Like all Canadians, Calgarians receive health care services under a publicly funded insurance program that is defined by the federal government, and implemented by the provincial government.

Each province must provide health care coverage that is comprehensive, universal, portable and accessible by all. In Alberta, it’s completely free: you don’t even pay a monthly premium.

For Calgary, the provincial department responsible for health care provision is Alberta Health Services, which takes care of some 1.2 million residents. It operates four large acute care hospitals in Calgary – Foothills, Rockyview, Peter Lougheed and the new Alberta Children’s Hospital – with a total of some 2,100 beds. A fifth large acute care hospital is being built in the southeast community of Seton.

All of Calgary’s acute care general hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care and operate as trauma centres for southern Alberta, southeast British Columbia and southwest Saskatchewan.

There are other outstanding health care facilities and services in Calgary including the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, new Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre downtown, and literally dozens of care centres, community and continuing care sites, assisted living homes, nursing homes, and walk-in clinics.

Alberta Health Services has an online directory of all Calgary health facilities.