Ontario Expanding Access to Indigenous Primary Health Care in Kenora

Press Release

January 09, 2025

KENORA — The Ontario government is investing over $28 million to support the construction of the new Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Aboriginal Health Access Centre (WNHAC) in downtown Kenora, connecting more Indigenous people and families to community-led primary care services, closer to home.

“Our government is making historic investments to ensure people of all ages can access the care they need, when they need it, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Our investment to help build the new and improved Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig centre will connect more Indigenous people and families in the Kenora area to holistic, culturally sensitive primary health care that better supports their physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being.”

The new and modernized facility will consolidate Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig programs and services currently provided across multiple sites in the Kenora area, into one convenient central location that will enhance timely access to high-quality Indigenous-led health care and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Once completed, the centre will connect people to a range of Indigenous designed and delivered holistic healing, health and wellness programs, including:

Primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and registered nurses.
Counselling for mental health, social work and culturally relevant services such as traditional healing.
Diabetes education offered by a diabetes dietician and health promotion services.
Allied health services including podiatry/chiropody/foot care, and dental hygiene.

“Today’s $28 million investment in the all-new Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Aboriginal Health Access Centre is another significant step our government is taking to improve the delivery and quality of care across the entire region,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora—Rainy River and Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation. “With approximately 15,000 registered clients, the WNHAC team has a tremendous reputation for providing services at every step of the healing journey, and our government is proud to support them in this legacy infrastructure project in downtown Kenora.”

Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is making it easier and faster for people of all ages to connect to the care they need, where and when they need it.

Quick Facts

WNHAC is one of 10 Aboriginal Health Access Centres in the province that provides programs and services to approximately 15,000 First Nations people, living in about 15 on-reserve communities in the Grand Council Treaty #3 area, as well as off-reserve.
Over the next 10 years, Ontario’s investments will lead to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province, building 3,000 new beds in addition to the 3,500 beds our government has added since 2020.
Through the Roadmap to Wellness, over $40 million is being invested annually in Indigenous-specific mental health and addictions programming.
The Ontario government is investing more than $228 million this year to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities across the province, a 10 per cent increase from last year.

Quotes

“Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig is thrilled to see this project come to fruition after many years of planning and perseverance. The new centre will positively impact our ability to provide culturally grounded, accessible health care to the communities we serve. It’s a reflection of our commitment to fostering wellness, honouring traditions, and supporting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health of our clients. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this vision a reality.”

– Paul Derouard
Interim CEO, Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig

“For over 25 years, Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig has provided comprehensive, compassionate primary care for Indigenous people in our region. WNHAC is an important partner of Kenora’s hospital, and this meaningful investment will significantly benefit the overall health system. When a patient receives the right care, at the right time, in the right setting – we see improved health outcomes, and that is the ultimate goal of the All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team. Congratulations to WNHAC and the Province!”

– Cheryl O’Flaherty
President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital and Co-chair of the All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team

Additional Resources

Ontario Expanding Access to Indigenous Primary Health Care in Kenora

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