March 18, 2025 – The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) is excited to announce Alberta Rural Health Week will be taking place May 26 to 30, 2025. This annual week of celebration, supported by a declaration from the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health, celebrates and recognizes the people, communities, and initiatives that support and strengthen rural healthcare in Alberta.
Over 18 percent of Albertans reside in rural and remote areas, while less than seven percent of family physicians serve in rural areas, with similar ratios for other healthcare workers. This distribution underscores the importance of rural residents’ access to healthcare and the unwavering efforts of healthcare workers practicing in non-urban centers.
Throughout the week, RhPAP invites communities, organizations, and individuals across the province to show appreciation for healthcare professionals and volunteers whose commitment enhances the well-being of rural residents. Their hard work and passion help maintain and strengthen healthcare services across the province.
“Alberta Rural Health Week is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible dedication of healthcare professionals and volunteers who ensure Albertans in rural and remote areas receive the care they need,” says Shanda Berns, Senior Manager, Community Development and Engagement at RhPAP. “We encourage communities to come together in recognizing these healthcare champions whose hard work makes a lasting difference in the lives of rural residents.”
To support these celebrations, RhPAP developed a comprehensive toolkit filled with resources for communities including proclamations, social media graphics, posters, colouring sheets, and thank you cards—making it easy to express gratitude to those who keep rural Alberta healthcare strong. The toolkit is available on RhPAP.ca/ARHWtoolkit.
Throughout the week, RhPAP’s social media channels will be shining a spotlight on the life-changing impacts of rural healthcare and sharing an inside look at the dedicated efforts of healthcare teams working in rural and remote areas. Across the province, RhPAP’s rural community consultants, who support communities on the attraction and retention of healthcare workers, will be attending local events and initiatives recognizing healthcare heroes.
Municipalities are encouraged to proclaim Alberta Rural Health Week and join the conversation by using #ABRuralHealthCareMatters. To stay informed and participate in the celebrations, visit RhPAP.ca and follow RhPAP on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube (@AlbertaRhPAP).
Inquiries can be directed to:
Jessica Surgenor
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP)
Tel: 403 363 6008
Jessica.Surgenor@rhpap.ca
About RhPAP:
The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) is an organization that aims to enhance the quality of healthcare in rural communities across Alberta. RhPAP collaborates with rural communities, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, and government bodies to address healthcare workforce challenges and improve access to healthcare services in rural areas. To learn more about RhPAP, please visit RhPAP.ca.