Bow Valley Centre of the Calgary General Hospital

The Bow Valley Centre of the Calgary General Hospital (previously known as the Calgary General) was the largest hospital in the Province of Alberta, and oldest hospital located in the City of Calgary. The massive 960-bed hospital was well known for delivering excellent healthcare services, and was one of Canada's leading hospitals [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1SEC677874] . It was located in the community of Bridgeland in Northeast Calgary, and was situated minutes away from the Calgary City Centre.

Its controversial demolition in the mid 1990's was the result of insufficient government funding to successfully run the facility. Prior to demolition, it was decided that services the Calgary General Hospital provided would be transferred into the nearby Peter Lougheed Centre. [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1SEC677874] . "Amid all the closures and rationalizations, the Calgary General is unique in two respects. It is the biggest North American hospital ever to shut down and have its functions, equipment, staff and patients integrated into existing hospitals, and its closure leaves Calgary as the only large city in Canada without a downtown emergency department" [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1SEC677874 ] .

Today, the demolition is often seen as a major regret, as the growth of the existing Calgary Hosptitals has increased at a signifcant rate (resulting in limited beds and high costs associated with major renovations), in turn due to Calgary's population increase.

References

1.http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1SEC677874

ee also

*Health Care in Calgary
*Calgary Health Region
*Health care in Canada
*List of hospitals in Canada
*Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta