Alberta Health Services is warning the public of a potential measles exposure at multiple departments of the Stollery Children's Hospital on April 4, 2026. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

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People often ask me why Edmonton needs a new stand-alone children’s hospital. The answer usually surprises them. It’s not because the Stollery Children’s Hospital isn’t working. It’s because it is.

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When the Stollery opened its doors in 2001, it was built to meet the needs of kids at that time. Twenty-five years later, those needs have changed dramatically. Today, the Stollery cares for more kids than ever before, and many of them require increasingly specialized care.

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Last year alone, the Stollery provided exceptional care during more than 377,000 patient visits, up from 316,000 the year before. Over the past 25 years, the growth has been even more remarkable, with a 142-per-cent increase in in-patient visits, a 160-per-cent increase in day surgeries and a 337-per-cent increase in emergency department visits.

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Every one of those visits represents a kid and a family facing one of the most difficult moments of their lives. They’re turning to the Stollery because they know they’ll find extraordinary care delivered by extraordinary teams.

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That trust comes with a responsibility. As more kids and families rely on the Stollery, we must ensure they continue to receive the same world-class care. Not just today, but for decades to come.

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That’s why we launched Stollery No Bounds, our historic $1-billion campaign to strengthen the exceptional care kids rely on today while building the stand-alone children’s hospital they’ll need tomorrow. It’s about making sure future generations of kids have access to the same world-class care families count on today.

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One of the clearest examples of why that investment matters is pediatric cardiac care.

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The Stollery is home to one of Canada’s — and the world’s — leading pediatric cardiac programs. From caring for the smallest NICU babies to performing nearly 700 complex heart surgeries each year and advancing groundbreaking research, the Stollery is helping kids with some of the most complex heart conditions live longer, healthier lives.

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World-renowned programs don’t stay world-renowned by standing still. They require continued investment in leading-edge equipment, research, innovation and the talented care teams who make it all possible.

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Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting countless donors, partners and volunteers whose generosity has transformed what’s possible for kids. One thing I’ve learned is that world-class care isn’t built by one person or one organization. It’s built by a community that believes every kid deserves the best chance at a long and healthy life.

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This week, our community has another opportunity to do exactly that. The world’s best female golfers are coming to Edmonton for the CPKC Women’s Open, the only LPGA Tour stop in Canada and our national women’s open golf championship.