Professional Services Sector
	Mining; Forestry; Tourism; Professional Services; Environmental Services

Like most natural resource based communities, Kirkland Lake recognizes the need to diversify its economy. In KL, the professional service sector has emerged as a key element in the community’s livelihood.

Health Services:

The Kirkland and District Hospital is the major health facility in the region. The 62-bed hospital employs 280 full-time and part-time staff, and provides advanced medical and on-site laboratory services. The hospital also cooperates with other hospitals and organizations in northern and southern Ontario to provide specialty services and outpatient clinics, and is a founding member of N.O.R.T.H. (Northern Ontario Remote Telecommunications Health Network); a network of hospitals using advanced telecommunication capabilities to provide remote diagnosis services and patient consultation. Other health care services located in Kirkland Lake include the Family Medical Clinic, Timiskaming Health Unit, Community Care Access Centre, Extendicare and the Teck Pioneer Residence.

Educational Services

Kirkland Lake has six elementary schools and 2 secondary schools offering schooling in English, French and French immersion. Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology is also a major force in the economy.

Government Services

The public sector emerged as a major employer in the 1990’s when the Veterans Affairs Canada moved its Ontario Regional Office of 150 employees to Kirkland Lake from Toronto. Since then, the DVA has evolved its operations to take advantage of new technology capabilities to satisfy client demands. Part of its operations includes an incoming and outgoing call centre/benefits-processing unit. This unit, with a staff of 50 has become a central processing centre for various economic support and health care programs delivered to approximately 100,000 clients across Canada.