal Alex’s diagnostic imaging department, donors and the foundation funded technology that helps radiologists identify otherwise hard-to-detect breast lesions, as well as a laser that minimizes complications in certain prostate procedures.

I am truly inspired knowing that together we can impact care at all levels.

Dr. Rustom Appoo, Director

D.MD

The areas of impact that resonate with me include all the incredible work happening at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women as a whole, as well as the CK Hui Heart Centre, and technological advancements such as the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System.

We had both of our children in the old women’s hospital, and we used the facilities a lot as both were high-risk pregnancies. It was great to see the difference in the new women’s center when I finally got a chance to do a tour.

Dianne Balon, Director

I have seen many pathways of impact created by the foundation’s work with the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI). Together we are helping donors fully and better understand the impact and outcomes of WCHRI’s research on the population, leading to important new programs being implemented and world class researchers coming to Alberta because of the research programs. That is a direct result of the dedicated funding from donors. It is inspiring!

Sandra Hawes, Director

Q.C.

Two major pathways of impact that immediately come to mind that I have seen activated through our donors and the work of the foundation are public awareness and education in the area of women’s health and the collaboration and partnership with Women’s Health Collective Canada. These pathways have been an inspiration for me, as providing women with accurate, evidence-based information about their bodies, reproduction, mental health and overall wellbeing empowers women to make informed decisions regarding their health. Open and honest discussions about women’s health issues help challenge cultural stigmas and taboos associated with menstruation, menopause, sexual and mental health. By breaking down these barriers, women can embrace their health without shame or judgement.

Sally Banek, Director

CPA, CMA

An impact that immediately comes to my mind is the Access 24/7 Mental Health and Addiction centre. This unique site offers support and guidance to anyone with addiction or mental health issues. For those seeking help, the road to finding answers is usually difficult to navigate and having this one-stop resource available is immeasurable. Additionally, the Family Peer Support Workers that are on-site are dedicated to supporting those whose loved ones are seeking services. It can be a lonely and confusing journey when a loved one is suffering; the Family Peer Support Workers are able to help in so many ways.

We have all been touched by mental health and addiction issues in one way or another. I am inspired by the dedication of the team at Access 24/7, and by the generous donors who make it possible.

Paavo Montandon, Director

BA, CIP, CRM

Through my work with the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, I have seen important pathways being created in women’s healthcare and research of women’s health issues, thanks in part to the work and growth of the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. This was part of what motivated me to join the Foundation — the opportunity to support women’s healthcare and healthcare access in general. I am continually inspired by the strides we are making on these fronts, and the commitment of generous donors in helping our community continue on this path. 

Alaine Moore, Director

The foundation’s pathways of impact are diverse—from providing support for transitional care for patients experiencing homelessness to being a leader in advancing women’s health research. It’s inspiring to see the difference donors are making through the excellent work by the foundation’s staff, volunteers, and partners.

Carlie Persson, Director

CPA, CA

I am honoured to serve on the Board of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation. A foundation that creates such positive impact and value to our hospital and medical centres of excellence. I am continuously inspired by the powerful and heartfelt stories of impacts created by our foundation and donors. Impacts big and small; from advancements in women’s health research, leading edge technology, support for inner-city heath challenges, Indigenous programs/initiatives and simple “Thank You’s” for frontline healthcare workers, to name a few. The paths to create impact are endless and I’m so grateful to our donors and all those who support the foundation. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of those who depend on the Royal Alexandra Hospital every day.

Victoria Burgess, Director

From my time as a volunteer and now as a board member, I continue to see how the support of donors and the work of the foundation builds better healthcare — enhancing the patient experience, advancing research, and procuring technology that saves lives. I had the privilege of getting a small glimpse of this in action over a decade ago, when I first stepped into the Lois Hole Hospital for Women during a capital campaign with my employer. Witnessing the impact generosity has on the day-to-day activities at the hospital inspired me that day and continues to do so throughout my work with the Board of Directors.

Fausto Franceschi, Director

K.C.

Of note for me is the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation’s work to create the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation, which seeks to close gaps that exists in women’s health knowledge, research and care. I am inspired by the pursuit of the path to equity in women’s health made possible through the generous support of our donors.

Dr. Radha Chari, Director

MD, FRCSC, CHE

Some pathways of impact that stand out to me include the many ways the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and donors have provided tremendous support for the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute since its inception. It is important to advocate for and support research related to women’s health to improve the lives of women and their families for decades to come.

Justin Archer, Director

I have seen firsthand the impact donors and the foundation make throughout the hospital. All three of our kids were born at the Royal Alex, and as our family grew, with each visit to the hospital, I was able to experience the impacts of donors’ generosity. This continues to inspire me throughout my role with the Board of Directors, knowing that a community is coming together to expand and forge new pathways for patients from not only the Edmonton area, but across the west and areas of Canada’s north.

Bhupinder Lalh, Director

There have been numerous causes that the foundation has supported and continues to support. It is through donor support we are making a difference in advancing women’s health research. We also have funded several technologies, and diagnostic tools, mental health programs, community support and more recently the expanding the Allard Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Clinic and advocating for an Indigenous Culture Partnership. It is donor dollars that helped make these goals possible. Your gift actually accomplishes a mission to give hope to a patient. No matter how big or small, the goal is to start a pathway that creates impact in people’s lives, and those people are somebody’s mother, sister, spouse or friend.

Lisa Diamond, Director

Through my role as a Board member and supporter of the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society, I have a had a front row seat to the countless ways donors and the Foundation advance care at the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, including the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. Since the Women’s Society launched in 2017, we have helped fund nearly $1 million in advancements at Alberta’s only dedicated women’s hospital, including the Firefly and other upgrades to the DaVinci Surgical Robot, and transformative initiatives such as the Indigenous Cultural Partnership and support for bereavement programming. Seeing this kind of impact that a dedicated group of individuals, such as the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society, can have on care for our community inspires me.

Dr. Colin Peterson, Hospital Representative

MD, CCFP(EM), FCFP Facility Medical Director, Royal Alexandra Hospital

Janie Clink, Hospital Representative

Senior Operating Officer, Royal Alexandra Hospital & Sturgeon Community Hospital

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation partnership and donor support impacts are far reaching for the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The site benefits greatly with notable advances in patient and family care, education, research and healthcare worker wellness. An example of an initiative very positively impacting patient care is the bedside ultrasound machines to facilitate intravenous insertion – they make a real difference for patients and providers. The site is grateful for the many donors contributing to the highest quality of care delivered at the RAH.

What's Inside

Royal Alexander Hospital

A Lifetime of Generosity

The late William K. (Bill) Robbins was a respected businessman, a visionary leader, and a dedicated supporter of healthcare. The longtime Patron of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation passed away in spring 2023, and his impact is still felt in virtually every corner of the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus.

Visualizing New Pathways in Diagnostics, Treatment and Research

When doctors can see more, they can do more. Donors were instrumental in first bringing a new PET/CT scanner to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 2011, providing physicians with new, critical lines of sight. Now, this same technology is enabling further discovery and research to save lives.

LOIS HOLE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN

Working Toward a Better Path
for All Peoples

Indigenous people experience many barriers in accessing healthcare systems due to ongoing trauma and colonial social determinants of health. A pilot program at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women aims to provide a culturally safe and integrative model of care. Known as the Indigenous Cultural Partnership, it is seeking to advocate for and establish a reconciled model of medicine–and seeing an influx of donor support.

CK HUI

An Innovative Pathway to Improved Heart Health

The CK Hui Heart Centre’s mission is to save lives and advance the science of cardiology through innovation. With his recent selection as the new Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Benjamin Tyrrell will be implementing a vision of further innovation, focused on exploration of emerging technologies and techniques, buoyed by the support of donors and supporters—and one crucial new fund established by a fellow CK Hui cardiologist and family.

Eye Institute of Alberta

Vision for the Future

The Eye Institute of Alberta, located on the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, is entering an exciting new chapter with a new face at the helm. Dr. Edsel Ing has stepped into the position of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation’s Research Chair in Ophthalmology. His vision for the future includes building off the successes of those who came before him.

Alberta Women's Health Foundation

Amplifying Voices On The Path To Equity

It’s been said that silence is deafening. That’s why the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is committed to delving into the ‘silence’ around women’s health issues. With our community of donors and partners right beside us, we are carving new pathways of impact for women’s voices in healthcare.

What's Inside

Royal Alexander Hospital
Royal Alexander Hospital

A Lifetime of Generosity

The late William K. (Bill) Robbins was a respected businessman, a visionary leader, and a dedicated supporter of healthcare. The longtime Patron of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation passed away in spring 2023, and his impact is still felt in virtually every corner of the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus.

Visualizing New Pathways in Diagnostics, Treatment
and Research

When doctors can see more, they can do more. Donors were instrumental in first bringing a new PET/CT scanner to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in 2011, providing physicians with new, critical lines of sight. Now, this same technology is enabling further discovery and research to save lives.

LOIS HOLE HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN

Working Toward a Better Path
for All Peoples

Indigenous people experience many barriers in accessing healthcare systems due to ongoing trauma and colonial social determinants of health. A pilot program at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women aims to provide a culturally safe and integrative model of care. Known as the Indigenous Cultural Partnership, it is seeking to advocate for and establish a reconciled model of medicine–and seeing an influx of donor support.

CK HUI

An Innovative Pathway to Improved Heart Health

The CK Hui Heart Centre’s mission is to save lives and advance the science of cardiology through innovation. With his recent selection as the new Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Benjamin Tyrrell will be implementing a vision of further innovation, focused on exploration of emerging technologies and techniques, buoyed by the support of donors and supporters—and one crucial new fund established by a fellow CK Hui cardiologist and family.

Eye Institute of Alberta

Vision for the Future

The Eye Institute of Alberta, located on the Royal Alexandra Hospital campus, is entering an exciting new chapter with a new face at the helm. Dr. Edsel Ing has stepped into the position of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation’s Research Chair in Ophthalmology. His vision for the future includes building off the successes of those who came before him.

Alberta Women's Health Foundation

Amplifying Voices On The Path
To Equity

It’s been said that silence is deafening. That’s why the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation is committed to delving into the ‘silence’ around women’s health issues. With our community of donors and partners right beside us, we are carving new pathways of impact for women’s voices in healthcare.