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Ontario Expanding MRI Services in Fort Frances

July 17, 2025

FORT FRANCES— The Ontario government is improving access to diagnostic imaging services and reducing wait times across the Northwest by investing in a state-of-the art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) suite at Riverside Health Care to support the first-ever MRI machine in Fort Frances.

“Our commitment to Riverside Health Care is more than just checking the box on an MRI license for Fort Frances—we’re delivering the full package: capital dollars, operational support, and a commitment to care that reflects the needs of the Northwest,” said Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora—Rainy River. “Families in Fort Frances, Kenora, Sioux Lookout and beyond will no longer have to make the long drive down the TransCanada Highway for MRIs at all hours of the night. We’re building out world-class diagnostic capacity, right here in our communities, so health care providers can develop clinical pathways for their patients sooner and closer to home.”

Through this investment, approximately 1,410 square feet will be renovated at Riverside Health Care for a new state-of-the-art MRI suite to house Fort Frances’ first-ever MRI machine. The new MRI machine will improve timely access to high-quality care in the region and help families, who will no longer have to travel to Thunder Bay or Winnipeg to access diagnostic services. With more timely access to care, patients can be diagnosed sooner and receive treatment faster.

“This is an important step forward in improving access to health care,” said Henry Gauthier, President and CEO of Riverside Health Care. “Having MRI services locally means faster diagnoses, reduced delays, and less travel for patients and families across our region. This investment by the Province brings us closer to ensuring everyone in the Rainy River District can access the timely, high-quality care they deserve.”

“Thanks to Minister Rickford’s tireless efforts, and the generosity of the Ministry of Health, Riverside Health Care in Fort Frances will now be home to a much-needed MRI machine,” said Mayor Andrew Hallikas, Town of Fort Frances. “Having in-house access to the latest and greatest in diagnostic imaging is a transformative step for patients and families. The Ontario government not only secured capital funding, but ensured the operational funding is in place to guarantee its long-term viability in our community – a clear testament to Minister Rickford’s commitment to equal access to health care across Northwestern Ontario.”  

Riverside Health Care’s first MRI machine will serve patients across Northwestern Ontario, including Kenora, Sioux Narrows and several First Nations Communities. This new machine is part of the 50 new MRI machines in 43 hospitals that the Ontario government is adding across the province to increase MRI capacity and services. Ontario is also making it easier and faster for people to connect to publicly-funded surgeries and procedures by adding 35 newly licenced community surgical and diagnostic centres to deliver MRI and CT scans, connecting up to 828,000 more people over two years to vital diagnostic imaging.

“Our government is making record investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system and connect more people to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in Riverside Health Care’s first-ever MRI machine and diagnostic imaging suite, we are making it easier and faster for more families in Fort Frances and across Northwestern Ontario to access key diagnostic services in their community, for years to come.”

As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is making it faster and easier for people to connect to the care they need, when they need it, in their community, no matter where they live.

QUICK FACTS

  • Riverside Health Care is a fully accredited health care system providing service to the Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, serving more than 20,000 residents in Fort Frances, Emo and Rainy River.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take detailed pictures of organs and tissues in the body. MRIs are used to diagnose many health problems, including brain injuries, heart disease and various tumours and cancers.
  • In addition to the 50 MRI machines the province is adding in hospitals across the province, the Ontario government is investing $155 million for 57 community surgical and diagnostic centres to connect 1.2 million people to publicly funded procedures.
  • The province is continuing to grow the health care workforce adding a historic number of new nurses and laboratory technologists through the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, As of Right rules and the 700 additional education seats for medical radiation and imaging technologists, medical laboratory technologists, medical lab technicians and medical radiation extenders.
  • Over the next 10 years, Ontario’s investment will lead to nearly $60 billion on major health infrastructure. This is part of the government’s plan to get shovels in the ground on more than 50 major hospital projects across the province, which will deliver approximately 3,000 new hospital beds and build a connected, people-first health-care system.
  • The Ontario government invested more than $228 million in 2024-25 to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities across the province, a 10 per cent increase from the previous year. Riverside Health Care received a total allocation of $2.06M through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, including $1.5M in one-time funding as an Exceptional Circumstance Project Grant. The grant was used to upgrade the backup generator system to address existing deficiencies.

QUOTES

“Today is a vital step forward for diagnostics in our district, bringing us closer to care that is fair, accessible, and high quality no matter where you live. Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly to make this happen, and a special thanks to Minister Rickford and the Ontario government for recognizing this need and investing in the future of health care in our region. This is just the beginning.” – Benjamin Norton, Vice Chair of Riverside Health Care Board of Directors

“This is a truly historic day for health care in the Rainy River District and we are thrilled to have Minister Rickford here to share the incredible news. Today’s announcement reflects his support for Northwestern Ontario and will profoundly change healthcare across the district. Thank you to Minister Rickford for advocating on behalf of our community for this landmark piece of equipment, and to the volunteers for their support.” – Paul Brunetta, Past Chair of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care

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