The Alberta Hospice Palliative Care Association (AHPCA) is a charitable organization that strives to improve hospice palliative care in the province. For the past 30 years, the AHPCA engages in education, advocacy, and provision of resources to achieve comprehensive and quality hospice palliative and end of life care for all Albertans.

The AHPCA Roadshow began in 2010 as a series of full-day workshops developed in response to an identified need for palliative care training throughout Alberta. Well over 3,000 Albertans have attended the AHPCA Roadshow including professionals, volunteers, caregivers, patients and interested community members. During the pandemic, the Roadshow has gone online to comply with public health measures.  In 2023, our program staff have planned and delivered in-person training to various communities in Alberta.

The AHPCA’s advocacy inspired Bill C-220, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (bereavement leave), which became law in June 2021. In a letter to Alberta’s federal and provincial representatives, AHPCA highlighted the lack of bereavement leave for caregivers after their loved one dies. After meeting with AHPCA, an Alberta Member of Parliament sponsored a private member’s bill based on this issue. The new law gives 10 days of bereavement leave following the death of a family member to all Canadian employees whose job falls under the Canada Labour Code.