The Arthur J.E. Child Cancer Centre is now open for patients, and hopefully, a future in Alberta free from cancer.
The Government of Alberta marked the official opening of the Calgary Cancer Centre on Oct. 17, nearly two years after keys were turned over to Alberta Health Services by PCL Construction.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith called the opening a truly historic day, for one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in the province’s history, amounting to over $1.4 billion dollars.
“Its opening also puts the province on the path to becoming an international leader in cancer treatment and research this year alone,” she said.
“The centre’s integrated and comprehensive approach to cancer care brings increased capacity, which means that a greater number of Albertans will be able to access the care and the services that they need. As a world-class research facility, the centre’s focus on prevention and early detection will lead one day, we hope, to a future without cancer.”
Brenda Hubley, Chief Program Officer for Cancer Care Alberta, said that the time to open the centre to patients from construction, is the difference between completing construction and then bringing a facility to life.
“We have to bring in equipment, commission that equipment, orientate teams, build out the processes, workflows. It’s actually a significant amount of work. And so we always knew that it would be at least a year following the completion of the majority of the construction and completing final elements, and then doing the work to operationalize the facility.”
Premier Smith said that in 2024 more than 23,000 Albertans are likely to be told that they have cancer and that more than half of all Albertans will develop cancer in their lifetime.
In the province, malignant neoplasms—cancerous tumours—have been the number one cause of death for Albertans for more than two decades, according to data from Statistics Canada.
“We all know someone who has been affected by cancer, and every loss is one too many,” said Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.
“I was only seven years old when my father was diagnosed with cancer. I was 15 years old when he passed away from cancer. My younger sister was only 29 when she died of cancer as well.”
She said that the centre meant that the province was working towards a future that defeats cancer illnesses.
“This is what we are all working towards, a future where through research, innovation, education and skilled professionals, we see fewer cases of cancer in our communities, a future where early detection becomes the norm, and screening opportunities are easily accessible no matter where someone decides to put down roots,” said Minister LaGrange.
The new centre has more than 100 patient examination rooms, 160 inpatient beds, more than 100 chemotherapy chairs, 12 radiation therapy vaults, and increased space for clinical trials—some 99,000 sq. ft. or about 5 per cent of the total footprint of the centre had been dedicated to cancer research.
Hubley said that not all 160 inpatient beds would be available immediately, but that they would be made available following a rapid opening of services to patients.
Sandy Edmonstone, vice-chair of the board directors for Alberta Health Services, said that the Arthur J.E. Child Cancer Centre was seven times the size of the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
He said that the facility also offered more than 66,000 sq. ft. of outdoor space, including a ground-floor garden and an eight-floor outdoor green space with public access, as a way to enhance the therapeutic environment for patients.
“The facility reflects the people at the heart of it. Every design decision you see feedback from patients, families, visitors and staff,” Edmonstone said.
