Parkinson Association of Alberta

What Parkinson Association of Alberta does

Parkinson Association of Alberta (PAA) is a Canadian registered charitable non-profit organization (#108091802RR0001) founded in 1981 and headquartered in Edmonton, with a regional office in Calgary. It is the sole Alberta-based organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by Parkinson disease and Atypical Parkinsonisms (PSP, MSA, CBD, LBD), serving eight Alberta communities plus Yellowknife, NT through in-person, virtual, and hybrid program delivery. Its service portfolio spans no-cost support programming (one-on-one counseling, support groups, Care Partner Support, Ambiguous Grief & Loss, Transition to Care), active wellness programming (boxing, singing, exercise, cognitive and speech activities), educational resources (PD 101, Pulse Magazine quarterly publication, Webinar Wednesdays, Hope Conference, Wellness Retreat), and infrastructure including the 9,000 sq ft Buchanan Centre for Parkinson's in Edmonton — the first barrier-free community facility of its kind in Canada. The organization also operates a Research Funding Program supporting Alberta-based Parkinson research at the University of Alberta and University of Calgary, plus a Research Participation Platform connecting members to clinical studies.

PAA's revenue model is donation-dependent, with five documented streams: charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations (the largest); event fundraising (Step 'n Stride, casino events, Hope Conference, Wellness Retreat); membership fees ($35/year primary, $15/year secondary); planned giving (bequests, trusts, estate plans); and gifts of securities. Major institutional funders include the Gordon and Diane Buchanan Family Foundation, Mark Messier Foundation, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, AbbVie, Weston Brain Institute, and Michael J. Fox Foundation. Operating geographies are limited to Alberta and Northwest Territories; there is no global footprint claim. The organization employs approximately 17 staff across leadership (Executive Director Lana Tordoff, Operations Manager, Communications and Development Manager), administrative support, a six-person Client Services Team, and a three-person Marketing & Communications Team. It carries no proprietary technology stack beyond standard nonprofit tooling (DonorPerfect, Akaraisin, Constant Contact) and offers no public APIs, mobile apps, or AI/ML products; its primary technology differentiator is the barrier-free physical facility itself, which is purpose-built to serve a population with mobility impairments and is not replicable without equivalent capital outlay.

Name

Parkinson Association of Alberta

Legal name

Parkinson Association of Alberta

Website

https://parkinsonassociation.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Parkinson Association of Alberta is a 1981-founded non-profit providing no-cost support, education, active wellness programming, and the Buchanan Centre facility for Albertans affected by Parkinson disease across eight Alberta cities plus Yellowknife, NT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Parkinson Disease Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Parkinson disease support
• Nonprofit health services
• Caregiver support programs
• Disease education resources
• Patient advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Major donors and supporters include the Gordon and Diane Buchanan Family Foundation, Mark Messier Foundation, Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, and many corporate sponsors who contributed to the Buchanan Centre construction.
2. Membership Fees: Primary membership costs $35 per year, providing voting privileges, discounts on programs and events, free awareness-in-care kit, Pulse magazine delivery, and program/event updates. Secondary membership available for $15 per year for family members and friends of primary members.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual events including Step 'n Stride fundraising campaign, casino events (Medicine Hat and Calgary), Hope Conference, and wellness retreats generate revenue while raising awareness. Corporate sponsors can become sponsors through event partnerships.
4. Planned Giving: The organization accepts planned gifts including bequests, trusts, and other estate plans as part of legacy giving programs.
5. Gift of Securities: Donors can gift stocks, bonds, or mutual funds to the organization with potential tax advantages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels16 records

Core offering

Parkinson Association of Alberta is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit that delivers no-cost support services, educational programming, active wellness programming, and community connection for Albertans affected by Parkinson disease and Atypical Parkinsonisms, as well as their care partners and families. The organization funds Alberta-based Parkinson research, operates the Buchanan Centre community facility in Edmonton, hosts annual events such as Step 'n Stride and the Hope Conference, and publishes the quarterly Pulse Magazine.

Product overview

Parkinson Association of Alberta is a non-profit organization offering a unified suite of support and educational services for individuals and families affected by Parkinson disease. The organization's portfolio includes educational resources (PD 101, Pulse Magazine), support programs (one-on-one counseling, support groups, Care Partner Support), active wellness programming (physical, cognitive, speech, and social activities), community facilities (Buchanan Centre), and awareness/fundraising events (Step 'n Stride, Hope Conference, Wellness Retreat). The organization also facilitates research participation opportunities and funds Alberta-based Parkinson research through annual awards. Services are delivered both in-person and virtually/online to reach Albertans across the province.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Buchanan Centre for Parkinson’s: First of its kind in Canada - a flexible 9,000 square foot space that accommodates a variety of activities and provides a warm, welcoming, safe, and barrier-free community meeting place. Established in partnership between the Gordon and Diane Buchanan Family Foundation and Parkinson Association of Alberta.
• ImPAAct Stories
• Hope Conference
• Step 'n Stride
• Pulse Magazine

Products and services

• PD 101
• Support Programs
• Educational Programming Educational offerings including the annual Hope Conference, Webinar Wednesdays, Education 101 Series, Ask an Expert Q&A Sessions, and Alberta Healthy Living Program partnerships delivered to people affected by Parkinson disease.
• Active Programming Physical, social, cognitive, and speech/voice wellness programs including boxing programs, singing groups, exercise classes, and cognitive skill-building activities designed to help maintain mobility, flexibility, balance, and communication abilities for people with Parkinson disease.
• Buchanan Centre for Parkinson's A 9,000 square foot barrier-free community meeting place in Edmonton, the first of its kind in Canada, providing a warm and welcoming space for those living with mobility disorders with high-quality resources, support, and education.
• Pulse Magazine A quarterly magazine providing research updates, information, and events for the Parkinson community in Alberta, available digitally and by mail to members.
• Step 'n Stride The organization's annual fundraising walk event held in September across multiple Alberta communities to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson disease support.
• Hope Conference An annual one-day conference held in November (both virtually and in-person) featuring expert guest speakers from around the world who share insights, experience, and knowledge from their respective fields of Parkinson research.
• Wellness Retreat A multi-day retreat held in Drumheller, Alberta for people with Parkinson's and their care partners featuring hiking, physical activities, education sessions with neurologists, creative endeavors, mindfulness work, and social activities.
• Research Participation Platform A platform connecting individuals with Parkinson disease to local research projects seeking participants, covering topics including focused ultrasound treatment, deep brain stimulation, speech accessibility, and smart garment technology development.
• Research Funding Program Annual donor-advised research student and fellow awards supporting Alberta-based Parkinson disease research projects, with 100% of designated research funds invested in the Alberta research community.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with primary tier at $35/year and secondary tier at $15/year providing voting privileges, 20% discounts on programs and events, free awareness-in-care kit, Pulse magazine delivery four times per year, and personalized membership card with medical alert information.

Quantifiable outcome

• PAA serves thousands of Albertans affected by Parkinson's through support services, programs, and education
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026PAA funded research at U of A including a vaccine study by Dr. Holger Wille that showed promise in fighting neurodegenerative diseases. U of A researchers are studying alpha-synuclein proteins that cause Parkinson's.
• AbbViemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPharmaceutical partner that sponsors Pulse Magazine and Parkinson's educational content. AbbVie has also partnered globally to turn World Parkinson's Day into World Parkinson's Night.
• University of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAA funds research at U of C including studentship awards for Parkinson's pain research and transcranial ultrasound studies. PAA has a volunteer review panel from both U of A and U of C.
• Hotchkiss Brain InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for research and education. Dr. Davide Martino from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute serves on PAA's Board of Directors and is a guest neurologist at PAA events.
• Campus Alberta NeurosciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Alberta Neuro Network, a provincial collective of organizations and stakeholders working to make Alberta a province where those with neuro skeletal conditions can experience full quality of life.
• ALS Society of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-advocacy partner with PAA, notably on MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) legislation concerns. Both organizations represent those living with neurodegenerative diseases.
• Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest TerritoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization within Alberta Neuro Network working on shared advocacy, awareness, and capacity building for neuro skeletal conditions.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Alberta Neuro Network collaborating on advocacy and awareness for neurodegenerative conditions.
• Aman BuildersminorOthersConstruction partner that contributed to the Buchanan Centre building project.
• Sorrentino'sminorOthersRestaurant/business contributor to the Buchanan Centre building project.
• Focus CommunicationsminorOthersWebsite and marketing services partner that helped launch PAA's new website and provides ongoing communications support.
• Inland ConcreteminorOthersConstruction materials supplier that contributed to the Buchanan Centre project.
• Alberta Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering Alberta Healthy Living Programs in partnership with PAA. Registration for these programs is done through AHS portal.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research: Large US-based Parkinson's research foundation that is also a co-funder of PAA-supported Alberta research. Comparable in disease-specific mission and donor-advised research funding model, though globally rather than regionally focused.
• Canadian Cancer Society - Alberta/NWT Division: Major Canadian health charity with Alberta/NWT operations providing support services, research funding, and advocacy. Comparable scale, donation-funded model, and broad Alberta donor base, though focused on cancer rather than Parkinson's.
• American Parkinson Disease Association: US national Parkinson association delivering support, education, and research funding across the United States. Comparable in mission, member services, and nationwide fundraising scale, but operating across a different geography.
• Parkinson Canada: National Parkinson charity offering support services, research funding, and advocacy across Canada. Directly comparable as the federal counterpart to PAA's provincial mission, with overlapping programs (support groups, education, research grants) and overlapping donor pool.

Direct peers

• Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada - Alberta & NWT Division: Alberta division of a national neurodegenerative disease charity providing support services, research funding, and advocacy. Coalition partner in Alberta Neuro Network and comparable in mission, structure, and geographic scope.
• Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories: Alberta/NWT-based dementia charity delivering support programs, education, and advocacy. Coalition partner within Alberta Neuro Network with virtually identical operating geography, donor base, and member-services model.
• Parkinson Society British Columbia: Provincial Parkinson charity providing support groups, education, and resources for British Columbians affected by Parkinson's. Most directly comparable peer — same disease focus, similar member-based, donation-funded model, and similar provincial service-delivery footprint.
• ALS Society of Alberta: Alberta-based neurodegenerative disease charity providing support services, equipment, and advocacy for people living with ALS. Direct coalition partner within the Alberta Neuro Network; comparable funding model, client-services structure, and provincial delivery footprint.

Emerging players

• Davis Phinney Foundation: US-based Parkinson's nonprofit focused on helping people with Parkinson's live well today through education, programs, and research funding. Comparable active-programming and wellness-retreat offerings, though geographically US-focused.

Regional players

• Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta: Large Alberta-based health charity providing education, advocacy, and research funding. Comparable Alberta donor-base, fundraising-event model (gala/Stride-style events), and provincial delivery footprint, though focused on cardiovascular rather than neurological disease.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PDAssocAB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2NpNHP1dFG7ngJN63Df_vg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ParkinsonAssociationofAlberta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parkinson-association-of-alberta
• Instagraminstagram.com/parkinsonassociationofalberta/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parkinson Association of Alberta