Dr. William Monk Community HealthCare Development Fund
About
In November 2023, Kate Monk and over 1,000 residents in the catchment of the Township of Muskoka Lakes were left without a primary care physician when the last one in the township retired. At that time, lack of doctors was a raging issue across Ontario, and this remains a challenge to this day, despite increased efforts by the provincial government to address the problem. Though many municipalities now have competitive packages for physician recruitment, this was not the case back then. Additionally, although the government-funded Ontario Health Team for Muskoka did have a recruiter, funds were lacking to help this person implement a recruitment strategy.
In December of 2023, before locally municipalities and community builders created their own successful programs, Kate Monk established with Dr. William Monk Community Healthcare Development Fund (DMCHDF) with the Muskoka Community Foundation. Named in honour of her father, who was a reputed surgeon in Muskoka for 55 years, the fund supports municipalities, not-for-profit agencies and individuals in establishing healthcare practices and services in Muskoka.
Funding to date
Since December 2023, the DMCHDF has funded over $150,000 in impactful projects to attract, retain and develop healthcare professionals in Muskoka, including those of:
- Hospice Muskoka (nurse practitioner)
- Mind-Aid (nurse practitioner and mobile hub outfitting)
- Town of Huntsville (physician office support)
- Town of Bracebridge (physician office support)
- Gravenhurst Rotary (physician office support)
- Georgian College PSW training (4 students, full tuition, Muskoka campus)
- Muskoka & Almaguin Ontario Health Team (incentive gifts for ROMP student recruitment, recruiter travel expenses)
- Township of Muskoka Lakes, Port Carling Health Hub (tangible office assets for independent physician establishment)
In 2026, the Dr. William Monk Community Health Care Fund's projects will be assessed along with an environmental scan to determine the most strategic path forward for funding impactful healthcare development in Muskoka.
For inquiries, please email [email protected].
*Photo shows the Port Carling Health Hub (left to right): James Cox, David Pink, Dr. Brenda Martin, Tim Myers, Peter Kelley (Mayor), Mary Ellen McIntyre (Councillor and Executive Director, Muskoka Community Foundation), Ruth Nishikawa (Councillor and Secretary, Muskoka Community Foundation), Susan Mazan (Deputy Mayor and Councillor), Allen Edwards (Councillor), Linda Edwards, Brock Napier. December 2025.