KENORA, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing $50 million to support planning for a new Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora, a project that officials say will deliver modern, high-quality health care for Northwestern Ontario residents. The province is also committing $1.9 million toward the redevelopment and expansion of the Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care long-term care home, located on the same campus, creating an integrated “campus of care” for patients and seniors.
The announcements are part of Ontario’s ongoing plan to expand health-care infrastructure across the province.
“Our government is investing more than $60 billion to build hospitals across our province, so every community has access to quality care close to home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Today’s announcement means the more than 30,000 patients from Kenora and the surrounding area who rely on the hospital every year will have access to world-class health care now and for generations to come.”
A Modern Hospital for Northwestern Ontario
The new facility will replace the existing Lake of the Woods District Hospital with a larger, state-of-the-art complex designed to expand medical capacity and integrate more services on-site. Once completed, the hospital will offer:
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A modernized emergency department and expanded mental health and transitional care units
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Dedicated Indigenous health spaces and ambulatory care areas
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Enhanced diagnostic imaging, including space for a new MRI machine
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Expanded renal and cancer care services
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Three operating rooms, a post-anesthesia recovery area, and a pre-admission clinic
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Upgraded infection prevention and control systems
The government has already invested $7.6 million to establish the first-ever MRI suite in Kenora, which is now operational and serving patients across Northwestern Ontario, including Sioux Narrows and nearby First Nations communities.
“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 Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “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.”
Strengthening Indigenous and Community Partnerships
Local and Indigenous leaders emphasized that the initiative reflects deep collaboration between provincial partners, First Nations organizations, and regional health authorities.
“At the heart of the All Nations Hospital project and Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care Home is leadership and collaborative partnerships,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and MPP for Kenora–Rainy River. “Through the guidance of all partnering nations, we are delivering the expanded care needed in Kenora, surrounding First Nations and beyond. This is truly a magnificent announcement for our region.”
The Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care home will provide 160 modern long-term care beds — 64 new and 96 redeveloped — and will reflect the cultural and spiritual needs of Indigenous residents. Construction is expected to begin next year following the planning phase, with eligibility for additional funding under the province’s new Capital Funding Program (CFP).
“Our government is improving long-term care by building more homes, hiring more staff and protecting residents who reside in them,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Today marks a significant milestone for Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care and the nine First Nations communities it serves.”
A Collaborative Vision for the Region’s Future
Indigenous and community representatives underscored that the Kenora campus of care will serve as a model for reconciliation-based health planning.
“This announcement is a big reflection on the power of collaboration and shared vision,” said Chief Chris Skead, Acting Board President for the Kenora Chiefs Advisory. “This new campus is just the beginning of a transformative journey… We are proud to stand alongside partners as we work to build a health-care system rooted in reconciliation, respect, equity and innovation.”
Jennifer Dreaver, Executive Director for Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory), added: “The success to date is owed to the power of partnerships between First Nation leadership and the Lake of the Woods District Hospital and its Board of Directors. We are creating an equitable future together and accomplishing the Truth and Reconciliation’s Calls to Action one by one as a whole community.”
Hospital President and CEO Cheryl O’Flaherty said the province’s investment marks “a vital step toward modernizing our health infrastructure” and will help close the gap in regional health inequalities.
Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirier called the project “a grand reflection of what it means to invest in our community, not only today but into the future,” crediting cooperation among local, provincial, and Indigenous partners.
Broader Provincial Commitment
The announcement forms part of Ontario’s broader $200-billion infrastructure plan, which includes major investments in highways, hospitals, transit, and long-term care. Over the next decade, the province plans to spend nearly $60 billion to build and upgrade hospitals and deliver roughly 3,000 new hospital beds across more than 50 major projects.
As of October 2025, the province reports 148 long-term care projects underway, representing over 24,000 new and redeveloped beds.
For Kenora residents, officials say, these investments will mean shorter travel distances for care, reduced wait times, and new opportunities for health professionals to work closer to home — a “once-in-a-generation transformation” for Northwestern Ontario.
