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- calendar_today November 7, 2026
Fundraising Effort Launches for WestView Hospital CT Scanner
Residents of Parkland County are mobilizing to raise funds for a computed tomography (CT) scanner at their local hospital. The campaign aims to collect just over $5 million to acquire the specialized medical imaging equipment for WestView Hospital and Continuing Care Centre in Stony Plain, Alberta. The addition of the CT scanner is expected to reduce the need for patients and families to travel to Edmonton for diagnostic imaging services, providing timely and convenient care closer to home.
Addressing Gaps in Local Diagnostic Imaging
Currently, WestView Hospital sends more than 200 patients each month to other hospitals for CT scans, according to Tammy Brent, executive director of the WestView Health Foundation. Brent argues that these patient transfers are not an effective use of resources and contribute to stress for both patients and their families. "That is not [an] effective use of resources. Behind every one of those transfers is a patient and a family waiting for answers in an already stressful time," Brent told CBC News.
Expanding Access Across a Wide Region
The WestView Health Foundation notes that the hospital serves a vast geographic area, including communities like Spruce Grove, Onoway, Wabamun, and four First Nations. WestView is one of 11 Alberta Health Services-operated hospitals in the Edmonton-region corridor but oversees the largest area west of Edmonton, extending to the British Columbia border. The proposed CT scanner would be the only one available 24 hours a day in this region.
Personal Stories Highlight Need for Equipment
Stony Plain resident Daylene Hanasyk became involved in the fundraising effort after her husband, Curtis, tragically passed away following a stroke. Curtis experienced increasing pain from what initially seemed like a severe headache and attempted to seek care at WestView Hospital. Due to the lack of diagnostic resources, he needed to be transferred to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, but suffered a stroke before the transfer. While Hanasyk believes a local CT scanner would not have changed the outcome due to the severity of her husband's condition, she emphasized the impact quicker assessment could have made. "In those moments, what it would have given us is time. We didn't just lose Curtis that day, but [also the] time we could have had," she said.
Hanasyk and others in the community stress the importance of having essential diagnostic tools locally, arguing that timely imaging can lead to earlier detection and intervention for various medical issues.
Progress, Partnerships, and Next Steps
As of now, the WestView Health Foundation has raised over $3 million toward its $5.1 million target. Brent expressed confidence that the campaign will meet its goal, noting, "It is a lot of money for our community and it's the largest campaign that we’ve run. However, it's more than a piece of equipment."
The Government of Alberta has agreed to provide $3.8 million annually to cover operational costs, including staffing, once the CT scanner is installed. In a statement to CBC, the office of Adriana LaGrange, Alberta's minister of Hospital and Surgical Services, said, "Alberta's government recognizes the importance of improving access to diagnostic imaging closer to home, and we appreciate the work of the WestView Health Foundation and the community in supporting this initiative." The province has already begun the process to secure a contractor, and the CT scanner is expected to be operational by 2028.
Looking Ahead for Parkland County Healthcare
The community-driven campaign to bring a CT scanner to WestView Hospital underlines a broader commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in Parkland County. With continued public support and government partnership, local leaders hope to achieve faster and more accessible medical imaging for patients throughout the region.
Source: cbc.ca.
