A new cancer centre in Calgary is one of "the most advanced cancer centres in the world", according to the Alberta government.
The Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre will be opening service to patients on October 28. The province claims that this is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Alberta's history, with a total cost of $1.4 billion.
"Every life lost to cancer is one too many," said Premier Danielle Smith. "For those living with cancer and the family and friends who care for them, the opening of the Arthur Child is a move forward and a point of hope."
The centre has 127,000 square metres of space, 160 inpatient beds, and more than 9,200 square metres dedicated to research. The area will also serve as the cancer care centre for all of southern Alberta including Strathmore and Chestermere.
The project has been in the works since 2014, with more than 4,800 volunteer hours put in to bring the cancer centre to fruition.
"The Arthur Child offers both inpatient and outpatient services, placing patients at the center of a multidisciplinary health system," wrote the province in a news release.
Construction on the facility was completed in 2022, which brought 1,650 jobs to the area. Since then, the building has received LEED Gold certification, which sets a new standard for healthcare facilities.
The Alberta government is expecting over 23,000 new cancer cases throughout 2024, the most common being breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. These alone account for 49 per cent of all cancer cases and 47 per cent of deaths.
A virtual tour of the centre is available on Alberta Health Services' website.