This release was issued under a previous government.

Fred Horne, Minister of Health, and High River Mayor Emile Blokland attended an event to pay tribute to the staff who dedicated thousands of hours to ensure the safe evacuation, interim care and return of services to patients and residents at health care facilities in High River.

“After months of hard work, High River residents once again have access to the health services. I want to thank High River’s physicians, emergency services personnel, volunteers, and front-line and support staff for the many hours they dedicated to protect, transfer and care for patients and residents during the worst disaster in Alberta’s history”

- Fred Horne, Minister of Health

"The hospital staff and physicians in High River have shown great leadership during this crisis. Their efforts and the continued hard work of residents will help create a stronger and more resilient High River. "

- Rick Fraser, Associate Minister of Recovery and Reconstruction in High River

“The flood severely impacted the lives of people in our community and having these services restored is a very positive step in the long road to recovery. I’d like to thank the health care staff and the Government of Alberta for their hard work to ensure health services were back up and running as quickly as possible.”

- Emile Blokland, Mayor of High River

In the first days of the flood, health care staff and emergency services personnel moved more than 1,000 patients and facility residents out of harm’s way across the greater Calgary Zone. In less than 24 hours, 75 long-term care residents and close to 50 in-patients were relocated from the High River Hospital to new, temporary locations.

Along with services being restored, the majority of health facilities damaged by the flood have also been repaired. Reconstruction on the remaining facilities is set to begin soon. All health services in Canmore and Calgary have also been restored.

Our government was elected to keep building Alberta, to live within its means and to fight to open new markets for Alberta’s resources. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.

Related information

High River Hospital Schedule of service resumption

Multimedia

Photo gallery of restoration work