Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH) in Calgary, Alberta operates a 24/7 pediatric emergency department serving infants, children, and youth under 18, handling over 80,000 patient visits per year. As an accredited Level I pediatric trauma centre, ACH is the primary emergency and trauma referral centre for southern Alberta, eastern British Columbia, and western Saskatchewan, as well as parts of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Families with seriously ill or injured children in the Calgary region and beyond should come here for the full spectrum of pediatric emergency, critical care, and surgical subspecialty services.
Services & Specialties
24/7 Pediatric Emergency Department, Level I Pediatric Trauma Centre (Trauma Association of Canada accredited), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – 14 beds, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) – 15 beds, Resuscitation suites and procedure rooms, Mental health assessment and treatment for children and adolescents, Pediatric neurosciences (provincial leader), Bone marrow transplantation (provincial expert centre), Congenital cataracts surgery (world leader), Pediatric vision clinic (largest in Western Canada), Traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, Respiratory therapy services, Child life specialist services, Social work services, Pediatric medical and surgical subspecialty consultations, Dedicated minor injuries and urgent care area.
Amenities
Good Earth Café – main floor near main entrance
Mountain View Café – freshly prepared food and beverages for patients, visitors, and staff
Vending machines – main level near ER entrance (beverages, snacks, frozen foods)
24-hour Royal Bank ATM – near Mountain View Café and in covered parkade hallway
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hospital – connect to 'healthspot' network
Emily's Window Gift Shop – toys, gifts, and accessories operated by volunteers
Family & Community Resource Centre (FCRC) – 2nd floor, open 24/7; includes health library, public computers, and children's books
The Sacred Space (chapel/spiritual care room) – 2nd floor
Public showers – available 24/7 in staff washroom areas on every floor behind main elevator bank
Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta – family accommodation referrals available through FCRC
ACH treats only patients under 18 — adults accompanying children should plan to remain as support, as the ER is exclusively pediatric.
For minor injuries or less urgent concerns, ask at triage about the dedicated minor injuries and urgent care area, which may have shorter wait times than the main ED.
Use the AHS parking app before you arrive to simplify payment and avoid returning to a meter during a stressful visit.
The Family & Community Resource Centre on the 2nd floor is open 24/7 and can connect families with Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta if an extended stay is anticipated.
ACH is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Calgary — residents and medical students may be involved in your child's care under physician supervision, which is standard practice and supports world-class training.
If traveling from outside Calgary (southern Alberta, eastern BC, or western Saskatchewan), ACH is the designated pediatric trauma and tertiary referral centre for your region — contact your local hospital for transfer coordination if needed.
What to Bring
Alberta Health Care (AHCIP) card or provincial health insurance card
Photo ID for the parent or guardian
List of current medications, dosages, and any known allergies
Immunization records if relevant to the child's condition
Comfort items for your child (favourite toy, blanket, or soother)
Snacks and water for caregivers, as wait times can vary
Any relevant medical records, referral letters, or specialist contact information
Phone charger or portable battery pack for extended waits
Parking
Dedicated outdoor surface parking is available directly at the Emergency entrance for ED patients. A second outdoor lot is located near the Rehabilitation entrance off 24th Avenue NW. A covered parkade (maximum height 2.1 m / 6 ft 10 in; no propane vehicles) is connected to the hospital via a heated walkway. Parking is charged at an hourly rate with a maximum 3-hour stay; speak to the parking office if you need longer. Accessible parking spaces are available. AHS offers a parking app for mobile payment, expiry alerts, and remote time extensions.
Getting There
Several Calgary Transit bus routes serve the hospital directly, including routes 8, 19, 90, and 303, stopping at 'Children's Hospital (Nb Childrens Dr)' approximately a 2-minute walk away. The nearest CTrain station is University Station on Route 201 (Red Line), about a 9-minute walk from the Emergency parking entrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alberta Children's Hospital emergency department treat adults?
No. ACH exclusively treats patients under 18 years of age. Adults with medical emergencies should go to the nearest adult emergency department, such as Foothills Medical Centre, which is located directly across from ACH.
Is Alberta Children's Hospital a trauma centre?
Yes. ACH is an accredited Level I Pediatric Trauma Centre by the Trauma Association of Canada, and serves as the pediatric trauma and tertiary emergency referral centre for southern Alberta, eastern British Columbia, western Saskatchewan, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories.
Where should I park if I'm going to the emergency department at ACH?
There is a dedicated outdoor surface parking lot located directly at the Emergency entrance of the hospital. Hourly rates apply with a maximum 3-hour stay. The AHS parking app can be used for mobile payment and to extend your time remotely.
Does ACH have mental health services for children and teens in the emergency department?
Yes. The ACH Emergency Department includes dedicated mental health assessment spaces. The hospital also provides inpatient assessment and treatment for adolescents with serious emotional, behavioural, and psychiatric conditions, including the only comprehensive Behavioural Unit in any pediatric hospital in Canada.
Is Alberta Children's Hospital a teaching hospital?
Yes. ACH is academically affiliated with the University of Calgary and hosts a fully accredited Pediatric Emergency Medicine Subspecialty Residency Training Program through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Medical learners may be involved in your child's care under the supervision of attending physicians.
What support resources are available for families during a long ER visit or hospital stay at ACH?
The Family & Community Resource Centre (FCRC) on the 2nd floor is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and offers a consumer health library, public computers, community resource information, and books for children. The FCRC can also refer families to Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta for temporary lodging. Free Wi-Fi is available hospital-wide on the 'healthspot' network.
Emergency departments use triage. Patients with more serious conditions are seen first, regardless of arrival time.
Wait times are estimates based on Alberta health data. Actual wait times may vary.
We check our own accuracy. Forecasting two hours ahead, the ERstat estimate was typically off by 33 minutes against what hospitals themselves later posted, compared with 41 minutes for the hospital's own current figure, and was the closer of the two 58% of the time. See the full scorecard, or how we work the number out.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
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