The University of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Polytechnic are teaming up to host a large regional nursing education conference in Lethbridge, Alberta, from April 26 to April 28, 2026. This three-day event, held at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge, brings together teachers, researchers, and students from across Western Canada to find new ways to train healthcare workers. This gathering is the first of its kind in the city since 2011.
The conference arrives as Lethbridge County and the city deal with a shortage of nurses, family doctors, and paramedics. Recent physician shortages at the local hospital have caused emergency room wait times to reach between six and nine hours. Organizing leaders hope the event will help strengthen local training pathways to get more qualified staff into the community.
The two local schools already work together on a nursing degree program that saw more than 300 students graduate in 2025. This conference, organized by the Western North-Western Region Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, will focus on using technology and new teaching methods to prepare future nurses. Registration for the event ranges from $300 for students to $500 for non-members.
Key speakers include Dr. Heather Bensler from the University of Calgary and experts who specialize in nursing simulations. On April 26, 2026, the event will also include a special social night to celebrate 55 years of nursing education in southern Alberta. Gillian Comchi, a nursing instructor and conference co-chair at the polytechnic, says the event is a chance to build meaningful connections with colleagues from across Western Canada.
