Invest in Alberta's Continuing Care: Think Tank Event Summary Report
Sep 08, 2025
On June 17, 2025, the Alberta Continuing Care Association (ACCA) hosted the inaugural Invest in Alberta’s Continuing Care: Think Tank in Edmonton. More than 150 leaders from government, finance, construction, operations, and care delivery came together to confront Alberta’s most urgent continuing care challenges and to chart a path forward.
This unique gathering was more than a conversation. It was a moment of cross-sector alignment, where diverse voices rallied around a shared imperative to expand, modernize, and integrate continuing care services that meet the needs of Alberta’s aging and increasingly complex population.
Key Themes from the Day
The discussions were candid, solutions-focused, and grounded in action. The Think Tank identified several priorities for system transformation:
- Aligning system planning and delivery to ensure capital, operations, workforce, and regulation work together.
- Pairing capital investment with operational sustainability through predictable, multi-year funding.
- Developing flexible, context-specific design standards that better serve rural and urban communities alike.
- Stabilizing the workforce by aligning funding, data, and recruitment strategies.
- Scaling innovation and technology as core infrastructure.
- Embedding rural and equity-focused approaches into planning and funding.
The event also featured clear commitments from government to modernize regulations, unlock land, streamline approvals, and partner equally across sectors.
"The learning from this event isn't a conversation starter, it's an implementation plan." - Feisal Keshavjee, ACCA Board Chair
A Call to Action
As Karim Kassam emphasized in the opening remarks, the challenge ahead is significant. Alberta requires 15,000 new continuing care beds by 2030. Yet, as the Think Tank made clear, success is not only about building more spaces. It’s about creating vibrant, livable communities for older adults across Alberta.
The solutions exist. Now, it’s about moving forward together with urgency and collaboration.