This investment will support planning and land acquisition for nine new urgent care centres across Alberta. Once operational, the new facilities will more than double Alberta’s urgent care network to 15 centres from six, providing more Albertans with same-day treatment for urgent, non-life-threatening conditions and helping divert more than one third of emergency department visits, easing pressure on hospitals.
“Every Albertan deserves timely, high-quality care. Expanding our urgent care network will give families more options for treatment, ease pressure on emergency departments and help more Albertans get the care they need, when they need it.”
"The right care starts with the right infrastructure. As we develop purpose-built urgent care centres in communities across Alberta, we’re creating spaces designed around how care needs to be delivered today, while adding the capacity our growing province will need for tomorrow.”
The nine new urgent care centres will be located in communities where population growth, gaps in existing health services and increasing demand are driving the need for more care options. The centres are planned for west and south Edmonton, the Stony Plain-Spruce Grove area, east Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Cold Lake, Fort McMurray and Sylvan Lake.
“This investment fits directly into the work Acute Care Alberta is leading to improve patient flow and reduce emergency department congestion, ensuring patients get appropriate care where and when they need it. We look forward to working with our partners in government and across health care to make full use of this new capacity.”
For Sylvan Lake, this investment marks an exciting step toward bringing a new urgent care centre to the community. A recent assessment identified a new facility as the best option to expand local urgent care services, helping meet growing demand and improve access to care for residents.
“Sylvan Lake is a growing community, and families deserve access to timely care close to home. An urgent care centre will help meet that demand, take pressure off busy emergency rooms, and give residents another option when they need health services. This is an important investment for the future of Sylvan Lake and Central Alberta.”
“This investment is exciting news for Sylvan Lake and the surrounding region. This new urgent care centre will improve access to timely care, support growing demand and help residents receive the care they need closer to home.”
This expansion is part of Alberta’s broader efforts to build a stronger, more accessible health system. By bringing more urgent care options to communities across the province, Alberta’s government is helping reduce pressure on emergency departments and ensuring patients can get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Quick facts
- Urgent care centres provide walk-in access for unexpected, non-life-threatening health concerns that require same-day treatment.
- Specific site information will be released as land acquisition is finalized and planning completed.
- Budget 2026 includes $39 million in new funding over three years for planning and land acquisition for the nine urgent care centres.
- Budget 2025 included $15 million to support planning for urgent care centres.
- On average, an urgent care centre in Alberta provides care to approximately 30-33,000 patients annually.
Related news
- Expanding urgent care across Alberta (Mar. 28, 2025)