In 1894 the first hospital auxiliary west of Winnipeg was formed in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Additional auxiliaries would be formed and operated in communities across the province; however, it was not until the 1940’s that the hospital auxiliaries in Alberta would officially organize. The first organization, the Associated Auxiliaries of Hospitals of Alberta, would be founded on November 12, 1948, by representatives from Women’s Auxiliaries, Aids, and Guilds working for hospitals in the province. The organization’s goal was to increase the enthusiasm and interest of women supporters of hospitals by pooling ideas and having a greater impact on the districts involved in the Association.

In 1954 the Association became affiliated with the National Council of Hospital Auxiliaries of Canada, and by 1955 the Association had fifty-five member Auxiliaries. The first scholarship sponsored by the Association was awarded to assist a graduate nurse to further her training in 1957. In 1965 the Association changed its name to the Alberta Hospital Auxiliaries Association (AHAA) to conform to the name change of the Provincial Hospitals Association.

In 1973 the AHAA withdrew from the National Council of Hospital Auxiliaries of Canada. However it re-established its affiliation with the Canadian Association of Hospital Auxiliaries in hopes of drawing on its educational program resources in 1986.

In 1991 the Association changed its name to the Alberta Healthcare Auxiliaries Association. The Association and the individual Auxiliaries are active in a number of areas. The Auxiliaries play a considerable role in making the general public “hospital minded” and spend substantial time visiting hospital patients. In addition to scholarships and bursaries the Auxiliaries also contribute to Alberta health care through gift shops, libraries, and mobile carts. The Association also organizes a variety of other fund raising events as well as an annual convention.

The AHAA is comprised of Local Auxiliaries and each Local Auxiliary is part of one of seven regions: Northern, North-West, North-East, Central, Eastern, Calgary, and Southern. The Association is governed by a President and Executive and each region elects a regional president who sits on the Provincial Board.