The Ontario government has announced it will invest more than $28 million in the construction of the new Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig Aboriginal Health Access Centre (WNHAC) in downtown Kenora.

“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 Health Minister Sylvia Jones. “Our investment 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 facility will consolidate Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig programs and services currently provided across multiple sites in the Kenora area into a single location that will enhance timely access to Indigenous-led health care and reduce unnecessary emergency department visits at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

"Waasegiizhig Nanaandawe’iyewigamig is thrilled to see this project come to fruition after many years of planning and perseverance,” said Interim CEO Paul Derouard. “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."

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.