For 80 years, Bethany Care Society has created caring communities where Albertans can age with dignity, belonging and respect. Founded in 1945 by five Lutheran community members with a shared vision of compassion and service, Bethany began as a single home in Calgary’s inner city. What started with 19 residents has grown into one of Western Canada’s largest not-for-profit, faith-based providers of continuing care, seniors housing and community services.
“Bethany has always been more than a care provider – we’ve been a community builder,” says Fergal Duff, Board Chair of Bethany Care Society. “Our focus is on redefining what aging well can mean in Alberta: places that feel like home, care that is deeply personal, and communities where people can live with dignity and purpose.”
At Bethany, caring is not just something they do, it is how they live, work and connect in community. Bethany honours individuality, respects choice and fosters belonging. Across 11 care homes, 14 affordable seniors’ housing sites, one life lease and four Adult Day Support programs in eight communities, Bethany is home for thousands of Albertans.
Leading the Transformation of Aging Well
At Bethany, care is never just about meeting medical needs – it’s about seeing the whole person – emotionally, spiritually and physically. By honouring individuality, embracing choice and celebrating connection, Bethany is helping redefine what aging looks like.
“As a faith-based organization, our approach is about meeting people where they are and walking alongside them in their journey—people of any faith tradition and those without a defined faith tradition,” says Jennifer McCue, President and CEO of Bethany Care Society. “We are open and welcoming to all, knowing we are made stronger by the diversity of our communities.”
Alberta is entering a period of unprecedented growth as the number of seniors requiring support continues to climb. Bethany is well positioned – drawing on their expertise and service model – to help meet the expanding needs of the communities they serve.
One of Bethany’s most innovative approaches is their Campus of Care model, which brings housing, services and care together on a single site. This model helps seniors remain independent longer, keeps families connected and allows couples with different care needs to stay close. For example, at Riverview Village in SE Calgary, three independent housing sites sit alongside Bethany Riverview, a purpose-built dementia care centre. Integrated programs and social activities ensure that daily life remains connected and community focused.
Looking ahead, Bethany’s modernization plans – beginning with the new Bethany Calgary care home – will build on this foundation. The focus is on creating vibrant, person-centred environments that embed innovation in design, programming and technology, while maintaining healthcare system capacity.
From leadership development and service excellence programs to leveraging data, technology and partnerships, Bethany will remain a nimble and adaptive leader in seniors’ care.
Adds Duff, “Our past has prepared us for this moment. Our future will be defined by how we continue to innovate – ensuring every Albertan we serve can age with dignity, belonging and joy.”
The Future of Care in the Heart of Calgary
For 80 years, Bethany Calgary has been a place of care and connection in the inner-city neighbourhood of Hounsfield Heights–Briar Hill. After decades of service, the original building no longer meets modern standards or the evolving expectations of Calgarians. In October 2024, Bethany broke ground on a bold new vision: a state-of-the-art care home that will redefine how aging and dementia care is experienced in Alberta.
Anticipated to open in late 2027, the new Bethany Calgary will be home to 420 residents in private suites with ensuite bathrooms, grouped into 14-room homes that follow a vertical small-home model. There will be open kitchens, shared living spaces and access to gardens and courtyards. Every detail has been designed to feel familiar and life-affirming, not institutional.
“This is not a facility. It is a home. It is not a project. It is a promise,” says McCue. “It’s a promise to every resident that they will live with dignity and belonging, and to every team member that they will find purpose. It is a promise to our city that Bethany Calgary will be a place of care, compassion and connection for generations.”
At the heart of the new community will be vibrant spaces including with a bistro, art and music rooms, a theatre, a pub and spaces that encourage spontaneous gathering – places to garden, create, celebrate and live. Families, volunteers and neighbours will be welcomed in, making Bethany Calgary not only a care home but a true community hub where aging is normalized and life continues to flourish.
The Next Chapter Capital Campaign
Aging touches every family, and the need for continuing care has never been greater. By 2050, nearly one in five Albertans will be over 65, and by 2043, more than 225,000 will be living with dementia. For today’s seniors – and for generations to come – Bethany Calgary will be a home where people can age with dignity, comfort and belonging.
Making this vision a reality requires all of us. The Government of Alberta has committed a significant investment toward the redevelopment, and now Bethany Care Foundation has launched the Next Chapter Capital Campaign – the largest in its history – to raise an additional $20 million. These funds will go beyond the basics, bringing to life the enrichment spaces, technology, art, gardens and community amenities that turn a building into a home.
Through the Next Chapter Capital Campaign, Bethany invites Calgarians to share in its legacy of compassion, dignity and community by getting involved in this innovative project that will transform continuing care in Alberta. With the support of generous donors, Bethany is not only honouring its history but also shaping the future of continuing care in Alberta.
About The Capital Campaign
The time to build this legacy is now, and the Next Chapter Capital Campaign is underway to reimagine care for generations to come.
“Bethany has been a part of the community for more than 80 years. We are building on a long tradition and legacy of care. It will be a great next chapter for Bethany Care Society and for our community,” says Campaign Co-Chair, Janet Annesley.
“This cause has incredibly broad relevance because it affects every single one of us. The reality is we are all going to age…and what that looks like should be important to all of us,” says Campaign Co-Chair, John Osler.
Get Involved
The Next Chapter Capital Campaign invites community to come together and reimagine what care can and should be – a place of comfort, joy, purpose and dignity. It is a call to all Calgarians to be a part of something transformational.
We are building on Bethany’s 80+ year legacy of compassion, care and community.
Join us and get involved today.
100, 2915 26 Avenue SE
(403) 210-4600
bethanyseniors.com