Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation Celebrates Historic Year of Investment in Local Healthcare
June 23, 2026
For Immediate Release
Kenora, ON – The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation (LWDHF) is celebrating a landmark year of generosity and impact, announcing that $4.34 million was invested in medical equipment and technology at Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) during the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
This historic achievement was made possible through the generosity of donors, partners, service clubs, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and community members committed to advancing healthcare close to home.
In total, 1,354 donors contributed 3,728 gifts, while volunteers dedicated more than 1,100 hours in support of local healthcare. Their collective support is transforming patient care today while helping build a stronger future for healthcare in Northwestern Ontario.
“This year demonstrated what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for healthcare,” said Ashley Hendy, Board Chair of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation. “The impact of these investments will be felt by patients and families throughout our region for years to come.”
“This level of investment is transformative for patient care in our region,” said Cheryl O’Flaherty, President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital. “With the support of the Foundation and our donors, we are strengthening our capacity, expanding access to advanced diagnostics, and ensuring we are ready to provide high-quality care, now and into the future. We are deeply grateful for the patience, resilience, and generosity that make this progress possible.”
A defining achievement was the successful completion of the Beyond the Scan Campaign and the opening of the Diagnostic Imaging Centre of Excellence, bringing Northwestern Ontario’s first MRI to Kenora. Donor support also advanced the replacement of the hospital’s CT Scanner, which is scheduled for installation this fall, further strengthening diagnostic imaging services for patients across the region.
Thanks to the extraordinary commitment of supporters, more than $6.38 million of the $9.5 million pledged through the Beyond the Scan Campaign has already been invested in equipment, technology and infrastructure at LWDH during the first two years of the campaign’s five-year commitment period. These investments are helping bring advanced diagnostic services closer to home and ensuring patients benefit from donor generosity today.
“For patients and families, these investments mean greater access to advanced diagnostic services close to home. From MRI imaging to stereotactic and contrast enhanced mammography, we are providing care that previously required travel outside the region. We are incredibly grateful to the donors whose generosity has helped make these advancements possible,” said Dr. Catherine Murray, Radiologist and Diagnostic Imaging Service Lead at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.
In addition to diagnostic imaging enhancements, donor-funded investments supported nearly every area of the hospital. Other notable investments included:
• Sixteen new patient beds and mattresses
• Two new anesthesia machines
• Advanced cataract surgery equipment
• Investment in specialized equipment for the Foot & Ankle Program
• Point-of-care ultrasound technology for the Emergency Department
• The Family and Quiet Room in the Emergency Department
• Two infant warmers for the Maternity Unit
• A MOLLI Marker System supporting breast cancer localization procedures
• A SPY-PHI Portable Handheld Imaging System for advanced fluorescence imaging during surgery
• Hospital-wide technology and telemedicine upgrades
“While we cannot predict exactly what the future of healthcare will bring, we can ensure we are prepared – equipped to adapt, to innovate, and to provide exceptional care for our community with confidence and compassion,” said Mira Trebilcock, Executive Director of the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation.
Above all, this year reminds us how much there is to be grateful for. The generosity of our community is shaping a stronger future for healthcare, and there is so much to look forward to in the years ahead.
For more information about the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation, visit www.lwdhf.com.
Media Contact
Mira Trebilcock
Executive Director
Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation
807-468-9861 ext. 2469
lwdhf@lwdh.on.ca