The Government of Ontario has approved up to $100,000 in funding to help with the construction of a helipad at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances. The funding was announced on June by Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford, who also serves as the Ontario Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines.
The helipad announcement, which will help to develop air ambulance services directly to and from La Verendrye, is part of the provincial government’s ongoing investment in northern small- and medium-sized hospitals. Rickford also announced Riverside Health Care Facilities in Fort Frances is receiving an additional $540,600 in funding for 2020/21.
“Our government continues to invest in small-and-medium sized hospitals to ensure Ontarians in every region of our province have access to a sustainable and connected health care system,” said Rickford. “This increased funding for Fort Frances will support our hardworking frontline workers and the community for years to come.”
Ken Keller of the Fort Francis Times reported Rickford as saying he has been actively involved with building a helipad at La Verendrye since his early days in office. During the Fort Francis helipad announcement, Keller quoted Richford as saying, “This is going to enable us to move critically ill, critically injured people from Fort Frances to Winnipeg or to Thunder Bay quickly.”
In his article, Keller notes construction of the helipad is expected to take one to two years to complete, after the design and prep work is done, with three site locations currently under consideration.
