TORONTO — The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is getting $50 million towards the planning of a replacement hospital in Kenora.
"This much-needed hospital has long been a dream for our region, and I am so grateful to the province for prioritizing this investment. I look forward to building a hospital that future generations will be proud of,” said hospital CEO Cheryl O’Flaherty according to a news release issued by Kenora–Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford's office Thursday afternoon.
O’Flaherty is quoted calling the announcement a "historic moment" for local communities "with the future of a new hospital in Kenora becoming a reality."
The funding was included in the province's 2025 budget, unveiled Thursday. The budget specifies that the planing work will include "culturally safe spaces for Indigenous communities and expanded medical services."
For years, the hospital and Ogimaawabiitong (Kenora Chiefs Advisory) have partnered to advocate for the construction of a new facility, the All Nations Hospital, to replace the Lake of the Woods District Hospital — parts of which are nearly a century old.
"Bringing traditional healing and a shared governance model with First Nations as equal partners will ensure good quality and culturally safe care for generations to come," said Ogimaawabiitong president Chief Lorraine Cobiness in the news release. "The partnership between KCA and LWDH will continue in the development of the new hospital to ensure positive change and success, guided by Elders and leadership.”
In January, Ogimaawabiitong announced the purchase of a 118-acre parcel of land on the shores of Lake of the Woods as a site for the new hospital. At the time, O'Flaherty said it would take at least three years before shovels hit the ground and seven to 10 years for completion of the facility.
"The new All Nations Hospital is an investment not only in the City of Kenora, but Northwestern Ontario as a whole," said Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirer in the release. "This new hospital will provide state-of-the-art technology for medical professionals to work in and most importantly provide health access for everyone in Northwestern Ontario."
In February, O'Flaherty told Newswatch the hospital partners were only waiting on a green light from the province to proceed with the next stage of the project and begin work on a detailed design.
Preliminary plans for the new hospital included a similar number of hospital beds to the existing hospital, 81, with additional mental health beds, significantly modernized facilities, a larger campus and new spaces for Indigenous-centred care.
In the media release, all three officials thanked Rickford for advocating with his government to secure funding for the new hospital in this year's budget.
Rickford and Premier Doug Ford had committed to building the hospital during a visit to Thunder Bay in April 2024.
