BONNYVILLE — Work is underway on a major modernization of the Bonnyville Health Centre’s emergency department, with the .9-million project expected to increase treatment capacity by approximately 35 per cent.

Alberta Infrastructure Minister Martin Long recently toured the Bonnyville Health Centre alongside Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr, getting a firsthand look at the renovation and hearing from local healthcare leaders about the needs of the facility.

Construction officially began March 2, 2026, with funding provided through Alberta’s Rural Revitalization program.

The project will modernize the emergency department while improving patient safety, privacy and comfort.

Minister gets firsthand look at Bonnyville healthcare needs

Beyond seeing the construction underway, Cyr said the visit gave local healthcare administrators an opportunity to speak directly with the Infrastructure Minister about the pressures facing the facility.

Bonnyville Health Centre Site Administrator Shelly Franklin and Covenant Health Senior Director of Operations, Rural Acute Care Brenda Poole walked Long and Cyr through the facility.

“Visits like this matter,” Cyr said. “They give ministers an opportunity to get outside Edmonton, walk through our facilities and hear directly from the people working in them about the realities of delivering health care in rural Alberta.”

The discussion included the infrastructure needed to support patients and healthcare professionals as Bonnyville and the surrounding region continue to grow.

Cyr said hearing directly from those working inside the facility helps provincial decision-makers understand both the improvements being made and the challenges that remain.

Emergency department will increase treatment capacity

The Bonnyville project represents one of several healthcare infrastructure investments underway or recently completed across the Lakeland.

In St. Paul, a $3.2-million renovation of the emergency department at the St. Therese-St. Paul Healthcare Centre has been completed.

Meanwhile, planning is moving forward for an Urgent Care Centre in Cold Lake. Budget 2026 included funding for planning and land acquisition for eight urgent care centres across Alberta, including Cold Lake.

Cyr said the three projects are helping improve healthcare infrastructure across Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul, although he acknowledged there is more work ahead.

“Together, these investments are helping strengthen health-care infrastructure across the Lakeland,” Cyr said. “There is more work to do, and we will continue advocating for the facilities, services and investments our growing communities need.”

Keeping healthcare infrastructure ahead of growth

Healthcare capacity has become an increasingly prominent regional issue as communities prepare for continued economic and population growth, including development associated with the F-35 program and expansion at 4 Wing Cold Lake.

Cyr thanked Long for visiting Bonnyville and meeting directly with local healthcare officials.

He also recognized Alberta Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange, along with the physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals and support staff working at the Bonnyville Health Centre.

“We will continue working to ensure our health infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of the communities it serves,” Cyr said.