Stantec is designing the Ben Stelter Proton Facility and Neuroscience Centre of Excellence in Edmonton, Canada’s first cancer care facility offering proton therapy.
The radiation treatment precisely delivers a beam of protons to disrupt and destroy tumor cells. For that reason, it greatly reduces patient side-effects and is considered more successful than traditional radiation.
Design plans will address the health and well-being of on-site care teams. Alleviating patient anxiety will also be a focus since the therapy requires several visits for a series of weeks and uses large technology, which can be intimidating.
The centre will be located near the University of Alberta Cross Cancer Institute and Stollery Children’s Hospital and be owned and operated by WestCan Proton Therapy. Highcroft Healthcare Solutions will manage the financing and development of the project. The University of Pennsylvania Department of Radiation Oncology will provide clinical education, training, and standards.
Gordon Baltzer, CEO of WestCan Proton Therapy said the facility will make proton therapy accessible for all Canadians. Historically, patients with cancer who needed proton therapy treatment had to seek care out of the country.
The new centre will offer this local cancer treatment delivery at a substantial cost savings to the Ministry of Health and Alberta Health Services.
The Edmonton region has been positioning itself as a hub for life sciences, and is also where Stantec is headquartered. “We understand how proton therapy facilities are transforming cancer care and are honored to support clinicians to better serve their patients with innovative, life-saving treatment,” said Tariq Amlani, Stantec’s senior principal and Canadian Health sector leader.
The Ben Stelter Foundation, a charity focused on pediatric cancer research, advanced medical equipment, special patient experiences, and venture philanthropy, is raising funds for the facility.
Major industry-leading partners and contributors including The University of Pennsylvania Department of Medicine, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, Edmonton Global, The Stollery Charitable Foundation, and many other community-based supporters.
Feature photo: Left to right: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Scott Argent (Stantec), Tariq Amlani (Stantec) Gordon Baltzer (WestCan).
