The Ontario government has announced an investment of $52 million to support to heath care projects in Kenora.

Of the funding, $50 million is being provided to support planning for the new Lake of the Woods District Hospital. The government is providing a further $1.9 million to support the redevelopment and expansion of the Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care long-term care home, which will be located on the campus of care at the hospital.

“Our government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system, ensuring that more people in Northwestern Ontario can connect to convenient care, where and when they need it,” said Health Minister Sylvia Jones. “This investment to support advanced planning stages at Lake of the Woods District Hospital is an important milestone for the community as we work to expand critical programs and services residents rely on.”

Once opened, the new hospital will replace the current Lake of the Woods District Hospital, creating a larger, state-of-the-art hospital for Kenora residents to connect more people in the community to expanded medical services, including:

• increased access to core programs and services, including a modernized emergency department, a mental health unit, and a transitional care unit
• indigenous health spaces and ambulatory care spaces
• expanded diagnostic imaging services
• renal and cancer care services
• three operating rooms, a procedure room, a post-anesthesia recovery room, and a pre-admission clinic
• enhanced infection prevention and control measures

As a next step, the Ministry of Health is working with Lake of the Woods District Hospital to complete early planning for this project, including determining bed numbers and square footage. Once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded, a construction schedule will be confirmed.

Meanwhile, the new and expanded Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care home in Kenora will offer 160 modernized beds (64 new and 96 redeveloped) that reflect the unique needs of the region’s Indigenous community.

The project is in the planning phase and will be eligible for additional funding under the government’s new Capital Funding Program, with construction expected to begin next year.