Alanna Smith - The Globe and Mail

Alanna Smith

StaffReporterHealth reporterCalgary

alannasmith@globeandmail.com

Alanna Smith is a national health reporter with The Globe and Mail with a special interest on the intersection of health and politics, particularly in Western Canada. Her work focuses on infectious diseases, hospitals and long-term care facilities, health equity, mental health and drug policy.

Before joining The Globe in 2022, Alanna reported for various outlets, including The Canadian Press and The Calgary Herald. Her reporting has been recognized by the National Newspaper Awards and World Press Freedom Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Women and Gender Studies from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Alanna is based in Calgary.

Honours & Awards

Canadian Association of Journalism Awards, Freedom of Information award, 2025, for Interference in Alberta’s measles response

Michener Award finalist, 2025, for Alberta Health Procurement Controversy (team)

National Newspaper Award, Sustained News Coverage (team), 2025

National Newspaper Award, Investigations (team), 2025

National Newspaper Award finalist, Project of the Year (team), 2025

World Press Freedom certificate of merit, Press Freedom Award (team), 2025

Digital Publishing Awards finalist, Best News Coverage (team), 2024

National Newspaper Awards finalist, Breaking News (team), 2024

National Newspaper Awards finalist, Beat Reporting, 2019

Alanna Smith abides by The Globe and Mail Editorial Code of Conduct

Latest articles

July 22, 2026

Dr. Sean Rourke, a Toronto-based clinical neuropsychologist and scientist at St. Michael's Hospital, holds a new HIV self-test in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

Dr. Sean Rourke, a Toronto-based clinical neuropsychologist and scientist at St. Michael's Hospital, holds a new HIV self-test in Toronto on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

Access to oral swab HIV self-testing kits expanded as part of national program

4 min read

July 16, 2026

A scientist looks at scans at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. The Canadian Drug Expert Committee is recommending that lecanemab should be publicly reimbursed with conditions.

A scientist looks at scans at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. The Canadian Drug Expert Committee is recommending that lecanemab should be publicly reimbursed with conditions.

Canada’s Drug Agency reverses course, now recommends public drug plans cover Alzheimer’s drug

4 min read

July 14, 2026

This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample.

This undated photo taken through a microscope provided by the CDC shows Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts found in a fresh stool sample.

explainer

What to know about cyclosporiasis, the gastrointestinal illness outbreak hitting the U.S.

4 min read

July 7, 2026

Al Sutherland, a volunteer with the Gravelbourg Cares Shuttle Service, stands for a photograph, after he transporting a client to and from Moose Jaw, SK for a medical appointment, at the intersection of Highway 42 and Highway 2 near Gravelbourg, SK, on Monday, June 29, 2026. Sutherland, 57, who began volunteering in 2020 after retiring from the RCMP, estimates he has completed more than 250 trips with the non-profit in southern Saskatchewan that provides transportation to residents needing to travel out of town for medical appointments.
(Liam Richards/The Globe and Mail)

Mr. Sutherland, 57, began volunteering in 2020 after retiring from the RCMP. He estimates he has completed more than 250 trips with the non-profit in southern Saskatchewan.

In Saskatchewan, volunteer drivers go the distance to bridge rural health care’s transportation gap

8 min read

June 25, 2026

The entrance to the emergency department at Peter Lougheed hospital is pictured in, Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The entrance to the emergency department at Peter Lougheed hospital is pictured in, Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Emergency room wait times continue to climb as more medically complex patients seek care

4 min read

June 23, 2026

Harvest House, an addiction recovery and emergency housing non-profit in Moncton, has assisted 688 people experiencing overdoses just this month, with 41 per day since last week. A Naloxone kit in Moncton, N.B., on June 15.

Harvest House, an addiction recovery and emergency housing non-profit in Moncton, has assisted 688 people experiencing overdoses just this month, with 41 per day since last week. A Naloxone kit in Moncton, N.B., on June 15.

Surge in suspected Moncton overdoses caused by drugs tainted with veterinary tranquilizer, officials warn

4 min read

June 16, 2026

Travis Peddie outside the shut down safe injection site in Calgary, Alberta April 2.

Travis Peddie outside the shut down safe injection site in Calgary, Alberta April 2.

Alberta judge dismisses bid to halt closing of supervised drug-use sites

3 min read

June 15, 2026

The emergency entrance at Mount Sinai Hospital is photographed on Feb 14, 2024. (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)

The emergency entrance at Mount Sinai Hospital is photographed on Feb 14, 2024. (Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail)

Female patients in Ontario less likely to be admitted to specialized trauma centres, research shows

3 min read

June 8, 2026

Registered nurses Ruth Heeran, left, and Clayton Wilbur don personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Special Pathogens Fundamentals course at Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, on Monday.

Registered nurses Ruth Heeran, left, and Clayton Wilbur don personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Special Pathogens Fundamentals course at Toronto Western Hospital in Toronto, on Monday.

Inside the Toronto hospital unit responsible for treating rare infectious diseases

4 min read

May 23, 2026

Rana and Joseph Vaccaro with daughter Lucia 5 years old at home May 21, 2026 in Ottawa. Lucia has Rett's syndrome. Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail

Rana and Joseph Vaccaro with daughter Lucia 5 years old at home May 21, 2026 in Ottawa. Lucia has Rett's syndrome. Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail

Ontario girl with Rett Syndrome denied access to promising gene therapy trial, parents say

5 min read

May 22, 2026

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, answers a reporters question as she provides an updates about the Andes Hantavirus and actions taken by the Government of Canada during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Thursday, May 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, answers a reporters question as she provides an updates about the Andes Hantavirus and actions taken by the Government of Canada during a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Thursday, May 14, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Canada introduces enhanced border-screening measures as Ebola outbreak spreads

3 min read

May 22, 2026

In this March 24, 2017 photo, a tick is displayed in Plainville, Mass. The prevalence of tiny crawling bugs that can carry Lyme disease is higher than ever in most of Canada this year, a leading tick researcher says, with the most ticks found in Ontario and Nova Scotia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Connors/The Sun Chronicle via AP

In this March 24, 2017 photo, a tick is displayed in Plainville, Mass. The prevalence of tiny crawling bugs that can carry Lyme disease is higher than ever in most of Canada this year, a leading tick researcher says, with the most ticks found in Ontario and Nova Scotia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Connors/The Sun Chronicle via AP

Tick season is here. How can you protect yourself?

4 min read

May 15, 2026

A cyclist rides across the new crosswalk at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

A cyclist rides across the new crosswalk at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Alberta investigating death of man who waited six hours in Edmonton ER

3 min read

May 14, 2026

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, says efforts are under way to contact 26 Canadians who were on flights with a known hantavirus case.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, says efforts are under way to contact 26 Canadians who were on flights with a known hantavirus case.

Officials working to contact 26 ‘low-risk’ passengers about hantavirus, top doctor says

3 min read

May 12, 2026

Spanish medical staff in Tenerife, Canary Islands, accompany one of the final remaining passengers to be evacuated from the MV Hondius, which was affected by a hantavirus outbreak, May 11.

Spanish medical staff in Tenerife, Canary Islands, accompany one of the final remaining passengers to be evacuated from the MV Hondius, which was affected by a hantavirus outbreak, May 11.

Canadians should not be worried about hantavirus, epidemiologist says

4 min read

May 11, 2026

A Chrono Aviation Boeing 737 takes off from the Bagotville airport in Saguenay, Que. on May 10.

A Chrono Aviation Boeing 737 takes off from the Bagotville airport in Saguenay, Que. on May 10.

Canadians evacuated from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship had no known direct contact with sick passengers: B.C. health officer

3 min read

May 11, 2026

Why are drug deaths rising in Edmonton, but falling elsewhere?

May 11, 2026

Pharmacists in Manitoba are now able to administer the measles vaccine. A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins

Pharmacists in Manitoba are now able to administer the measles vaccine. A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ont. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins

Six months after loss of measles elimination status, Canada nowhere close to stamping out the virus

4 min read

May 8, 2026

Passengers on the the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, watch epidemiologists board the boat in Praia, during their voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

Passengers on the the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship, MV Hondius, watch epidemiologists board the boat in Praia, during their voyage to Spain's port of Tenerife, May 6, 2026. (AP Photo)

Six Canadians now isolating at home after exposure to hantavirus

3 min read

May 7, 2026

Calgary police patrol the streets near the cities drug safe injection site in Calgary, Alberta, February 21, 2019. The Globe and Mail/Todd Korol

Calgary police patrol the streets near the cities drug safe injection site in Calgary, Alberta, February 21, 2019. The Globe and Mail/Todd Korol

Opioid overdose survivors face higher death risk after hospital release than previously thought, study says

3 min read