Central Alberta
JOE WHITBREAD ON CAM’S CREW WITH A GENTLE REMINDER
Rural Albertans will be able to access surgeries quicker and closer to home now that the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is complete.
The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre has been providing residents with health care since 1971, including surgical services. Alberta Infrastructure has completed an addition to the facility, which includes a new operating room. This will enable approximately 120 Albertans per month to receive surgery, doubling the number of monthly surgeries. This additional, brand-new operating room is also expected to decrease the wait lists for surgeries.
The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre provides an additional 440 square metres (4,736 square feet) and includes:
- a new operating room,
- 6 additional recovery beds,
- a patient support area, and
- an updated medical device reprocessing department.
The new spaces can be accessed from the existing site thanks to the addition of an upgraded hallway that connects the two buildings.
“Completing the expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre is a significant step forward in delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects province wide. This investment into health care infrastructure will increase surgical capacity, helping Albertans get treatment when and where they need it.”
The Rocky Mountain House Health Centre upgrade is part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative (ASI), which aims to enhance surgical capacity across the province by expanding and maximizing existing health care space. Over the next three years, the 2024 Capital Plan is providing $313 million for ASI projects throughout the province.
Alberta Infrastructure and Alberta Health Services share the responsibility for delivering ASI projects. Alberta Health Services leads the delivery of smaller projects, while Alberta Infrastructure delivers capital projects over $5 million.
“Albertans deserve timely access to surgeries, and they should be able to get them close to home. The expansion and renovation of the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will increase its capacity so more Albertans can get the surgeries they need when they need them. Through the Alberta Surgical Initiative, we are improving access to surgical care and funding projects across the province, including in rural communities like Rocky Mountain House.”
Alberta Infrastructure is working on 20 ASI projects in communities across Alberta, including Brooks, Calgary, Camrose, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Olds, Ponoka, St. Albert and Stettler. Lethbridge will be the next community to benefit from a completed ASI project. The expansion of two operating rooms and more surgical inpatient rooms at the Chinook Regional Hospital is anticipated to be completed later this fall.
“The expanded Rocky Mountain House Health Centre will help ensure more residents can access surgeries and receive the care they need in a timely manner. Investments like these in rural Alberta matter and I’d like to thank Minister Guthrie and Minister LaGrange for delivering on this project that will double our surgical capacity in Rocky Mountain House.”
Quick facts
- The total budget for the Rocky Mountain House Health Centre ASI project was $15 million.
- This Alberta Infrastructure project was completed on time and on budget. Approximately 85 construction-related jobs were created during the project.
- In addition to the new building, other renovations include new mechanical and electrical building systems.
- Alberta Infrastructure is managing other ASI projects at the following locations:
- Brooks Health Centre
- Calgary
- Alberta Children’s Hospital
- Foothills Medical Centre
- South Health Campus
- Camrose – St. Mary’s Hospital
- Edmonton
- Grey Nuns Community Hospital
- Misericordia Community Hospital
- Royal Alexandra Hospital
- Walter C. Mackenzie Centre (University of Alberta Hospital)
- Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital
- Innisfail Health Centre
- Lethbridge – Chinook Regional Hospital
- Olds Hospital and Care Centre
- Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre
- St. Albert – Sturgeon Community Hospital
- Stettler Hospital and Care Centre
- Other ASI projects completed by Alberta Infrastructure:
- Grande Prairie Regional Health Centre (completed in July 2022)
- University of Alberta (completed September 2023)
News release from Olds RCMP
Olds RCMP arrest individuals in stolen vehicle after two police cars struck
On Jan. 2, 2024, at 3:00 a.m., RCMP were notified of a suspicious vehicle operating in the industrial park on Imperial way in Olds. Upon officers approaching the vehicle, it rammed two police vehicles as it attempted to leave the area, rendering both inoperable. The vehicle came to a stop and both occupants were arrested. Checks on the vehicle revealed that it was stolen.
Eric Michael Unger (33) has been charged with:
- Possession of stolen property over $5000
- Possession of Break in tools
- Flight from police
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Dangerous Driving
- Fail to comply with release order
- Assault with weapon of a police officer (x2)
- Fail to comply with a probation order
Unger was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Jan. 8, 2024 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Didsbury.
Another 29-year-old male resident of Red Deer was arrested and has charges pending.
“This is the 4th Olds police car struck by another vehicle in the last 4 weeks,” say Staff Sergeant Warren Wrights.” This demonstrates the dangers our officers face while executing their duties.”
Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Pro-freedom Canadian nurse gets two years probation for protesting COVID restrictions
Trudeau’s use of Emergencies Act has cost taxpayers $73 million thus far
Trudeau’s office was warned that Chinese agents posed ‘existential threat’ to Canada: secret memo
Bill C-282, now in the Senate, risks holding back other economic sectors and further burdening consumers
Canada’s Governor General slammed for hosting partisan event promoting Trudeau’s ‘hate speech’ bill
Telegram founder tells Tucker Carlson that US intel agents tried to spy on user messages
-
Frontier Centre for Public Policy2 days agoThe tale of two teachers
-
Business1 day agoMaxime Bernier warns Canadians of Trudeau’s plan to implement WEF global tax regime
-
Alberta1 day agoAlberta moves to protect Edmonton park from Trudeau government’s ‘diversity’ plan
-
Bruce Dowbiggin1 day agoCoyotes Ugly: The Sad Obsession Of Gary Bettman
-
Freedom Convoy1 day agoOttawa spent “excessive” $2.2 million fighting Emergencies Act challenge
-
COVID-191 day agoWHO Official Admits the Truth About Passports
-
Alberta22 hours agoProvince to stop municipalities overcharging on utility bills
-
Energy20 hours agoReflections on Earth Day