EDMONTON — Alberta has chosen a site for the long planned stand alone Stollery Children’s Hospital, a move the province says will speed up construction of a modern pediatric facility and ease pressure on the University of Alberta Hospital.
The new hospital will be built on the University of Alberta’s South Campus at the northeast corner of 122 Street and 51 Avenue. The province said the site was selected for its size, room for future expansion and proximity to existing medical and research partners.
Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said selecting a location marks a major step toward building a facility that will serve children from across Alberta, western Canada and the territories. He said using an undeveloped green space means construction can begin without demolitions or relocations, which should help keep the project on schedule.
The current Stollery operates inside the University of Alberta Hospital and the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre. Moving the pediatric facility to its own site will free up space at the university hospital for more beds and help address wait lists in Edmonton’s strained acute care system.
Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones said the new building will give children access to world class care in a space designed for their needs. Planning work is underway to determine what services and infrastructure are required, with completion expected in 2026.
The province began funding the project in 2021 with an initial one million dollars that was matched by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. Budget 2025 committed another 11 million dollars over three years for design and planning.
University of Alberta pediatrics chair Dr. Todd Alexander said a purpose built facility will allow for new technology, expanded specialized care and additional teaching opportunities. Stollery Foundation president and chief executive Karen Faulkner called the site announcement a historic moment for children’s health.
The Stollery is the second largest children’s hospital in Canada by bed count and handles roughly 300 thousand patient visits each year, including 55 thousand emergency visits and 12 thousand surgeries.
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