A community in Northwestern Ontario rallied behind the ”Beyond the Scan” campaign, raising an amazing $9.522 million, a million above its $8.5 million goal to advance local healthcare at its district hospital.

The funds raised will help create a Diagnostic Imaging Centre of Excellence at the hospital in Kenora by fall 2025. The money will help bring Kenora’s first MRI machine to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital, along with a new CT scanner, and an upgraded mammography unit. The remaining funds will add to the Excellence Fund that allows the hospital to replace critical medical equipment as required.

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital supports a large area, including 10 First Nations communities and many seasonal visitors. The new diagnostic tools at the hospital will make it easier for people to get care close to home. It will help catch illnesses sooner, shorten wait times, and improve care for thousands of patients each year by creating a top medical centre in the region.

The fundraising efforts were led by residents, families, businesses, visitors, schools, and groups coming together to support the cause. A sizable part of the campaign’s success came from the FDC Foundation in Mississauga, which promised to match every donation, dollar for dollar, up to $2 million between February 12 and April 30, 2025.

The campaign received huge support from the community, with everyone working toward the same goal of improving local healthcare for current and future generations. The campaign ran from mid-February to the end of April.

Source: Heather Vita, Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation