When it comes to a project as large as the Cardiovascular Surgery Program, it truly takes a village—from the construction, safety, and communication teams, to those responsible for operational readiness and clinical integration, to other partners including the provincial government and donors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, providing essential financial support. Below is a closer look at the dedicated team members and partners currently bringing the capital portion of this project to life. 

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Building the Future of Cardiovascular Care at TBRHSC: A True Team Effort

TBRHSC Cardiovascular Surgery Program Construction Project Management Team

Northwestern Ontario has the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the province. Patients often have to travel long distances for specialized cardiac care, which can create logistical, financial, emotional and health challenges. To address this, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) prioritized bringing cardiovascular care closer to home for the people of Northwestern Ontario through a collaborative “Two Sites, One Program” model with University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

Starting in 2013, the organizations collaborated on a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing patient care and advancing regional clinical outcomes in cardiovascular health. The first phase of the plan focused on the development and implementation of the vascular surgery program; the second phase consisted of developing a comprehensive Cardiovascular Surgery program, expanding services significantly. And with the expanded services comes the requirement for more space, which requires a multi-stage approval process set out by the provincial government.

By 2015, internal planning was well underway, and the pre-capital submission was sent to the Ministry of Health. Over the next several years, the project moved through several important planning stages—including the Functional Program, Detailed Planning and Design, and development of Construction Documents.

Then in June 2024, the project reached a major milestone: approval from the Ministry of Health to tender construction. A construction contract was awarded in December 2024, officially kicking off the next phase of bringing cardiovascular surgery closer to home.

And what started more than a decade ago as an exciting clinical vision for TBRHSC is now becoming a reality, with construction well underway on 76,000 square feet of new and renovated clinical and support spaces for the new Cardiovascular Surgery program.

Behind the bricks and mortar of this project is a dedicated group of professionals working together to bring the expansion to life. The Construction Project Management team involves a wide range of expertise, from clinical safety and communications to design, procurement, and finance—all working in harmony to ensure the project meets the highest standards.

It truly takes a village to bring a project of this scale to life—from coordinating construction to ensuring safety, communication, operational readiness, and clinical integration. Here’s a look at the dedicated team members and partners driving the capital project forward:

TBRHSC Cardiovascular Surgery Program Construction Project Management Team

• Ryan Sears, Project Director Provides overall leadership and oversight, including managing time, budget, quality, internal coordination, risk, and communication.
• Aaron Bruno, Project Planner Leads construction review, consultant coordination, project planning, and scheduling. Oversees change orders, quality assurance, financial reviews, and communication.
• Daniel Sedano, Project Coordinator Keeps a close eye on daily construction activities, ensuring quality and spec compliance. Coordinates departments, schedules, and consultant inputs.
• Clayton MacDonald, Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Reviews safety plans and ensures the site meets health and safety standards.
• Stephanie Erickson, Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Ensures infection control protocols are integrated into every stage of the construction process.
• Raiili Pellizzari, Communications Leads all project-related communications—keeping internal teams and the community informed and engaged.
• Darin Pretto, Maintenance Coordinates construction activities within the existing facility, including system shutdowns and tie-ins.
• William White, Procurement Leads procurement of all hospital Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) for the expansion.
• Ted Wyant, Finance Oversees Hospital financial planning and coordination with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation and Ministry of Health.

External Partners & Consultants

• BTY Consulting Group Supports with project administration, construction reviews, consultant coordination, and FF&E management.
• FORM Architecture, Parkin Architects, HH Angus & Associates Manages the construction contract, issue formal documents (like change orders), respond to contractor questions, and certify progress payments.
• CES Engineering Acts as the Commissioning Agent—ensuring building systems (like HVAC and electrical) are installed and functioning exactly as designed.
• Tom Jones Corporation The General Contractor, managing construction and sub-trades, oversees the entirety of the construction project and brings the detailed Construction Documents to life.

As construction progresses, this collaborative team remains committed to creating a facility that reflects the high standard of care TBRHSC is known for. When completed, the new cardiovascular space will not only enhance local care options but also reduce the need for patients to travel for specialized treatment.

“This project has always been about delivering better care, closer to home,” said Ryan Sears, Project Director. “Patients and families in our region face the emotional and physical burden of traveling over 1,300 kilometers by air to receive cardiac care. That’s not just a journey—it’s a separation from their family or support networks and sometimes, even a barrier to treatment.

“Care closer to home means more than convenience in a difficult time. It means safety and the peace of mind that comes from knowing expert care is just down the road. It means families can stay together during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

“To me, this project is not just steel and concrete. It is a promise that the people of our community matter, their health matters, and that they shouldn’t have to leave home to get the care they deserve,” concludes Sears.