Our History
A rich history of advocacy
CHAA is Alberta’s longest-serving association in the acute care and continuing care sector. Our doors opened in June 1943 – a month after the end of the Second World War – as the provincial government began ramping up health care infrastructure across the province.
At that time, CHAA’s earliest not-for-profit operators had already worked alongside military hospital facilities for nearly a century to care for the ill, wounded, and aged. We were poised to lead Alberta’s foray into publicly funded Medicare in 1945, which has remained a cornerstone of CHAA values decades later. Our operators continue to be widely regarded as Alberta's first public health care system.
GROWING & ADAPTING
Fast forward to today
We've grown a lot in 80 years, as we've progressed from establishing direct services for Albertans to transforming our entire continuing care system.
Here are CHAA’s action areas for 2024-25
Values-driven care focused on quality of life.
Collaborate around our common values and mission.
Sustainable care environments – so residents, families and staff can thrive.
Quality and outcome indicators for a transformed system.
Data-driven metrics to improve system performance.
Expand our ability to serve more communities.
While our early years focused predominantly on advocating on behalf of hospital, auxiliary hospital and nursing home services, today our education and advocacy work encompasses the entire continuum of care.
Still serving those most in need
- of Alberta’s palliative care and hospice beds
- 44%
- of Alberta's designated (publicly funded) supportive living beds
- 22%
- of Alberta's LTC beds requiring 24/7 nursing care
- 24%
Related content
Find out why non-profit care is different.
Quality of life
Quality of life is largely determined by the sense of family and shared values within facility-based living.
Our history
CHAA is Alberta’s longest-serving association in the acute care and continuing care sector. Our doors opened in June 1943 – a month after the end of the Second World War.
Our members
Our member organizations are exclusively not-for-profit providers of publicly funded continuing care and acute care services info. Collectively, we use the power of research, leadership, and integrity to champion change.