Award-winning Courage Gala celebrates community support and builds momentum toward redeveloping an essential rehabilitation space that serves Albertans province-wide.
More than 500 community members gathered at the Glenrose Hospital Foundation’s Courage Gala, raising over $1.6 million in support of the redevelopment of the hospital’s therapeutic pool.
The evening marked a major milestone for rehabilitation healthcare in Alberta, highlighted by a significant $1 million naming gift from the Allard Foundation. This year’s success represents significant progress toward the project’s $6.5 million goal, with half of the total redevelopment cost supported through an investment by the Government of Alberta.
Held on April 18 at the Edmonton Convention Centre and presented by the Radostits Family, the sold-out fundraiser brought together community leaders, supporters, and donors united in their commitment to restoring access to the facility.
The program featured keynote speaker, Dr. Robert Agostinis, whose life was altered after a rare autoimmune condition, anti-neurofascin syndrome, left him paralyzed from the jaw down. Following months in acute care, Dr. Agostinis continued his recovery at the Glenrose, where aqua therapy played a key role in rebuilding his strength.
“This is what community leadership looks like. The therapeutic pool represents more than a physical space. It is a catalyst for recovery and progress. The support we saw at Courage Gala brings us meaningfully closer to restoring something patients rely on every day,” says Mark Korthuis, President & CEO at the Glenrose Hospital Foundation.
The therapeutic pool has been closed since November 2024 due to structural failure. Aqua therapy allows for earlier and safer movement while supporting both physical and emotional recovery, providing unique benefits not available in land-based therapies alone.
“For nearly four decades, our family has been proud to support the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and its extraordinary work. The Glenrose is a place where care, innovation, and determination come together to help people rebuild their lives and rediscover what is possible. It was an honour to stand with the Glenrose community and continue that support through a $1 million gift from the Allard Foundation toward the therapeutic pool campaign,” says Beth Allard-Clough of the Allard Foundation.
Since its inception in 2010, the Courage Gala has raised over $7 million in support of rehabilitation facilities, equipment, technology, and research. These investments advance human ability for thousands of Canadians living with complex communication and mobility challenges.
The Foundation is building on the momentum of this year’s Gala, continuing to work with donors and the community to close the fundraising gap and restore the facility through the Make If Possible campaign.
