History

History of the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation

Milestones

2026

  • September 16, 2026 – Phase II Renovations Completed at the Vulcan Community Health Centre
    Phase II of the Vulcan Community Health Centre renovation was completed, marking a major milestone in the long-term modernization of the facility. The work included the expanded and modernized laboratory that helped drive the original expansion vision, along with the conversion of the former Medical Records area into a three-bay IV therapy room with an isolation room. The new treatment space can also be used as Emergency Department overflow when needed.
  • Summer 2026 – Palliative Care Fundraising Goal Achieved
    After approximately 15 months of community fundraising, the funding target required to move the Vulcan Community Health Centre Palliative Care Project forward was achieved. Residents, families, businesses, service clubs, memorial donors and community organizations contributed to the campaign, demonstrating the extraordinary strength of local support for compassionate end-of-life care close to home.
  • July 2026 – $500,000 Gift from Sunny Glen Farms Ltd.
    The Foundation received an extraordinary $500,000 gift from Sunny Glen Farms Ltd., made at the direction of longtime area farmer Cyril F. “Cy” Rebalkin. At Cy’s request, the gift first ensured the remaining funding gap for the Palliative Care Project was closed, with the balance creating an opportunity to support other significant healthcare priorities at the Vulcan Community Health Centre.
  • June 19–20, 2026 – Fifth Annual 24-Hour Golf Challenge
    Eleven golfers completed the Foundation’s fifth annual 24-Hour Golf Challenge, raising $29,239 for the Palliative Care Project. Over five years, the Challenge has supported AutoPulse devices, Emergency Department monitors and a trauma stretcher, portable ultrasound technology, and the Palliative Care Project.
  • 2026 – Emergency Department Equipment Enhanced
    Proceeds from the 2025 Pledge Drive supported the purchase of new Emergency Department equipment, including a tonometer for assessing eye pressure and a GlideScope video laryngoscope to assist with airway management and emergency intubation.
  • 2026 – Rural Nursing Education Partnership
    The Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation joined the Claresholm Health Foundation, High River Health Foundation and Sheep River Health Trust in supporting students entering the University of Calgary’s Claresholm Rural Community Route nursing program. Each foundation committed $5,000 over four years to help encourage rural students and strengthen the future rural healthcare workforce.
  • 2026 – Virtual Urgent Mental Health Pilot
    A partnership involving the University of Alberta, Recovery Alberta and the Foundation advanced a virtual urgent mental-health pilot connecting the Vulcan Community Health Centre with mental-health clinicians in Okotoks through telehealth robotics. The initiative is designed to improve timely access to specialized mental-health support for rural patients presenting to urgent care.

2025

  • April 2025 – Palliative Care Suite Campaign Begins
    A community campaign was launched to raise approximately $300,000 toward the redevelopment of the Palliative Care Suite at the Vulcan Community Health Centre. The project is intended to create a more comfortable, dignified and home-like environment for patients and families receiving end-of-life care.
  • 2025 – Social Prescribing and Community Wellness Continue to Grow
    Through the Act4Health Coalition and community partnerships, social prescribing and wellness programming continued to connect Vulcan County residents with supports addressing isolation, activity, food security, mental wellness and community connection.
  • 2025 – Rural Health Partnerships Expand
    The Foundation continued to develop partnerships with universities, healthcare providers and community organizations to improve rural access to specialized services, healthcare education, technology and innovative models of care.
  • November 2025 – Major Electrical Upgrade Completed
    A significant modernization of the Vulcan Community Health Centre’s electrical infrastructure was completed following work that began in 2024. Aging breakers, transformers and switchgear were replaced, strengthening the safety, reliability and long-term capacity of the facility.

2024

  • 2024 – Diagnostic Ultrasound Services Expand
    Local diagnostic ultrasound services continued to expand, including approval to provide ultrasound examinations for patients admitted to the Vulcan Community Health Centre. The service helps reduce unnecessary patient transfers and keeps emergency transportation resources available within the community.
  • 2024 – Portable Ultrasound Added to the Emergency Department
    Community fundraising supported the purchase of portable ultrasound technology for the Vulcan Community Health Centre Emergency Department, giving physicians the ability to perform important bedside assessments and strengthening rural emergency care close to home.
  • 2024 – Investment in Healthcare Education and Simulation
    With community support, an IV Hand Simulator was added at the Vulcan Community Health Centre, providing nurses, laboratory staff and students with additional hands-on opportunities to develop and maintain clinical skills.
  • 2024 – Pediatric Emergency Care Enhanced
    Community and service-club support helped bring additional pediatric emergency equipment to the Vulcan Community Health Centre, strengthening the tools available to local healthcare teams when children require emergency care.
  • 2024 – Harvest for Health Rail Excursion
    In partnership with Aspen Crossing, the Foundation hosted its second Harvest for Health Rail Excursion. The event generated $11,745.50 to support healthcare priorities and areas of greatest need in Vulcan County.
  • 2024 – Rural Wellness and Mental Health Remain a Priority
    Foundation partnerships continued to strengthen mental-health awareness, wellness programming, social prescribing and community-based supports throughout Vulcan County.

September 2023  Wellspring Cancer Support Alberta

The Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation is proud to partner with Wellspring Alberta to provide our Vulcan County residents seamless access to online programming to support those in our community whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

Tele-Rehab 2.0

The Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation and the University of Alberta – Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine have established a formal partnership with the intent of increasing access to rehabilitation services in rural and remote communities.

Through the Tele-Rehabilitation 2.0 Project, video conferencing supported by a range of new sensor technology will allow a rehabilitation specialist to communicate with patients in rural and remote communities at their local clinic/health centre.

September 2023

2023 Harvest for Health Rail Excursion

In partnership with Aspen Crossing

“Step aboard for this amazing train excursion with Aspen Crossing where you’ll enjoy a 3-course meal, local beer from Nine-In-A Line Brewery, live music from Gray Street, an exciting train robbery and the beautiful prairie sunset all while supporting the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation.

The 2023 Harvest for Health Rail Excursion raised $10,500 for the Foundation.

June 2023

The proceeds from the 24-Hour Golf Challenge ($32,000) and the Charity Golf Classic ($30,000) were used to purchase state of the art vital signs monitoring equipment for the Vulcan Community Health Centre as well as a digital stretcher for the ER’s Trauma Room.

The Foundation also funded 2 Sure Temp Infant Thermometers for Public Health Nursing. The impact on qualityt of care is when a newborn baby may show subtle signs of illness and then quickly become sick. A precise temperature reading on a newborn is critical in deciding the next care steps. This technology will help the family receive timely and appropriate referrals and care.

Phase II: The Renovations to the Vulcan Community Health Centre

The Foundation’s Executive Committee has been actively engaging AHS for the last three years to start Phase II: The Renovations to the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

On June 16, 2023, AHS announced that Phase II will proceed. The renovations will increase the capacity of the Laboratory Services Department

2023 MoonWalk 

You made the 2023 Moonwalk a success!

Our hats are off to the Volunteer Fire Fighters in each of our sister communities of Vulcan County; we thank you for supporting the Moonwalk and hosting our family, friends, and neighbours in your “Houses” with fellowship and a warm cup of hot chocolate. To those who pledged to support your friends and neighbours with your hard-earned dollars, this event raised over $20,000.00, which will support Health and Wellness initiatives for the residents of Vulcan County. 

2023

In early 2023, your Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation played a significant role in securing an agreement with Radiology Associates. This agreement means that diagnostic ultrasound services are now available in the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

January 2022

  • The purchase of the Resusci Annie ALS Simulator Mannequins for the Vulcan Community Health Centre. This Advanced Life-Saving Simulation equipment gives digital real-time feedback during training improving the quality of this training to our healthcare workers, and other community groups.

February 2022

  • The purchase of seven Zoll Auto Pulse Resuscitation Systems for the six Fire Stations located in Vulcan County, as well as the Incident Command Vehicle in Vulcan County.
    • The AutoPulse® Resuscitation System provides high-quality automated CPR to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. It is easy to use and is battery-operated, the AutoPulse squeezes the patient’s entire chest to improve blood flow to the heart and brain. AutoPulse automatically sizes to fit the patient and has shown improved outcomes in numerous clinical trials. Compared with manual CPR, AutoPulse has been shown to reduce interruptions in compressions during transport by more than 85%.

February 2022

  • The VCH&WF, with the support of the family of Leonard Nimoy, have created “The Remembering Leonard Nimoy Wellness Academy”.
    • “The Remembering Leonard Nimoy Wellness Academy will be a global Digital Community Health Hub for anyone seeking information or help with respiratory disease and prevention. This Virtual health platform will bring healing information to individuals around the world, and we couldn’t be more excited to be doing it in partnership with the Nimoy Family.”

March 2022

Through the generosity of granting funders, corporate and business donations, and private donors, $117,000 was raised for the purchase of seven AutoPulse® Resuscitation Systems.

The units arrived in March and a training session for Vulcan County Emergency Service personnel was held in the Tri-Services Building on March 27. 

By the evening of March 27, every fire station in Vulcan County had received their own AutoPulse®Resuscitation Unit.

Additional funding allowed the Foundation to donate one AutoPulse®Resuscitation Unit to our neighbours, the Siksika Nation Fire and Rescue.

March 30, 2021

  • The Foundation’s Bursary Program Expanded
  • Bursaries are now available for:
    • healthcare professionals working at an AHS-sanctioned healthcare facility in Vulcan County.
    • individual members of Vulcan County Emergency Services associated with one of the Fire Stations located in Arrowwood, Milo, Lomond, Vulcan, Champion, or Carmangay.
    • volunteer advocates of the Vulcan Regional Victims Services Society.

November 2021 The Project Wellness Advisory Committee is established.

  • Purpose
    • The VCHWF is following through on its commitment to its donor community to develop the two pillars of Wellness Programing and Education.
    • To this end, the Wellness Project Advisory Committee is charged with exploring the Foundation’s role in leading or establishing Wellness Programming with its AHS partners in the spaces designated for these purposes in the Vulcan Community Health Centre (VCHC)
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October 2020 – The Heritage Wall unveiled.

  • The Heritage wall was a significant fundraising initiative brought forward by one of the VCHW Foundation’s founding members, the late Donna Graham. A tribute to Donna is proudly incorporated into the Heritage Wall.

October 6, 2020

  • The Vulcan Medical Clinic, located in the new wing of the Vulcan Community Health Centre, opens for business.

May 2020 – The Vulcan County-Wide Fitness Challenge Rebranded

  • The annual Vulcan County-Wide Wellness Challenge encompassing all Vulcan County Residents and the Seven Pillars of Wellness.
  • The Wellness Challenge is designed to give participants ideas on how to stay healthy, and how to contribute to a healthy Vulcan County community.

February 2020

  • Foundation Trustees see the interior of the new wing for the first time.

September 9, 2019

  • With the steel framework as a backdrop, the VCHWFoundation welcomed the community to a BBQ Beef on a Bun lunch. It was a great time and location to share construction progress updates. Lunch was generously sponsored by McKay Hlavacek Architects.

April 2019 – Community Outreach

  • Trustees travel around Vulcan County reassuring residents the expansion of the Vulcan Community Health Centre will proceed. These meetings provided an opportunity to explain the final $6.1 million-dollar tendered bid.

May 2019 – Expansion Construction Ramps Up

  • After a five-month delay, construction of the new wing of the Vulcan Community Health Centre resumes.

June 2018 – Ground-breaking Ceremony

  • The Chair of the VCHWF Scott Mitchell accompanied by local representatives of the Federal, Provincial, County, and Municipal governments, along with several Alberta Health Services dignitaries, participated in the official ground-breaking ceremony.

June 24, 2017

  • All aboard the Aspen Crossing Train for the Barley Run, a fun crowd came out to enjoy the day, the experience and learn more about the VCHWFoundation and its vision

May 14, 2017

  • Mother’s day pledge walk/run welcomes a large turnout

May 2016 – First Vulcan County-Wide Fitness Challenge

  • One of the goals of the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation is to develop, promote, and deliver health and wellness programs that serve the residents of Vulcan County.
  • One of the activities the Foundation created to help us achieve that goal is the County-Wide Fitness Challenge. This unique wellness program is designed to reach every corner of the county.

June 2016

  • The Foundation held its “Taste of Italy” fundraising event complete with an evening of Duelling Pianos

January 2016 –  The Foundation’s Board of Trustees Focuses on Wellness

  • Dedicated wellness spaces are added to the expansion plans.
  • As the province moves from a model that was focused on primary health care to one that focuses on “wellness,” it made sense that the Foundation include spaces for a Wellness Centre in the new wing of our health centre.

December 2015

  • Representatives of Alberta Health Services, Vulcan County, the Town of Vulcan, and the Board of the VCH&WF signed an agreement signalling the official start of the expansion of the Vulcan Community Health Centre.

October 2015

  • Vulcan County and the Town of Vulcan both agreed to match, dollar for dollar, all funds raised by the Foundation for the Vulcan Community Health Centre. A $1.00 donation now will become a $3.00 donation thanks to the Town and the County!

June 2012

  • The first advertisement to recruit Trustees goes into the Vulcan Advocate

May 2012

  • The Foundation host its First Awareness evening Jazz Night Event at the Vulcan Lodge Hall