Ground broken on new Grande Prairie hospital

Facility named after family with deep roots in community

Story by Lisa Peters

Grande Prairie’s new hospital will be named after a family with deep roots in the community, Premier Ed Stelmach revealed during a groundbreaking event July 29.

The $520-million, Alberta Health Services (AHS) facility will be called the Shields Health and Education Centre.

“The Shields family has a rich legacy in Grande Prairie and northwestern Alberta, starting with direct ties to the region’s first hospital,” said Stelmach.

Nora Shields worked as a nurse in Grande Prairie beginning in 1928, and was named matron, or administrator, of the newly built auxiliary hospital in 1961.

Nora’s son, Jack, was a schoolteacher, businessman and a member of Parliament who ensured his constituents had a strong voice in Ottawa.

Jack’s younger brother Tom, also a teacher and businessman, was renowned for his enthusiastic promotion of several community institutions and initiatives, including Grande Prairie Regional College.

The new facility will include a state-of-the-art cancer centre, 200 acute care beds, and a health care training facility in partnership with the Grande Prairie Regional College.

“The Shields Health and Education Centre will support the evolving needs of this community as the area continues to grow and change,” said Ken Hughes, AHS Board Chair. “The new hospital will help front-line AHS staff and physicians continue to provide residents a comprehensive scope of services that address their local health needs.”

The new cancer centre will bring more comprehensive cancer care significantly closer to home for hundreds of northern residents who need treatment each year, and the partnership with Grande Prairie Regional College will help with recruitment and workforce issues.

Expanding and/or redeveloping health care facilities in communities across the province is among the goals outlined in the 5-Year Health Action Plan, jointly developed by AHS and the Government of Alberta, and supported by the province’s stable, 5-year funding.

AHS continues to work with physicians, the community and partners to finalize the program planning. Some health care services are expected to be available at the new facility by Fall 2014.

The existing QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie will continue as a health care facility to provide ambulatory, community and other health services.