Lake of the Woods District Hospital

08/31/2026

Today, on , we come together to remember those we have lost, support those who continue to struggle, and reaffirm our commitment to saving lives.

The day began with a flag raising at City Hall, recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day Community Event and the importance of continuing conversations around awareness, harm reduction, recovery, and hope.

Join us today from 11 AM - 3 PM on Chipman Street for a community BBQ, resources, activities, naloxone training, and opportunities to connect with local support services.

A sincere thank you to all of our community partners, organizations, volunteers, and advocates who collaborated to make this important event possible. Together, by reducing stigma, promoting harm reduction, and connecting people to care, we can build a community where everyone has the opportunity to access support, find hope, and pursue recovery.

08/30/2026

Your Ontario health card is your key to accessing hospital services and proving your eligibility for OHIP coverage. Is yours up to date?
If it’s time to renew, the process is quick, easy, and free. You can renew online using your driver’s license or Ontario Photo Card, at no cost.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/health-card-renewal

08/28/2026

Need a place to warm up or cool down during extreme temperatures? The Morningstar Centre, located at 6 Matheson Street South in Kenora, is available as a warming and cooling station for those seeking relief from severe weather conditions.
Please check in on friends, family, neighbours, and vulnerable community members, and help spread the word.

08/26/2026

Today, our communities came together at the Harbourfront for the Walk-a-Mile in Her Shoes event, raising awareness about domestic violence, gender-based violence, and sexual violence.

Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) was proud to participate alongside so many dedicated community partners. Thank you to LWDH walkers Anthony, Drayven, Erin and Stacey and to Wendy (LWDH’s Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Team Lead / RN) for assisting with planning, promotion and onsite event support!

It was inspiring to see such a strong turnout and so many people showing their support, whether by walking, volunteering, cheering participants on, or helping spread the message. Every step taken helps raise awareness and supports survivors in our community.

A heartfelt thank you to the Kenora Sexual Assault Centre team for leading this important event, and to all of the organizations, volunteers, participants, and supporters who make it possible! Kenora Sexual Assault Centre

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The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (SA/DV) Program provides confidential, compassionate, and trauma-informed care for individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic or intimate partner violence, or human trafficking. Specially trained SA/DV nurses are available to provide support and care when it is needed most.
For urgent care, please attend the Emergency Department and ask to speak with an SA/DV nurse. General inquiries can be directed to [email protected].

08/26/2026

Cafeteria POS issue update:

Work is continuing in the cafeteria on the issues with our POS system accepting debit transactions. Some debit cards are working with the system while others are not. Please ensure that you have an alternate form of payment (credit or cash) but we encourage people to try their debit cards so we can narrow down which ones are still not being accepted. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

08/20/2026

On August 31, come together to remember loved ones, support one another, and raise awareness about the impact of substance use and overdose.

Join us for a community event, naloxone training and kits, harm reduction supplies, youth resources, games, refreshments, and community supports.

📍 Chipman Street – KSAC Parking Lot
📅 August 31, 2026
⏰ 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Whether you are remembering someone you’ve lost, supporting a loved one, or standing with the community, everyone is welcome. Together, we can reduce stigma, share resources, and support one another.

LWDH is proud to be a coordinating partner alongside many exceptional local community organizations working together to support our communities. Thank you to the LWDH RAAM team, who are helping bring this important event together.

08/17/2026

Join us on Wednesday, August 26 at the Harbourfront (10:30 AM) as our community comes together for Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, a powerful event that raises awareness about domestic violence, gender-based violence, and sexual violence.

is proud to partner with the Kenora Sexual Assault Centre and several other community organizations to support this important initiative. Whether you're walking in red heels, volunteering, cheering participants on, or simply helping spread the message, your support makes a difference.

Registration & Shoe Sizing is from 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Harbourfront Pavilion, speeches begin at 12 noon and the walk to Husky the Muskie begins at 12:15! Register by emailing [email protected] or call 807-468-7958.

DID YOU KNOW?? The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (SA/DV) Program provides confidential, compassionate, and trauma-informed care for individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic or intimate partner violence, or human trafficking. Specially trained SA/DV nurses are available to provide support and care. LWDH is committed to strengthening and growing this program to ensure survivors receive confidential, compassionate, and responsive care they need when they need it most.
For urgent care, please attend the Emergency Department and ask to speak with an SA/DV nurse. General inquiries could also be directed to [email protected].

08/15/2026

Make sure we can reach you!
endeavors to send a patient experience survey to every patient following their visit. Feedback received in the surveys helps our team understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.

It’s also important that we can reach you for any necessary follow‑up after your outpatient appointment or hospital stay.

To receive your survey and ensure we can contact you when needed, please make sure your email and contact information are up to date when you register or check in for your appointment.

08/13/2026

Cash and Credit Only in the LWDH Cafeteria August 14

The cafeteria is continuing to transition to a new till system and debit card payments remain unavailable. Please note that cash and credit cards are currently the only accepted forms of payment in the cafeteria. We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

08/10/2026

Exceptional healthcare should never depend on your postal code. 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.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 $𝟭 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹

Today, we are 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.

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."

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. 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.

Read more: https://lwdhf.com/transformational-1-million-gift-from-the-dufresne-family-will-advance-surgical-care-at-lake-of-the-woods-district-hospital/

Join the Dufresne family to strengthen surgical care with your donation: https://bit.ly/StrengthenSurgicalCare