New mom cuts ribbon at brand-new hospital

Leaders gather to celebrate opening of Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

Story by Gayleen Froese | Photos by Sara Blake & Shelly Willsey

GRANDE PRAIRIE — A pair of very special guests cut the ribbon recently for the $870-million Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (GPRH): Mary Wiebe and her baby Ezekiel, the first baby born in the new facility.

“We were happy to be part of it,” says Wiebe. “It’ll be nice to show Ezekiel when he’s older that he was the first baby born here and that we cut the ribbon. Opening a new hospital is a big deal!”

The new hospital opened its doors to patients on Dec. 4 and care teams have been busy ever since.

“We’ve had more than 300 babies born and over 1,100 surgeries performed at GPRH since we moved over from the former QEII site,” says Candice Edey, Alberta Health Services (AHS) interim senior operating officer for Grande Prairie.

Premier Jason Kenney attended the celebratory occasion on Feb. 26 along with Ministers of Health and Infrastructure and local MLAs. The Premier spoke about the facility’s importance for the future.

“Congratulations to Grande Prairie and the dedicated healthcare workers on this state-of-the-art facility that will serve northern Alberta far into the future,” Kenney said.

The ribbon-cutting event included vital partners from the surrounding Indigenous communities, including opening and closing prayers from Elders Angie Crerar and Rosanne Mustus; Len Auger, Grande Prairie Friendship Centre president and co-chair of the GPRH Indigenous Engagement Committee; Chief Isaac Laboucan-Avirom of Woodland Cree First Nation and Chief Ramona Horseman of Horse Lake First Nation.

Chief Horseman spoke about the value of culturally safe care for all patients.

“This new hospital is in the heart of Treaty No. 8 territory in which the city of Grande Prairie resides. First Nations, Inuit and Métis are pleased to do the ongoing work with our neighbours to provide culturally safe services, not only to our people but to those who have chosen to live here and be a part of Horse Lake’s culturally rich territory. This hospital serves as a soft start to building a foundation of trust for the future.”

North Zone medical director, Dr. Brian Muir and Stacy Greening, North Zone chief zone officer, were also on hand. Greening says the facility belongs to area residents.

“GPRH is a place where our communities come when in need,” she explains. “It’s a place our staff, physicians and volunteers can be proud to work and provide care to residents from throughout the region.”

Minister of Health Jason Copping mentioned the benefits of the new facility for patients and families.

“From radiation therapy close to home to dedicated youth mental health beds and private maternity rooms, we’ve put patients and families at the heart of the newly opened Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.”

GPRH includes an overall increase of 62 beds over the former QEII hospital, including a new 28-bed mental health unit with nine beds dedicated to children and youth. A cancer centre with two radiation vaults makes Grande Prairie the fifth centre in Alberta — and the first in the north — to offer radiation therapy.

The ribbon-cutting was a long-awaited opportunity to bring leaders together in celebration of this important new facility. A larger community event is being planned for later this year.