— Photo supplied by Town of Peace River
The Peace River district will share its insights, geography, challenges, and more when it hosts RHPAP’s biennial conference this fall.
Peace River mayor Shelly Shannon talks with pride about how her larger community was chosen to play host to Albertans interested in rural healthcare during the RHPAP Rural Community Conference Oct. 6 to 8, 2026.
“This will give different organizations across Alberta the chance to come and see where Peace River is and see how we do things in the north. You never know, something we might do here might trigger something with another community that’s coming,” says Shannon, who recently became chair of the area’s Peace Regional Healthcare Attraction and Retention Committee.
“We can learn from each other, but yet we can learn from our distinct differences. There are lots that we do together that we share.”
Shannon says the area’s municipalities — Town of Peace River, County of Northern Lights, Northern Sunrise County, Municipal District of Peace No. 135 and Birch Hills County — are banding together to deliver a memorable conference along the banks of the Peace River. Attraction and retention committees from Smoky River and Grimshaw are also collaborating on conference planning.
Primarily a rural region, Shannon says the location is unique in that the town provides urban-like amenities to those who live, work, and play in the area.
“We make a strong regional focus when we start working together,” she says. “That model really helps with the job of retaining and attracting (health professionals) because you have so many bodies at the table that all need the same thing. We are a much larger base for advocacy.”
She sees cooperation prevailing during the conference as north, south and central Alberta convene to talk about the issues facing rural Alberta healthcare.
“When the people from across Alberta gather in one place like that, it’s the perfect opportunity to really gauge where we’re all at, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.”
— Photo supplied by Town of Peace River
The area has received many healthcare accolades over the years including two Rhapsody Physician Award recipients, three Rhapsody Healthcare Heroes recipients, and several nominations.
Shannon says the area’s can-do attitude will come through during the three-day healthcare conference.
“The north is a very do-it-yourself type of mentality. No one is going to bring us these doctors. Nobody is going to deliver a whole suite of medical services to us. We have to do that ourselves. So, we advocate for ourselves, and we live with that attitude all the time.
‘We’re very independent people, if we need something we get on it and start doing it.”
Shannon encourages those interested to take the trip north to the scenic Peace Country.
“We understand that for some attendees the drive will be long, the journey to get here will be long. But we want to guarantee that if you take a chance on Peace River to come and visit our community, you will definitely not be sorry.
“It will take your breath away.”
Early bird registration for the autumn conference is now open!