Mission
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation is dedicated to fundraising in partnership with our community to meet the medical equipment and facility needs of Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
Did you know?
90% of the Capital Equipment at LWDH has been funded by community dollars. Your support helps us keep care close to home.
Sometimes, the greatest gift is letting someone know, while they are here to hear it, that their life’s work has mattered. There are moments when science, generosity and community come together in a way that feels especially meaningful. For Dr. Stuart Foster, the moment came unexpectedly through the generosity of his friends, Jeff and Laura. To honour his remarkable accomplishments and his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada, they made a tribute gift that is helping bring a new ultrasound machine to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
“Really? Are you serious?”
Those were the first words out of Sherry-Lee Reid’s mouth when she received the call from the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation letting her know she had won $27,537.50 in the August 50/50 draw; the second-largest jackpot of 2026. In fact, Sherry-Lee initially thought the call might have something to do with a medical appointment. “I thought it was for an MRI appointment!” she said.
When she realized the call was actually to tell her she had won more than $27,000, Sherry-Lee was so excited she had to ask Shauna Aubin, the Manager of Donor Engagement and Stewardship from the LWDH Foundation, to repeat the amount several times. “This is just awesome — thank you so much.”
Just one week after the launch of The Strengthening Surgical Care Close to Home Initiative, the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation is proud to announce the first major community gift. Mike and Mona Linton have proudly committed $125,000 to support the initiative, which was launched with the transformational $1 million gift from The Dufresne Family, in memory of Douglas and Michael Dufresne.
The Lintons’ gift reflects their shared belief that exceptional healthcare depends not only on modern equipment, but also on investing in the people who provide care. Their generosity will help create opportunities for specialized education, professional development and hands-on training, ensuring local surgical teams continue to build their expertise while providing exceptional care in Northwestern Ontario.
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation (LWDHF) is honoured to announce a transformational $1 million gift from The Dufresne Family, in memory of Douglas and Michael Dufresne, to strengthen surgical care at Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH). The landmark donation launches The Strengthening Surgical Care Close To Home Initiative, an investment that will help ensure patients across Northwestern Ontario continue to receive exceptional surgical care closer to home.
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s 20th Annual Lifesavers Dinner & Auction celebrated two decades of extraordinary community generosity on Saturday, August 8, raising an impressive $502,482 in support of exceptional care at Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH). This brings the total raised to over $5M since its inception. Proceeds from this year’s event will fund a new infant abduction and patient wandering system, a $260,000 investment that will enhance safety and security for some of the Hospital’s most vulnerable patients. The additional proceeds will support The Strengthening Surgical Care Close to Home Initiative, an ambitious initiative focused on advancing surgical care, education, innovation and future care capacity at LWDH.
When Marilyn Blanchette of Kenora answered the phone to learn she’d won the July Grand Prize Jackpot in the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s monthly 50/50 lottery, her first reaction was one of complete surprise.
“Are you kidding?” she exclaimed. Moments later, as the exciting news began to sink in that she had won $20,782.50, Marilyn graciously added, “Well thank you very much.”
Marilyn has been a loyal supporter of the Foundation’s monthly 50/50 lottery, making this win especially meaningful.
More than 50 women gathered at Zig Zag Yacht Club (ZZYC) on Sunday, July 12, for the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s second Women’s Health & Wellness Retreat. The event offered a morning dedicated to self-care, meaningful connection, and empowering conversations about women’s health.
Hosted in partnership with ZZYC and made possible through the generous support of the Reid Family, the retreat combined expert-led education, restorative movement, and nourishing local cuisine, while fostering a shared commitment to wellness among both year-round and seasonal residents.
The Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) Foundation is proud to celebrate another extraordinary year of community generosity following the 6th Annual Par 3 Charity Challenge, driven by The Dingwall Group, held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the Kenora Golf & Country Club. What began as a unique community golf tournament has quickly become one of the Foundation’s signature fundraising events, bringing together local businesses, sponsors, volunteers, and golfers who share a common goal: ensuring patients in our region have access to exceptional healthcare close to home. This year’s tournament raised an incredible $203,822, pushing the event’s six-year fundraising total to more than $1,056,000 in support of vital medical equipment at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
When Charlotte McDonald of Kenora answered the phone to learn she’d won the June Grand Prize Jackpot in the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s monthly 50/50 lottery, her first reaction was disbelief. “This isn’t a crank call, is it?” she asked.
Moments later, as the news began to sink in that she was taking home $23,500 with winning ticket #1120030636, her excitement took over.”Oh my goodness. That’s wonderful!” she said.
Charlotte shared that she has never won anything like this before, making the surprise even sweeter.
The latest winner of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s 50/50 draw is taking home the draw’s largest monthly jackpot in 2026 (and in fact, the draw’s largest monthly jackpot since last summer, with the exception of the Holiday 2025 jackpot). Lana Tuesday from Morson, Ontario received the great news on Friday that she’d won $25,755, with winning ticket 94014486.
March truly was a lucky month for Don and Shirley Carbert from Kenora.
On Friday, March 27, they received a phone call telling them they’d won the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation’s 50/50 March Grand Prize Jackpot of $18,567.50. They were elated, but couldn’t quite believe the news, as they had just won the second Early Bird Draw of $1,000 one week prior.
Don couldn’t believe it when he got the call: “No kidding…that’s unbelievable!” he said.
His wife Shirley was even more astonished: “I don’t believe you! What?!?” And then, “So now you want our picture taken. I got to go get my hair done!”
Tribute Donations
To make a donation in tribute of a loved one or a friend. Click below to the form.
Gifts of Gratitude
A perfect way to say “Thank you” for the outstanding and compassionate care received your or a loved one received at LWDH.
