The Dr. McMillan Residence in Claresholm has received Historical Resource designation. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Historic Resource designation given to Claresholm house for healthcare role

Dec 19, 2025 | 1:47 PM

A house that helped to shape the early history of health services in a southern Alberta community is receiving new protections.

The Dr. McMillan Residence in Claresholm has been given a Provincial Historical Resource designation from the Alberta Government.

It was constructed in 1916 with a dual-purpose design, serving as both a home and a medical office, complete with an operating room and an X-ray machine.

For more than 20 years, it was occupied by three successive doctors.

It has also been home to other businesses, including a photo studio, a trucking business, and a bed and breakfast.

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Robert and Britny Robertson are the current owners of Dr. McMillan House, and they say they want to continue to tell the story of Alberta’s history and that of the local community. This designation ensures that future.

“This house and its past have allowed us to connect with the local history of Claresholm, and engage with and build relationships in the community,” says Robert and Britny.

The Alberta Government says in a news release that there was a significant shift in how healthcare was delivered in the mid-20th century, as doctors moved away from home visits and toward dedicated office-based practices.

Tanya Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women, says this home is an outstanding example and reminder of the type of space where many Albertans received medical care in the first half of the 1900s.

“The Dr. McMillan Residence played a key role in the health of many Albertans in the early 20th century. Its designation as a Provincial Historic Resource ensures its legacy will live on, allowing Albertans to recognize, honour and celebrate its place in Alberta’s rich medical history,” says Fir.

The Historic Resource designation provides legal protection to recognize and preserve historical places.

The owners of such properties can apply for up to $100,000 annually in matching grants through the Heritage Preservation Partnership Program to support conservation work.