Tuesday, April 21, 2026
The Government of Alberta is investing $74 million over three years to develop a new health centre in Cardston, expanding access to urgent and acute care in southern Alberta.
“This region needs reliable access to modern services, and we’re acting on that. The new Cardston Health Centre will replace an outdated facility, expand capacity and improve how patients move through the system. It means families in the Cardston-Kainai region can get the care they need closer to home,” said Premier Danielle Smith.
The current Cardston Health Centre, built in 1959, is one of the oldest facilities in the province and no longer meets modern safety, accessibility and infection control standards. The new centre will address these deficiencies while expanding inpatient capacity from 19 to 24 beds, including labour and delivery–postpartum, isolation, and bariatric rooms, as well as up to 11 emergency treatment spaces.
“By expanding acute care capacity in rural Alberta through projects such as the new Cardston Health Centre, we are improving patient outcomes and increasing access to health care services,” said Matt Jones, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services.
The Cardston–Kainai area serves more than 16,000 residents and supports about 500,000 annual visitors to the Waterton National Park area. It is home to diverse communities with unique and complex health needs. The Blood Tribe Department of Health has been invited to collaborate in the functional programming process for the Cardston Health Centre to help inform planning and ensure the facility meets the needs of the community. The collaboration will support culturally safe health care planning and ensure Blood Tribe health priorities are understood and considered in the facility design.
“The Town of Cardston sincerely thanks the provincial government for supporting a new hospital. This vital investment brings improved care, strengthens our community and ensures residents in Cardston and surrounding areas have access to the health care they deserve,” said Paula Brown, Mayor, Town of Cardston
Featured image: (Cardston & District Helath Foundation)
