Fonds paa-6513 - Alberta Health-Care Auxiliaries Association fonds

The first hospital auxiliary west of Winnipeg was formed in Medicine Hat in 1894. Auxiliaries were formed and operated in communities across Alberta; however, it was not until the 1940s that Alberta's auxiliaries organized. On November 12, 1948, the Associated Auxiliaries of Hospitals of Alberta was formed. Representatives from Women's Auxiliaries, Aids, and Guilds working for hospitals in the Province voted to form the new Association. The Association's goal was to increase the enthusiasm and interest of women supporters of hospitals by pooling ideas and having a greater impact on the districts involved in the Association. In 1954, the Alberta Association affiliated with the National Council of Hospital Auxiliaries of Canada. By 1955, the Association had fifty-five member Auxiliaries. In 1957, the first scholarship was awarded to assist a Graduate Nurse to further her training. In 1965, the Association changed its name to the Alberta Hospital Auxiliaries Association (A.H.A.A.) to conform to the name change of the Provincial Hospitals Association. In 1973, the A.H.A.A. withdrew from the National Council of Hospital Auxiliaries of Canada. However, in 1986, the A.H.A.A. re-established its affiliation with the Canadian Association of Hospital Auxiliaries in hopes of drawing on its educational program resources. In 1991, the Association changed its name to the Alberta Healthcare Auxiliaries Association (A.H.A.A.). The Association and the individiual Auxiliaries are active in a number of areas. The Auxiliaries play a considerable role in making the general public "hospital minded" and spend considerable time visiting hospital patients. In addition to scholarships and bursaries, the Auxiliaries contribute to Alberta health care through gift shops, libraries, and mobile carts. The Association also organizes a variety of other fund raising events as well as an annual convention. The A.H.A.A. is comprised of Local Auxiliaries. Each Local Auxiliary is part of a region. Alberta has been divided into seven regions called Northern, North-West, North-East, Central, Eastern, Calgary, and Southern Regions. Each region elects a President who sits on the provincial Board. The organization also has a provincial President and Executive.