Generator Upgrade to Power Riverside’s Future: Tomorrow's Riverside Today
March 23, 2026
Each month, Riverside Health Care shares a closer look at the people, projects, and progress shaping care across our region. Through this ongoing series, we’re proud to highlight the work happening today to build a stronger, more connected Riverside for tomorrow. Originally published in the Fort Frances Times on Decmeber 17, 2025.
Generator Upgrade to Power Riverside’s Future
A Multi-Year Investment in Safety, Reliability, and Sustainability for District-Wide Improvements
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
If you've been near La Verendrye General Hospital (LVGH) recently, you may have noticed the new construction near the ambulance ramp. That new building is the future home of LVGH’s upgraded generator system — a major infrastructure investment that will take the site from 40 percent power coverage to 100 percent during an outage.
This represents the culmination of a multi-year journey, beginning with early advocacy and planning, moving through engineering and design, and now to construction and installation. The project is on track for Spring 2026, when the generator and switchgear arrive, and final commissioning takes place.
This milestone reflects Riverside’s long-term vision for infrastructure renewal, patient safety, and operational resilience across the entire district.
A Look Back: Meeting Needs With Limited Power
For years, LVGH has relied on backup generators capable of powering roughly 40 percent of the facility during an outage.
This limited capacity — although safe, compliant, and carefully prioritized — meant only essential areas such as the Emergency Department, Acute Care, and core clinical and diagnostic services could operate uninterrupted.
Support departments and other non-clinical operations had to face restrictions during prolonged outages. This placed additional demands on staff and introduced operational complexities during power interruptions in a modern hospital environment.
“In the hospital environment, reliable power is not a convenience, it’s a necessity,” says Henry Gauthier, President & CEO.
“This upgrade project represents an essential investment in safety, reliability, and our very ability to deliver care in any circumstance.”
Building for Tomorrow: Full Capacity for Full Service
Once the project is complete, the new generator system will allow 100 percent of LVGH to remain fully functional during an outage, supporting every clinical area, diagnostic service, support department, and internal system.
This will provide power to the entire hospital, including but not limited to:
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Patient care units
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Diagnostic imaging
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Laboratory and therapeutic services
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HVAC and climate systems
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Kitchen operations
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Security and IT infrastructure
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Communications and administrative systems
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Environmental services and maintenance
This move from 40 to 100 percent capacity is not only an infrastructure upgrade — it represents a transformational shift in the organization’s ability to maintain safe, uninterrupted service under any circumstance.
To achieve this, the project includes the construction of a purpose-built external generator building, designed to support safety, accessibility, and long-term expansion.
Extensive collaboration among Riverside staff, engineering partners, and contractors has ensured that all aspects of the project — from equipment placement and wiring to load capacity, fuel systems, redundancy features, and safety controls — meet modern standards and provide reliable performance for decades to come.
“The design and installation of the new generator system was a highly coordinated effort,” says Ed Cousineau, Riverside Director of Engineering.
“This upgrade not only expands our capacity but also significantly enhances our overall emergency readiness. It gives our teams the stable, dependable infrastructure they need to respond quickly and safely in any situation.”
Strengthening Patient Care and Clinical Stability
For patients, families, and communities, this project brings peace of mind: no matter the weather, no matter the grid interruption, the hospital will remain fully operational.
For the Riverside team, the upgrade means full access to equipment, heating and cooling, communication systems, and the tools required to deliver care safely.
“Reliable power means reliable care,” says Diana Harris, Chief Nursing Executive.
“Our teams can stay fully focused on patients, knowing the systems they rely on — lights, monitors, and equipment — will stay on at all times. This upgrade strengthens safety and stability across the entire hospital.”
Extending Benefits Across the District
This project enhances Riverside’s entire system. Once the new generator goes live, existing generators at LVGH will be redeployed to other Riverside sites, improving backup capacity, reliability, safety, and sustainability across the district.
This repurposing reduces waste, extends the life of existing capital assets, and strengthens infrastructure at multiple facilities — a system-wide benefit made possible by this single major investment.
This project is a tangible example of Riverside maximizing value, leveraging resources responsibly, and improving infrastructure for all communities served.
A Major Investment in Long-Term Sustainability
The LVGH generator upgrade represents a significant financial commitment, with a total project cost of $1,811,996 across the 2023–24 and 2024–25 fiscal years.
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2023–24: $240,008 (planning and initial work)
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2024–25: $1,571,998 (construction and integration)
This work was made possible through funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF).
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2023–24 funding: $383,446 (supporting multiple priorities)
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2024–25 funding: $2,062,912 total, including $1.5M specifically for the LVGH generator upgrade
This reflects clear recognition of the project’s importance to patient safety and service continuity.
“This key multi-year investment reflects the strong commitment of Riverside’s leadership team, Board of Directors, and staff,” the article notes, highlighting the shared recognition of the need to strengthen infrastructure, modernize systems, and support long-term sustainability.
“This project demonstrates what can be accomplished through strong advocacy and strategic investment,” says Carla Larson, Chief Financial, Information & Technology Officer.
“I am proud of the work our teams have done to bring this forward. Our coordinated efforts with the Ministry ensured this critical upgrade moved ahead, and it will significantly enhance the stability and reliability of operations not just at LVGH but across our system.”
Closing Statement
As Riverside invests in the tools and infrastructure of the future, the organization remains focused on providing exceptional care today — and building a stronger, more resilient health-care system for tomorrow.