Beef producers raise $230K for cardiac care

By Lethbridge Herald on August 26, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative 

Alberta’s beef producers have answered the call to help bring advance cardiac care to southern Alberta.

The Taste of Alberta & Live Auction, held during the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Calgary, raised $232,270 in support of the Bringing Hearts Home Campaign.

“We are proud to support causes that make meaningful differences in the lives of people across our rural communities,” said Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association (ACFA) chair Keith Gregory. 

“The Alberta Beef Industry Conference brings together leaders from across the sector—not just to discuss our industry, but to work together to make a meaningful difference. Partnering in support of local cardiac care is a powerful example of that impact.”

Organized by the ACFA and generously supported by attendees from across Alberta’s beef industry, the funds raised during the March gala will help bring advanced cardiac care closer to home for families in Southern Alberta.

Heart disease is the number two cause of death in Canada. In southern Alberta it is the No. 1 cause of death according to the Government of Alberta and Dr. Sayeh Zielke, Chair of The Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet.

“A portion of that is because we need to travel to Calgary for service,” says Oliver Twizzel, Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH) Foundation director of development. “And so when those services are closer to home (related to cardiac care) the survival rates will be much improved.”

If you live in southern Alberta, you are 15.5-per-cent more likely to have a heart attack than someone living somewhere else in Alberta. And you have a 26.6% higher chance of dying from a cardiac issue, too.The Bringing Hearts Home Campaign wants to do something about these appalling numbers.

Started in September of 2024, it’s a partnership between the CRH Foundation, the Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet, and Alberta Health Services leadership. It’s intended to alleviate the healthcare crisis in Southern Alberta related to cardiac care. The goal is to raise $30 million by the winter of 2027. To date the campaign has raised $12 million. 

“The majority of the funds will be directed towards revitalizing and upgrading Schneck Regional Hospital and the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, as these two facilities serve all communities of Southwest and Southeastern Alberta,” says Twizzel.

A significant portion of the funds will go toward upgrading equipment including a cardiac catheterization laboratory, a cardiac CT scanner, a cardiac MRI machine, the creation of electrophysiology laboratory, just to name a few; and also toward programming. 

Hosted as the culminating evening of the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in March — one of Canada’s largest beef conventions —the Taste of Alberta event featured a live auction, heartfelt stories, and a call to action that inspired generosity from across the industry.

A formal cheque presentation took place ion June at the Lethbridge & District Exhibition where ACFA Chair Keith Gregory (Cattleland Feedyards Ltd.) and Vice Chair Curtis Vander Heyden (Grandview Cattle Feeders Ltd) presented the proceeds to the CRH Foundation.

“This donation is a shining example of what’s possible when industry and healthcare come together to create lasting impact. We are deeply grateful to ACFA and the entire beef community for standing with us,” said Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation CEO Crystal Elliott

“I would just echo what Keith Gregory, the chair of the ACFA said, specifically about this gift…that we’re so thankful for the gift from those in the cattle industry, but especially Alberta Cattle Feeders Association,” says Twizzel.