More than a quarter-million dollars over more than a quarter-century and counting – the Kenora Kinsmen continue to show solid support for Lake of the Woods District Hospital when it’s needed most.
Contributing more than $260,800 over the past three decades, they have now pledged $150,000 over the next four years to help the LWDH Foundation Beyond the Scan Campaign build a diagnostic imaging centre of excellence at the lake.
President Travis Sokolyk said the club, founded in Canada, took as its motto “Serving the community’s greatest needs.”
“What more is the hospital than a greatest need – especially the new up-and-coming equipment,” he said in a recent interview.
This news marks the latest chapter in an incredible history of support for the Foundation since 1995, supporting the original CT scanner in 2003-2004 as well as its replacement in 2017-2018, not to mention other diagnostic-imaging enhancements and colonoscope surgical equipment between 2010 and 2013.
Most recently, the club donated $24,700 to support the purchase of a new bladder scanner for the Emergency Department, as well as four new Novum IQ Infusion pumps.
With Beyond the Scan, they are supporting the new CT scanner, mammography equipment and northwestern Ontario’s first MRI machine.
“The Kenora Kinsmen have always been champions of community care, and their current support of this campaign is a testament to their unwavering decision to making Kenora a healthier, stronger place for all of us,” LWDH President and CEO Cheryl O’Flaherty said.
“It was a pretty easy decision for the club,” Sokolyk commented.
While getting that new MRI machine is important, he said, ensuring all the hospital’s equipment (like the CT scan) is up to date must be a priority.
“Over time, they wear out once they get to a certain age. And, of course, you want the newer technology,” he figures.
“Our group has jumped aboard with this particular campaign.”
With a hard-working membership of 18, they will be hoping for the community to come through for them with their fundraisers which, over a typical year, consist of three big initiatives.
Christmas-tree sales sometimes bring in up to $10,000.
Bringing in fresh lobsters (with precooked ones for those who prefer) are a special treat for the May long weekend that can net several thousand dollars (though profit margin is affected by whatever lobster prices may be at that time).
And their big cash draw with a $20,000 prize is a popular Father’s Day event that can bring in anywhere from $20,000 to sometimes $30,000.
Basically, things look good for their $150,000 four-year commitment.
“And if we pay it off before, we pay it off before,” he said – confiding plans to surprise Foundation Executive Director Mira Trebilcock with a $50,000 cheque at their January 2025 meeting to start that process.