New $4.1 million ambulance bay opens at Innisfail Health Centre
The project, which began as a plan to simply widen a door, grew into a full ambulance bay overhaul that took more than two years to complete.
Why it matters
The upgrade improves emergency care access and patient privacy for roughly 15,000 people served by the Innisfail Health Centre.
A new ambulance bay has opened at the Innisfail Health Centre, funded by a $4.1 million investment from the Government of Alberta. The larger, more functional space accommodates modern ambulances and allows paramedics to bring patients directly into the health centre rather than through the main entrance.
Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen, who has pushed for the upgrade for years, said the centre serves about 15,000 people in the area. He said the project reflects a need for reforms so rural facilities receive the same priority as those in Edmonton and Calgary. The initial $2 million announcement came in June 2024 from Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange, but the scope and cost later doubled.
The completed project also added a small outdoor courtyard with a mural for palliative care patients and families, along with parking lot changes to ease congestion. Innisfail Mayor Jean Barclay said the upgrade, which began in 2022 as a request from the hospital auxiliary to widen a door, now offers patients more privacy and dignity and was not funded by Innisfail taxpayers.
Previously, ambulances had to park outside and bring patients through a populated main entrance in any weather. John Barry, general manager of Medavie Health Services West, which operates ambulance services for the centre, said staff have been requesting the ability to park inside for a long time.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.