Our History: Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

The Royal Alex in Edmonton, Alberta—or simply, the Alex, as it has been familiarly known most of its life—is one of the largest and busiest hospitals in all of Canada and has been so since the early 1900s. Edmonton itself became a city in 1904, which means that the Royal Alex is four years older than the city, having first been incorporated as the Edmonton Public Hospital in 1900.

We are honoured and humbled to celebrate our hospital’s 125th anniversary this year in 2025.

Our hospital has grown along the way and long held an extremely important place in the story of our city, and in the lives of countless people from both Alberta and beyond.

To mark this occasion, we are pleased to share with our community a number of updates and events:

Announcing Our 125-Year History Book, "The Alex"

Authored by local historian Carolina Jakeway Roemmich, this limited-edition history book was produced by the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation in celebration and commemoration of our hospital’s 125-year anniversary in 2025, and dedicated to all the nurses, physicians, staff and donors of the Royal Alexandra Hospital—past and present.

There are several ways to purchase your copy...

1. ONLINE THROUGH OUR PUBLISHER

Our publisher, the Burke Group, offers a number of options for those wishing to have their book delivered to them (or delivered to a friend!).

Purchase "The Alex" online

2. AT THE ROYAL ALEX GIFT SHOPS

The book is available for purchase at the two gift shops located within the Royal Alexandra Hospital! One gift shop is located inside the main entrance of the Royal Alex from Kingsway Avenue, and the other is inside the NW entrance of the Robbins Pavilion off of 111th Avenue.

To inquire about quantity, please call the main entrance gift shop at 780-735-4221 and the Robbins Pavilion gift shop at 780-735-3923.

View gift shop hours of operation

3. DIRECTLY FROM THE FOUNDATION

A limited number of books are kept on hand at the Foundation's offices within the Community Services Centre building at the Royal Alex Hospital.

To make a direct purchase, please kindly call us at 780-735-4723 ideally at least 1 hour before your arrival to ensure someone will be available to assist you. Sales are possible at our offices between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday to Thursday, excluding stat holidays. Please note that if paying by cheque the total including GST is $131.25.

Priced at $125, this 400+ page compilation of stories and perspectives would make an amazing gift for anyone whose path has brought them to the Alex—whether as a physician, caregiver or employee, patient, visitor, or had a family member born at our hospital. This is your opportunity to own or share a piece of history from the heart of our community!

We are pleased to support that all proceeds from book sales support the efforts of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.

We sincerely hope you will join us in honouring the past, present, and future of this very special place!