HEALTH CARE
The Kirkland and District Hospital is a fully accredited modern, well-equipped hospital having been built in 1976. The Hospital is supported by an active Auxiliary and Foundation. It was originally a 132-bed hospital but it has been gradually downsized to 62 beds as follows: 4 Intensive Care, 2 Paediatric, 2 Obstetrics, 22 Medical/Surgical, 32 Continuing Care (Complex Continuing Care, Transitional Care, Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, Respite Care and Geriatric Assessment). The Hospital currently employs 280 full-time and part-time staff. The laboratories services on site include haematology, chemistry, blood bank and frozen sections and referred out microbiology, cytology and pathology services. Other diagnostic services include echocardiography, pulmonary function testing, exercise stress testing, mammography, ultrasound and doppler facilities along with fetal monitoring capabilities. The Anaesthesia Department is well equipped with the most modern equipment possible including cardiac monitoring, CO₂ and pulse oximetry. The Hospital employs two respiratory therapists, two pharmacists, three physiotherapists, one occupational therapist, a part-time dietitian and a social worker. The intensive care unit is also extremely well equipped and has external pacemaking capability. There is an active obstetrical unit with a modern birthing bed and Caesarean Section capabilities. In addition, a chemotherapy clinic and satellite dialysis clinic are operated at the hospital in affiliation with Laurentian Hospital in Sudbury. The hospital is also involved with the Northern Ontario Residency Training Program and physicians readily accept medical students and interns for elective programs.

The active medical staff consists of fifteen family physicians, one radiologist, one internist, and one general surgeon who is also very active in orthopaedics and performs Caesarean sections. The Hospital has weekly obstetrical/gynaecology and pathology services from Timmins. In addition, there are itinerant specialist out-patient clinics at the Kirkland and District Hospital and surgical lists in orthopaedics, ear, nose and throat, urology, ophthalmology, and obstetrics/ gynaecology. Our radiologist who lives in Kirkland Lake services several small surrounding communities. Other out-patient clinics funded through the Underserviced Area Program include Dermatology, Pacemaker, Allergy, Paediatric, Neurology and Geriatrics.

There are two family practice medical clinics in town; one presently comprised of two family physicians and the other of twelve family physicians. Both clinics are based on an overhead sharing arrangement, the larger group being more formally incorporated. The Town of Kirkland Lake and the Kirkland and District Hospital both provide financial support for physician retention and recruitment efforts in our community. There is shared Emergency Department on-call schedule and the hospital qualifies for the Sessional Fees Program through the Ministry of Health.

The advantages associated with participating in a Clinic practice in Kirkland Lake include:

1. turn key operation for new physicians - all doctors are equal partners

2.  low overhead expenses - $2,200.00 - $3,000.00 per month

3.  centralized billing

4. low on-call requirements - approximately 1:8 or as much or as little as you like

5. profit sharing arrangement

6. ease of referrals/consultations

Both Clinics are also interested in recruiting locum position physicians with the method of payment negotiable either by the individual Clinic or by the individual physician within the Clinic. The Northeastern Ontario Family Medical Residency Program’s apartment is available at a reasonable rent for locum appointments.

It should be noted that Kirkland Lake is eligible for a $10,000.00 per year incentive grant, tax free, to a maximum of $40,000 for physicians guaranteeing at least one year of continued service to the community. Out of province physicians are also eligible to receive authorization by the Ministry of Health for an Ontario Health Insurance Plan billing number provided the physician practices under a short term contract in an underserviced area.

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BUSINESS COMMUNITY/EMPLOYMENT
Kirkland Lake has an excellent supply of skilled, semiskilled and ready to be trained labour. Our people are committed to the growth and prosperity of the town and the workforce is loyal and cooperative. Training programs are available through a variety of government sponsored training agencies. The major employers of the labour force are as follows:
 

Kirkland Lake has two newspapers (the Northern Daily News which is published daily and the Kirkland Lake Gazette which is a weekly publication). In addition, the Local Radio Station is CJKL 560 AM in Kirkland Lake.

Kirkland Lake’s new industrial park offers over 300 acres of serviced land. The municipal airport had a $2.4 million dollar upgrade in 1995. There are over 150 business outlets in Kirkland Lake to service the community.
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, the Toronto Dominion Bank, the Royal Bank of Canada, Canada Trust, and the Credit Union are the banking establishments in Kirkland Lake. Chartered Accountant and Investment services are also available.
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EDUCATION
There are six elementary public schools with an enrollment of 1,100 students and 57.3 teachers offering English and French immersion education. There are three elementary separate schools offering French, English and French immersion education. Current enrollment is 780 students and a staff of 43.5 teachers.

The Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute is a secondary school with an enrollment of 759 students and a staff of 50.5 teachers. Ecole Secondaire Jean Vanier is a French secondary school with an enrollment of 176 students with 16 faculty.

Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology offers a wide range of diploma programs from one to three years. The JSANO School of the Arts is housed at Northern College for two weeks every summer. The College is also the location for agencies such as Contact North and Ontario Skills Development. The enrollment is 400 full-time and 1,000 part-time students.

There are three English language and one French language licensed Daycare Centres.
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RECREATION
The Town of Kirkland Lake maintains the community complex ( includes a 25-metre swimming pool, squash courts, exercise room and arena). The Town also maintains cross country ski trails, soccer and baseball fields. Kirkland Lake also enjoys 2 downhill ski facilities, 300 kilometres of groomed snowmobile trails, a curling club, a nine-hole golf course and several playgrounds for children.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the sandy beaches of Culver Park and Esker Lake Provincial Park or fish and canoe in one of the many lakes in the summer. There are also numerous hiking paths.
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ARTS, CULTURE AND SOCIAL CLUBS
Many national and international service clubs have local chapters in Kirkland Lake and there are a wide array of social clubs, children’s clubs, professional associations, health associations and sports clubs. Art, music and performing groups are active in the community. Most religious denominations are represented by a diversified range of churches. Library facilities include the Teck Centennial Library and the Northern College Library Resource Centre.

Housed in the Chateau of Sir Harry Oakes, the founder of the world-famous Lake Shore Gold Mine, the Kirkland Lake Museum of Northern History features displays and artifacts from the early pioneering and mining days. The museum also showcases travelling art displays along with the works of many talented local artists.
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TRANSPORTATION
Daily passenger air service is available during week days from the Kirkland Municipal Airport. Passenger rail services are operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Highway Motorcoach travel and Bus Parcel Express is operated by the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission. Courier services are operated by Purolator Courier Ltd. and United Parcel Service. Limousine services are available from two local companies.
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