Glenrose Hospital Foundation

11/10/2025

For twenty years, the Courage Awards have honoured more than sixty remarkable recipients — Glenrose patients and caregivers whose dedication, resilience, and courage have defined their rehabilitation journeys.

Last week, on November 4, together with our presenting sponsor, , and our media sponsor, , we proudly continued that tradition, recognizing four extraordinary individuals who embody what these awards represent.

Annaliese Meredith Siverns, whose courage and positivity inspire everyone around her; Jamal Malcolm Daahir and his mother, Judith Haughton, whose enduring bond carried them through recovery; and Eric Abrahamson, whose perseverance and drive made way for possibilities he never could have imagined.

We invite you to read more about their inspiring journeys with the Glenrose, here: https://glenrosefoundation.com/celebrating-twenty-years-of-the-courage-awards-and-four-extraordinary-recipients/

11/06/2025

📆 Save the date — December 2 is Giving Tuesday!

We’re celebrating a global movement of generosity this Giving Tuesday, where your kindness can make a direct and meaningful impact in the lives of patients at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.

In partnership with the hospital, we’ve created an Amazon Wish List featuring items that support patients and the dedicated teams who care for them every day. By choosing a gift, you’re helping to bring comfort, hope, and healing to those who need it most.

Every act of giving, big or small, makes a difference. Together, we can help our patients rediscover what’s possible.

This year, your impact will go even further — all donations will be matched by our generous supporters, Shawn and Ashlee Doyle.

Give a gift today at: https://lnkd.in/gpcC9y73

💌 If you prefer to purchase items directly from our Amazon Wish List, gifts over $20 are eligible for a tax receipt. You may send your invoice to info@glenrosefoundation.com.

11/05/2025

Yesterday, we had the privilege of recognizing four remarkable patients and their families with the 2025 Courage Award — a celebration of their extraordinary resilience and determination. The Courage Awards, which this year celebrated its 20th anniversary, reminds us every day that recovery is not only about regaining what was lost, but about rediscovering who you are and redefining what’s possible.

Congratulations to our recipients: Annaliese Meredith Siverns, Jamal Malcolm Daahir and his mother, Judith Haughton, and Eric Abrahamson.

We were also honoured to present this year’s Impact Award to the Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre (Northern Alberta) Society, and President Louise Miller, for their decades of dedicated service and advocacy for the Glenrose community.

This year’s Legacy Award was presented posthumously to Grace Maier, devoted Glenrose staff member and long-time supporter, in recognition of her lasting contributions to the hospital and Foundation she so passionately served.

A heartfelt thank you to our partner and presenting sponsor, James H. Brown Injury Lawyers, with special thanks to Trent Brown and Erin Lightning-Brown for their continued support. And thank you to our media sponsor, Global Edmonton, and Health Matters reporter Quinn Ohler, for graciously hosting this year’s celebration.

We are also deeply grateful and honoured to have been joined by, Her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, for yesterday's celebrations.

Congratulations once again to all of this year’s honourees! 💙

10/31/2025

One morning in June 2023, Eric woke up unable to move his legs. A severe spinal infection had left him paralyzed overnight.

Transferred to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, he faced an uncertain future — but Eric was determined to move forward. Through physiotherapy, aquatic therapy, and countless hours of rehabilitation, he embraced every challenge with courage and focus. Speaking about his experience in the pool, Eric shares, “In the water, you don’t have the fear of falling. It gave me confidence.”

By December, Eric was walking with a walker, and before long independently. “They gave me hope that I could just keep improving.”

We are proud to honour Eric with a 2025 Courage Award next week for his remarkable determination throughout his rehabilitation journey. Presented by James H. Brown Injury Lawyers, the Courage Awards continue a 20-year tradition of recognizing the incredible patients and caregivers at the Glenrose.

And a special thank you to Health Matters reporter Quinn Ohler, and Global Edmonton, our exclusive media sponsor, for helping share these stories — and the heart of the Glenrose — with communities across Alberta.

10/29/2025

Every second counts when it comes to a stroke.

For Oral O’Gilvie, what started as a leisurely round of golf quickly took a serious turn when he started showing signs of a stroke. Recognizing the symptoms, his golf partner and friend thought FAST — an acronym that helps identify a stroke: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call for help.

That quick action made all the difference. Within 45 minutes, Oral was rushed to an acute care facility in Edmonton where he received immediate treatment. Just one week later, he began rehabilitation at the Glenrose, and one month after that, he walked out on his own.

“I recognize that I’m a beneficiary of a world-class facility in Edmonton,” says Oral. “I don’t know if I would be anywhere near where I am if I didn’t have access to the facilities and people at the Glenrose. It’s incredible. Absolutely incredible.”

🌟On , we’re reminded that stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. Knowing the signs and acting FAST saves lives.

🔗 Help more patients like Oral regain their strength and independence by giving a gift today at glenrosefoundation.com/donate-now.

10/27/2025

Jamal has always been determined to forge his own path. After building a career in scaffolding in Alberta, his life changed in July 2023 when he sustained a severe traumatic brain injury.

Suddenly, walking, speaking, reading, writing, and balance became daily challenges. Yet Jamal showed up, every single day at the Glenrose, determined to rebuild his strength and regain his independence.

“His perseverance in the face of adversity is truly admirable,” says occupational therapist Mary Thai. “He’s a shining example of strength, resilience, and courage.”

With the support of his mother, Judith, who never left his side, Jamal made remarkable progress through physiotherapy, speech-language therapy, recreation, and aquatic programs. “His courage gave me the courage to be by his side,” says Judith.

We’re proud to honour Jamal and Judith with the 2025 Courage Award in recognition of their extraordinary journey and commitment to each other.

Since 2006, the Courage Awards have shone a light on patients and caregivers at the Glenrose who have demonstrated remarkable resilience, determination, and most of all, courage throughout their rehabilitation journey.

This November, we continue that tradition, together with our presenting sponsor, James H. Brown Injury Lawyers and a special thank you to Global Edmonton, our exclusive media sponsor of the Courage Awards.

10/25/2025

Today is National Make a Difference Day!

At the Glenrose, we’re reminded every day that making a difference doesn’t always come from grand gestures, it often starts with small acts of kindness, compassion, and courage.

Whether it’s giving a small monthly gift that supports patient care, hosting a fundraiser with friends and family, volunteering your time, or sharing your Glenrose story to inspire others — every action helps create hope and possibility for patients on their rehabilitation journeys.

Because when we come together, even the smallest act can create a ripple of change that touches countless lives.

🔗 Learn more about how you can make a difference today at https://glenrosefoundation.com/ways-to-give/
💌 Or reach out to us at info@glenrosefoundation.com

10/24/2025

It’s not every day that a healthcare worker experiences their profession as both a caregiver and a patient. For Russ Walker, a former Glenrose nurse, that reality became deeply personal in 2022 when he was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma — an aggressive and fast-growing form of brain cancer.

After undergoing surgery to remove two-thirds of his tumour, Russ returned to a place that felt like home — the Glenrose — this time as a patient. With strength, determination, and the same compassion he once showed his own patients, he worked tirelessly to regain his speech and movement.

On this , we remember and celebrate Russ, a beloved staff member and a passionate supporter of the Glenrose Hospital Foundation. Russ will always be remembered as one of the greatest champions of our annual Courage Ride, joining us at Pigeon Lake on his adapted trike and inspiring everyone around him with his courage and spirit.

10/17/2025

Born with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a brain injury caused by lack of blood flow and oxygen at birth, Anna has faced more challenges in her young life than most kids ever will. Today, she lives with cerebral palsy. Though her journey has not been easy, Anna meets every challenge with grace, optimism, and determination. With the ongoing support of her Glenrose team, she continues to inspire everyone around her.

This November, we’re honoured to recognize Anna with of this year’s Courage Awards — a very special celebration of her incredible strength, resilience, and spirit.

As we mark the 20th anniversary celebration, presented by James H. Brown Injury Lawyers, we will proudly recognize four inspiring recipients, including Anna, alongside the 2025 Impact and Legacy Award honourees.

A heartfelt thank you to Trent Brown and Erin Lightning-Brown for their longstanding support, and to our media sponsor, Global Edmonton.

🎥 Watch Anna’s inspiring story on Global News with Health Matters reporter and news anchor Quinn Ohler — the link is available in our Instagram bio .

10/16/2025

From just one month old, Lyon faced the challenges of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome — a rare genetic disorder that affects both body and mind, often causing facial differences, developmental delays, and seizures.

After his diagnosis, Lyon’s family turned to the Glenrose, where hands-on therapy helped him eventually take his first steps.
“You don’t know what you need as a parent,” says his mother, Tamara. “The Glenrose educated me on how to motivate Lyon, make therapy fun, and normalize it.”

Through the years, Lyon worked to build strength and independence, developing fine motor skills, learned to feed himself, and communicate using a voice output device. He was fitted for a motorized wheelchair, later transitioning to a manual one as he grew stronger.

At fifteen, Lyon faced another major setback when he suffered a stroke caused by a hole in his heart. He lost the ability to sit, walk, and communicate, but months of intensive therapy helped him regain all three.

Though Lyon passed away in 2021 at the age of 29, his story continues to inspire.

🌟 Read Lyon’s full story, here: https://glenrosefoundation.com/lyons-story/

🔗 Help inspire future care for families like Lyon’s with a gift to the Glenrose Hospital Foundation today at https://glenrosefoundation.com/donate-now/

10/06/2025

Nine-year-old Faith Rivard was born perfectly healthy, until things began to change around six months old.

“Challenges surfaced when we began introducing solid foods. That’s when I reached out to a public health nurse for an at-home visit,” shares her mom, Natalie.

As the youngest of four children, Natalie sensed something wasn’t right. Soon after, Faith was diagnosed with cerebral palsy — a neurological condition that affects movement and muscle tone — marking the beginning of their family’s journey navigating its challenges.

Early on, Faith was referred to the Glenrose’s Specialized Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (SROP), where she received physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy. She’s also followed by the Spasticity Clinic, explored communication devices at the I CAN Centre for Assistive Technology, and participates in the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) program, using a take-home kit to build her independence.

Faith has spent the majority of her life learning, exploring, and thriving through the Glenrose’s programs. This , we celebrate Faith, her family, and dedicated Glenrose care teams who help children like her thrive.

🌟 Watch Faith’s story here:

At six months old, Faith’s parents noticed something was off. It wasn’t until a few short months later that Faith was referred to the Glenrose where she was ...

10/03/2025

Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, we kindly encourage you to make your donations online or contact us to arrange alternative donation pick-up arrangements, as mailed contributions may be delayed.

For those waiting on tax receipts, mailing will resume once the strike ends. If you’d like a digital receipt or acknowledgment in the meantime, please reach out to us at info@glenrosefoundation.com or call us at 780-735-6024.

We deeply appreciate the vital work of postal workers in keeping us all connected and we sincerely thank you for your understanding and patience during this temporary situation.

Thank you again for your support!