Our history

The official beginning of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation was 2001, but it was a long journey reaching this point. Generations of concerned and generous citizens paved the way for world-class pediatric care in our region.

Our story begins in 1978, when 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 reflect the Foundation’s role in fundraising to support the regional Child Health program.

As far as giving back to our community, it's a state of mind. We can make time for anything; it depends on your priorities. A few hours a week is all it takes and the payoff is the great feeling of personal satisfaction when you've helped someone else. Sharing is good business, whether it's with co-workers or those less fortunate.

– Bob Stollery

The next seven years saw the Foundation’s work touch the lives of more children than ever before, with kids from across Canada benefiting from the Child Health program’s specialized services. During this time, Bob and Shirley Stollery provided a generous donation that would be the catalyst for a dedicated children’s hospital.

This donation was complemented by the Foundation’s capital campaign that raised more than $10 million towards the construction of a children’s hospital in Edmonton. To minimize the significant overhead costs associated with a free-standing hospital, the facility was constructed within the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, sharing space with the University of Alberta Hospital.

The Stollery Children’s Hospital opened in October 2001. To honour the Stollery family who helped make the Hospital everything it is today, the Foundation’s name was changed to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. We continue to be dedicated to supporting the needs of the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

The Stollery family

More than 25 years ago, Bob met with concerned Edmontonians and pediatricians interested in improving children’s health care in our region. They felt it was time to bring a children’s hospital to Edmonton.

The Stollerys promised to provide significant funding if such a hospital could be built. Giving well beyond a financial commitment, the Stollery family continues to take an active interest in advancing children’s health care for families across Western Canada.

Thanks to the vision and generosity of the Stollerys, Edmonton is home to a world-class children’s hospital.

Dr. Robert Stollery (1924-2007)
Mrs. Shirley Stollery (1923-2011)