Ogimaawabiitong – Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA) and Lake of the Woods District Hospital (LWDH) are pleased to share that their respective boards of directors have approved a Campus of Care Master Site Plan Update, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the All Nations Hospital Project, Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care, and a broader Campus of Care vision.
The approval provides important direction for future planning and development of the 126-acre Campus of Care site located at 1060 Lakeview Dr. The Master Site Plan establishes key planning principles and identifies locations for foundational elements essential to advancing the Campus of Care, including the new Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care, the bisecting road and infrastructure corridor, the perimeter of the 30 acres designated for the new hospital, and two dock locations that will support the future hospital campus. It also provides a potential roadmap for coordinated development over the coming years.
Guiding the Master Site Plan are principles rooted in the Four Orders of Creation: Earth Nation, Plant Nation, Animal Nation, and Human Nation. These principles will continue to inform future planning and design decisions, ensuring development respects the natural environment, supports cultural safety, strengthens connections to the land and water, and promotes healing and wellness for all who access the campus.
The Campus of Care represents a unique collaboration between KCA and LWDH and builds on years of collaboration on improving health outcomes across the region. The Master Site Plan offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a destination for health, wellness, housing, and other complementary services in an accessible location. The vision is for an integrated campus that brings together acute care, long-term care, mental health and addictions services, primary care, cultural healing spaces, accommodations, retail opportunities, and other complementary services.
“The approval of the Master Site Plan is an important step forward for our communities and for future generations,” said Chief Chris Skead, KCA Interim Board Chair and Chief of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation. “This work reflects the shared vision that has guided this project from the very beginning and recognizes the importance of creating a place where culturally safe care, healing, and wellness can be delivered side by side.”
Nancy Johanson, Board Chair, Lake of the Woods District Hospital, highlighted the significance of the milestone for the future hospital project.
“The Master Site Plan provides clarity and direction as we move forward with planning and approvals for the All Nations Hospital Project and the broader Campus of Care,” Johanson said. “It demonstrates the strength of our partnership and our collective commitment to fostering a health system that will better serve communities across the region.”
Community and stakeholder engagement was a key component of the Master Site Plan process. In May 2026, participants representing healthcare, social services, municipal government, Indigenous organizations, youth, and community members took part in master planning workshops that helped evaluate development options and refine future land uses and design principles.
To support meaningful dialogue and informed decisionmaking, the project team developed detailed three-dimensional models of the site. These models helped participants visualize development concepts, explore alternative layouts, and better understand how the various components of the Campus of Care could come together over time.
“With the full 126-acre Campus of Care site now available for development, and with both Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care and the All Nations Hospital Project reaching important milestones, this is the right time to establish a coordinated vision for future growth,” said Jennifer Dreaver, Executive Director of KCA.
“Beyond its health and wellness focus, we see the Campus of Care as a catalyst for community and regional development,” Dreaver said. “Opportunities for housing, accommodations, retail, commercial services, and other complementary uses will support workforce recruitment, Indigenous and local business growth, job creation, and long-term economic development. Together, these elements will help create a connected, sustainable destination that serves patients, families, staff, visitors, and communities across the region.”
“As we advance toward a new hospital and supporting parallel developments across the Campus of Care, we remain committed to collaboration and meaningful engagement with our communities and partners,” said Cheryl O’Flaherty, President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital. “The Master Site Plan reflects the knowledge, perspectives, and contributions shared throughout the engagement process, and we are grateful to everyone who helped shape the future of this site. Community voices have been, and will continue to be, essential in guiding this work.”
Next steps for the Campus of Care include completing the subdivision process, securing municipal planning approvals, advancing detailed infrastructure planning, and continuing site due diligence. Project partners will also continue progressing both the All Nations Hospital Project and Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care.
Throughout the coming months, engagement activities will continue, including opportunities for the public to view the site’s three-dimensional model and learn more about the vision and future development of the Campus of Care.
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About Ogimaawabiitong – Kenora Chiefs Advisory (KCA)
The Kenora Chiefs Advisory is an alliance of independent, participating First Nations within the north-west region of Treaty #3 and has been incorporated and in operation since 1995. Chiefs from each of the eight (8) communities form the Board of Directors which govern the organization, while the day-to-day operations are managed via the Executive Director. The communities served are situated in the surrounding area of Kenora. Kenora Chiefs Advisory is a member of the All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team, a planning partner alongside the Lake of the Woods District Hospital on the All Nations Hospital Project, and a Service Provider Organization delivering physician services in First Nations through the Rural Generalist Council Care Model (RGC).
Media Contact
Mike Warkentin, Communications Coordinator
Ogimaawabiitong – Kenora Chiefs Advisory
Mike.warkentin@kenorachiefs.org
