Annual report 2019-20

Making a mental leap in children’s health

One of the most exciting times for a parent is witnessing their child take a mental leap in the early stages of development. As our Foundation continues to grow and discover new, meaningful ways to support world-class pediatric health care in Alberta, we made leaps in mental health services for kids and teens in 2019-20 while supporting urgent research, equipment, programs and training.

In 2019, we embarked on an ambitious $26 million capital project to build a specialized addiction and mental health centre in Edmonton that would serve children and youth from backyards across Western Canada. Unfortunately, despite strong donor support, the building didn’t get off the ground due to a government decision to defer the project. However, that hasn’t stopped us from investing in new areas that support children’s mental health and growing our Stollery network of care in communities across central and northern Alberta.

Because of you, we invested $2 million in training and specialized equipment for the newly opened Stollery neonatal intensive care unit at the Sturgeon Community Hospital in St. Albert.

Because of you, we invested $5 million to advance breakthroughs in pediatric research including early detection and intervention of autism, and helping to reduce risk of diabetes among vulnerable Indigenous youth through a youth mentorship program that focuses on healthy habits and mental health.

Because of you, we invested more than $1 million in fellowships in the department of pediatrics at the University of Alberta to help train more than a dozen new medical professionals in the hopes they’ll one day work at the Stollery.

Through investments in pediatric transport, telehealth programs, specialized equipment and innovative research, you are the reason we keep advancing care at the Stollery and beyond its walls, reducing travel, stress and cost for families while optimizing patient outcomes.

Thank you for reading our 2019-20 annual report. Together, you help us give all kids the best chance at a long and healthy life.

Sincerely,