Gift made in memory of Douglas and Michael Dufresne launches initiative to strengthen surgical innovation, education and future care capacity
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 announcement comes during a milestone year for the Dufresne family as they celebrate 40 years since opening the first Dufresne Furniture & Appliances store in Kenora in 1986.
What began as a single local store has grown into one of Canada’s best-known furniture and appliance retailers. Yet despite that growth, the family’s connection to Kenora has remained at the heart of its story.
For the Dufresne family, this gift is both a celebration of the community that helped shape their success and a deeply personal tribute to two family members whose legacies continue to inspire future generations.
“The story of our family and the community of Kenora have always been intertwined. Every milestone we’ve reached over the past 40 years has been made possible by the support of this community, creating a deep sense of gratitude and responsibility,” said Mark Dufresne, CEO, The Dufresne Group. “In memory of Douglas and Michael Dufresne, we are honoured to help strengthen healthcare close to home and ensure families across the region have access to exceptional care for generations to come.”
“This extraordinary gift reflects everything philanthropy is about,” said Mira Trebilcock, Executive Director, Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation. “It honours two remarkable individuals, celebrates a family’s enduring connection to this community, and creates an investment that will improve healthcare for thousands of people across Northwestern Ontario for years to come. We are profoundly grateful to the Dufresne family for their leadership, generosity and vision.”
The initiative will support strategic investments that strengthen the future of surgical care at LWDH, including advanced technologies, specialized equipment, education and training, and innovations that expand the procedures available locally.
“Exceptional healthcare should never depend on your postal code,” said Cheryl O’Flaherty President & CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital. “This investment strengthens our ability to continue delivering innovative surgical care in a rural setting while helping us attract, retain and support outstanding healthcare professionals. It is an investment in the future of healthcare throughout Northwestern Ontario.”
Among the initiative’s priorities are investments in technologies such as an advanced spinal navigation system and C-Arm imaging that allow surgeons to perform increasingly complex procedures close to home. LWDH is currently the only non-tertiary hospital in Canada performing minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery, demonstrating that innovative rural healthcare can rival larger urban centres.
The initiative will also support future investments that strengthen orthopedic services, expand surgical capacity, enhance laboratory equipment supporting surgical patients, and provide ongoing education and professional development for physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals.
“Over the last decade LWDH has redefined itself as a Hospital committed to advancing surgical care for the region and beyond,” said Dr. David Puskas, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center and Medical Director North Western Ontario Regional Surgery Program. “It’s one of the first Hospitals in Ontario whose total hip and knee replacement services are almost exclusively out patient. Additionally, it has developed the first instrumented spinal surgery program outside of a tertiary care Hospital in the entire country. This took vision and commitment to excellence and became possible because of the confidence built up as a result of the success of the Hospital’s other ventures in musculoskeletal surgery. I extend my heartfelt personal and professional thanks to the Dufresne family for their trust and generosity.”
The Dufresne family’s gift also arrives at an important moment for healthcare in the region. Over the past year, the community has witnessed both the challenges facing rural healthcare and the resilience of the hospital’s physicians, staff and leadership in continuing to provide exceptional care under extraordinary circumstances.
The Dufresne family hopes their transformational gift will inspire others to invest in the future of surgical care close to home. The LWDH Foundation invites community members to join the Dufresne family in support of this initiative through the community-wide fundraising appeal. Every contribution will help expand access to advanced surgical care as the operating rooms return to service, reduce the need for patients to travel outside the region, and ensure families throughout Northwestern Ontario can receive the care they need closer to home.
“This gift is transformational, not only because of its size, but because of what it makes possible,” said Trebilcock. “Together with our donors, partners and community, we have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen surgical care close to home and create a legacy that will serve families for generations.”
Community members wishing to join the Dufresne family in strengthening surgical care close to home are invited to make a donation or call the LWDH Foundation Office at 807-468-9861 ext.2469.