Wequedong Lodge in Thunder Bay says it’s headed toward bankruptcy – CBC

Dec 13, 2023

Too many clients, not enough capacity to meet needs, says executive director

A lodge that houses First Nations people from across northern Ontario who travel to Thunder Bay, Ont., for medical treatment is headed toward bankruptcy, according to its executive director.

Wequedong Lodge is a 110-bed facility that has been over capacity for years. It spends about $1 million per month on hotel rooms for those it can’t accommodate, and at its peak, it served more than 500 clients in one day.

Meanwhile, it’s been receiving complaints about long wait times for intake and rides, and phone calls left unanswered, “which are all a result of lack of capacity to serve the ever-growing number of clients,” executive director Donna Kroocmo said in a written update to communities on Saturday.

The lodge is fully funded by Indigenous Services Canada, but Kroocmo says there’s a lack of stable, secure funding. What’s more is that the lodge itself is running out of room, which is why staff have been developing plans for a $45-million expansion. That project is no longer happening.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-wequedong-lodge-1.7056736