Heart disease remains one of Alberta’s leading causes of death and adds to the province’s most pressing healthcare costs. Yet, there is currently no coordinated strategy to address it.
That’s about to change.
Caring for our Hearts is a bold new step toward better heart health for every Albertan. The University Hospital Foundation is leading the creation of a comprehensive cardiac strategy for Albertans, bringing people together to strengthen prevention, care and recovery across the province. Spanning prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, the new initiative will reduce the devastating impact of heart disease across Alberta.
1 in 4 Canadians will confront heart disease in their lifetime.
Albertan’s are more likely to experience heart disease than other Canadians.
Data from Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System
The key objectives of Caring for our Hearts are to:
The strategy will identify and prioritize existing initiatives, close critical gaps and expand cardiac care to rural and remote communities.
Virtual and in-person engagement sessions will be taking place from January through February, 2026.
This is your chance to make a difference. Donors to the University Hospital Foundation are helping to build a legacy of cardiac excellence including having raised one of every four dollars it took to build the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute.
Now, you can join us in our goal of improving cardiac health in Alberta through this comprehensive cardiac strategy. Support us in bringing the vision to life.
To develop a collaborative, provincial heart health strategy that prevents the development of heart disease, unifies partners, accelerates and amplifies impact and prioritizes equitable access to heart health across all regions of the province.
The Foundation has been a cornerstone in advancing cardiovascular care in Alberta, contributing one out of every four dollars raised for the Mazankowski Heart Institute. Building on this legacy, the Foundation is now taking the lead in defining a province-wide cardiac strategy. When governments change, priorities can shift—by having the Foundation at the helm, we ensure continuity, sustained momentum and the ability to raise and allocate funds effectively to bring this strategy to life.
PCA and ACA are co-funders of the strategy and actively participate in both the steering coalition and the working group. They help guide development, make day-to-day decisions and monitor progress toward achieving the strategy’s goals.
The steering coalition was designed to bring together a diverse range of expertise and perspectives including clinical leaders, government representatives, academic researchers and patient advocacy voices. This mix ensures decisions are informed by experience across the entire continuum of cardiac care.
We are engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders virtually and in-person to ensure the strategy reflects the needs of all Albertans.
These include: