Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation has officially launched its $10 million campaign in support of the Bridge Healing Transitional Accommodation Program. The launch, marked by the inaugural Royal Ball on September 20th at the Edmonton Convention Centre, raised more than $1.27 million in a single evening. 

Bridge Healing is transforming healthcare for patients experiencing houselessness, ensuring those discharged from the emergency department are not left without a safe place to heal. The campaign launch at the Royal Ball is another major step toward expanding this vital program. 

Guests at the sold-out gala on September 20th at the Edmonton Convention Centre enjoyed a champagne reception, fine dining, captivating live entertainment, and heartfelt stories of impact. But more importantly, the evening united hundreds of Albertans around the urgent goal of ensuring that no patient is discharged back to the streets without care, dignity, and support. 

“Each year, emergency departments across our city treat patients with no fixed address. The vast majority of these are treated at the Royal Alex – almost ten thousand each year.  

For physicians and staff, it is morally distressing to discharge a patient knowing they have nowhere safe to go. For patients, the results are devastating—poor health outcomes, lost dignity, and little chance for full recovery. For the health system—higher costs—as people often return, over and over again.” - Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation 

The Bridge Healing program opened its first set of doors in 2023 and has already provided invaluable short-term accommodation and integrated support for hundreds of vulnerable patients. Operated in partnership with Jasper Place Wellness Centre, the program bridges the gap between emergency care and long-term housing solutions by providing stability, recovery time, and community supports. 

With three housing units currently in operation—and more on the way—the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is committed to scaling Bridge Healing to meet the urgent need. 

“The demand and need are there, and what we have to do now is scale up so that we can meet the requirements of every patient that shows up in emergency experiencing homelessness wanting to start over again.” – Dr. Louis Francescutti 

The funds raised at the Royal Ball represents another bold step forward for the $10 million campaign. Every dollar moves us closer to ensuring no patient leaves the hospital without the dignity of safe housing and the opportunity to heal. 

The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation offers heartfelt thanks to the many sponsors, donors, guests, and volunteers whose support made the inaugural Royal Ball such a success. Their generosity is directly fueling the expansion of Bridge Healing homes and changing the future of healthcare for some of Alberta’s most vulnerable patients. 

Relive some of the Royal Ball and experience part of the night that made this incredible progress possible.