This National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week, we celebrate our Maintenance and Facilities staff at TBRHSC.
Health care plant maintenance, planning and engineering staff are the in-house professionals responsible for facilities management, planning, development and maintenance of complex health care systems, equipment and facilities. Our health care facilities rely on these staff to provide the necessary skills and resources to develop and manage the environment of care within our organization in an efficient manner and with the patient in mind.
October 19-25 is National Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week, and it is meant to recognize and honour the plant, maintenance, planning and engineering staff on behalf of all who benefit from them.
Please join us in thanking these staff members for their contributions in maintaining a safe, secure and functioning environment for our Hospital.
From October 20 to 25, we recognize Spiritual Care Awareness Week, a time to reflect on the importance of spiritual well-being as part of holistic health care. Spiritual Care supports patients, families, and staff of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs. It reminds us that healing is not only physical, but also emotional, mental, and spiritual. This year’s theme is Honouring the Many Paths to Healing.
At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, we honour the diverse spiritual traditions that bring comfort and strength to those in our care. This includes multi-faith support, chaplaincy, and Indigenous traditional spiritual care, such as access to Elders, smudging, traditional medicines, and ceremonies that promote balance and connection to spirit.
Recognizing and respecting spiritual diversity strengthens our shared commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care. By walking alongside each person on their healing journey, whatever their faith or path—we uphold the values of respect, dignity, and belonging for all.
L to R: Cory Hoogsteen – Spiritual Care Coordinator, Annette Klement – Traditional Wellness Coordinator.
Meet the Spiritual Care Team!
Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator.
Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator
The Traditional Wellness Coordinator supports Indigenous patients, families, and staff by ensuring access to traditional and spiritual care within the hospital. Working with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and health care teams, the Coordinator helps create a culturally safe environment that supports the whole person — spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical.
This role bridges traditional knowledge with modern medicine, ensuring Indigenous patients and families feel respected, supported, and safe in their healthcare journey.
Responsibilities:
Coordinate traditional and spiritual care services.
Collaborate with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partners.
Provide cultural safety education and training.
Organize cultural events and ceremonies.
Support patients and families during sensitive times.
Works with patients, family, and staff who are in crisis, struggling with illness, injury, loss or change.
Aims to help individuals make sense of their suffering, finding purpose and meaning in life and relationships.
Provides service to any faith group and people with no faith background.
Engages with people in Spiritual Distress, or existential crisis. This experience is often expressed through questions like “Why is this happening to me?”
Connects patients with Religious leaders in the community.
On-call Spiritual Care associates are available 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. weeknights, and 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. weekends and holidays. Please call Switchboard.
Available Spiritual Care spaces: Multi-Faith Room, Spiritual Care Lounge, Spirit Garden (between 1A and 1B) and Musalla.
TBRHSC’s IPAC team. Front row (L-R): Stephanie Erickson, Manager, Brenden Stefanato, Infection Control Practitioner (ICP) Amanda Petryna, ICP, Lisa Gibbon, ICP, Sheena Hamilton, ICP, Trish Madigan, Clerk. Back row (L-R): Nancy Maijala, Infection Control Coordinator, Sierra Pasternacki, ICP, Danielle Miller, ICP, Nicole Donio, ICP Not pictured: Nicole Boire, ICP, Vanessa Masters, ICP, Craig Kozlowski, Director, Corporate Patient Flow.
National Infection Control Week is October 20 to 25, 2025 – a time to remind everyone about the importance of Infection Prevention and Control and a time to celebrate, the work accomplished by each and every member of IPAC Canada. The teams’ efforts and passion keep health care providers, patients, students, volunteers, and visitors safe in a wide variety of health care settings and a broad range of activities.
To celebrate IPAC will have a table set up in the cafeteria area each day with information, games, treats and chances to win prizes. Come out and meet the IPAC team.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is celebrating 16 years of Sharing and Caring Together, taking place from October 20 to 24. A collaboration between our Patient Family Advisors (PFAs) and Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) department, this week-long event celebrates the hard work and dedication to advancing the patient experience at TBRHSC.
PFAs are volunteers who contribute their time, knowledge, and personal experiences of care, to help the Hospital understand what working is well and where there are opportunities for improvement. Their involvement is integral to shaping a truly patient-centered approach.
This year’s event will feature a variety of engaging activities, including educational lunch-and-learns and coffee rounds, where PFAs and staff will share stories and insights. The week concludes with a full-day exhibition, showcasing the work of departments from across the Hospital, and how they bring the principles of patient and family centred care to life.
This event is thanks to the hard work of our PFAs and our community donors. A heartfelt “thank you” for their support and overwhelming generosity, which have been vital in ensuring the success of this year’s Sharing and Caring.
This week is an important opportunity to reflect on the power of patient-centered care, celebrate our achievements, and continue building on our efforts to improve the patient experience at TBRHSC.
Shared on behalf of Crystal Edwards, Director, Women & Children’s & Mental Health Programs, and Dr. Justin Jagger, Medical Lead, Regional Paediatrics & Transport
We are pleased to announce that Janessa Grootenboer has accepted the position of Coordinator, Regional Paediatrics & Transport.
Janessa has worked in the Women & Children’s program for the entirety of her career, most recently as the Coordinator for the Women & Children’s program. Last fall Janessa stepped into the Transport Coordinator role to provide temporary coverage. While in the role, Janessa was quick to learn the uniqueness and complexities of transport medicine and she built strong relationships with the team.
Janessa has recently completed the Masters of Advanced Nursing Practice program at Lakehead University, among other courses and certifications, demonstrating her passion for continuing education. Janessa has been building her leadership skills for many years, at first through various volunteer roles and more formally over her last few years in her Coordinator roles.
Throughout the course of her career, Janessa has passionately provided and advocated for quality healthcare to women and children. She is passionate about advancing her knowledge and skills and working with others to deliver outstanding care to our patients and families and is committed to ongoing learning and education.
Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Janessa into her new role commencing October 20th, 2025. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Chris Kroker for his leadership in developing the Transport team and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
Angela Saunders (centre) with (L to R) Jolene Jarva, Jessica Dubinsky, Susie Ostrowski and Laura Kehl, her friends and Northwest Regional Cancer Centre staff, during the Terry Fox Sleeping Giant Hike.
For more than 15 years, Angela’s days at the Northwest Regional Cancer Centre were filled with compassion. As a cancer nurse, she supported patients through the hardest moments of their lives.
“I’d tell them to take it one step at a time, and remember they’re not alone,” she says.
Like many others, Angela kept up with cancer screening and tried to live a healthy lifestyle. When she got a letter in the mail reminding her she was due for a routine mammogram with the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), she booked her appointment with a colleague. Shortly after, Angela was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I didn’t have any risk factors. I always thought ‘I’m such a healthy person, I don’t have a family history – there’s no way I’m going to get cancer,’” she explains, “And then I did.”
Her experience as a patient was both humbling and transformative. “I knew the treatments, the side effects, the medical side of things. I had never truly understood the emotional weight until I lived it,” she recalls. “I felt very vulnerable.”
Throughout her treatment, Angela stayed active and leaned on the same support systems she once encouraged her patients to rely on. Her family and friends carried her through the hardest days. Her colleagues at the Cancer Centre became her champions.
“I’m used to being independent, so learning to accept help was difficult,” she says. “It also showed me how powerful community can be.”
Today, Angela is cancer-free. She’s back to enjoying travel, with her most recent trip taking her to Europe with friends including nurses from the Cancer Centre. She’s also heading into her fourth year as a nurse on the Screen for Life Coach, a mobile screening bus that brings breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening services to communities across Northwestern Ontario.
“My breast cancer was found early because I stayed on top of my mammograms,” Angela shares. “It feels good to be part of bringing that same opportunity to others, especially in communities where accessing these services can be challenging.”
On the Coach, Angela meets people where they are: in their own communities, surrounded by their own support systems. For her, it feels deeply personal.
“I understand now that the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference,” says Angela. “Kindness goes a long way especially when people are feeling anxious. Creating a connection is important, and now I can look someone in the eye and say, ‘I’ve been where you are.’”
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, speak to your primary care provider to see if breast cancer screening is right for you. The OBSP recommends that most eligible women, Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary people ages 40 to 74 get screened with mammography every two years. A referral from a primary care provider is not required for individuals at average risk.
Shared on behalf of Blake Rathje, Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Distribution
On October 11, 2025, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) transitioned from a nation-wide strike to rotating strikes and Canada Post has resumed commercial pickups and drop-offs as of October 15, 2025.
Rotating strike activity may be isolated to specific locations, affecting those areas for a specified period of time. During a rotating strike, Canada Post will accept, process and deliver parcels in unaffected areas, but delays are still expected. Once Canada Post processes an item, it will be secure but cannot be retrieved if that facility is affected by a rotating strike. Items will be delivered as quickly as possible after a disruption is over and operations resume.
Effective immediately, the TBRHSC Mailroom will resume normal operations. However, departments may consider sending urgent items by Purolator via our standard process (note –Purolator does not ship to PO boxes) or a local Courier. Both alternative options have an estimated delivery time of 2-3 days.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jennifer Svane at jennifer.svane@tbh.net or at ext. 6202.
When we think of a hospital, our minds may go to those providing front line care. But there’s an essential service working around the clock behind the scenes: the Laundry and Linen team.
Every day, hundreds of kilograms of linens are processed at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to ensure a safe, clean environment for patients and staff alike. From bed sheets and pillowcases to gowns, scrubs, and surgical drapes, this department plays a critical role in infection control and patient comfort.
Clean linens may not be the most visible part of patient care, but they’re a crucial part of the healing environment. Fresh sheets and properly sanitized gowns contribute to patient dignity, comfort, and safety. So, the next time you see a neatly made hospital bed or change into a clean gown, remember the dedicated laundry and linen team working behind the scenes to make it happen.
Photo 1
Photo 1: This small but mighty team holds the highest standards for cleanliness. Every load of linens must meet strict hygiene requirements. Linens are washed, dried, and sanitized using industrial-grade equipment and high-temperature cycles that eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Photo 2
Photo 2: Each step is monitored closely to comply with health care regulations and infection prevention protocols. Special attention is given to handling soiled items safely and ensuring clean linens are stored and transported properly. In this photo, Chris can be seen carefully loading the washer, ensuring all soiled linens are handled with gloves and without overfilling, in strict adherence to infection prevention protocols. He closes the machine securely and initiates the high-temperature disinfection cycle to prevent cross-contamination.
Photo 3Photo 4Photo 5
Photo 3, 4, 5: Laundry services require a dedicated team working efficiently and meticulously. Their job includes sorting, washing, folding, inspecting for damage, and ensuring timely delivery to every department. During high-demand periods—like flu season or during large-scale procedures—this team works even harder to keep everything running smoothly. The team are shown feeding large linens through the blanket folder (photo 3), hand folding area folding facecloths (photo 4), and standing in front of a small piece folder, where gowns are folded (photo 5).
Photo 6
Photo 6: Did you know that our Hospital has a seamstress? Tannis is responsible for the repair, alteration, and sometimes fabrication of textiles used throughout the Hospital. These can include uniforms, bed linens, patient gowns, surgical drapes, privacy curtains, and other fabric-based materials. Her skilled hands help keep our facility running smoothly and with every stitch supports the comfort, dignity, and safety of our patients and staff.
Mammograms remain the most reliable tool for breast cancer screening, able to detect changes in breast tissue before symptoms appear.
One in nine women in Ontario will face breast cancer in their lifetime, with many diagnosed before turning 50. Now, thanks to a recent expansion of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), people in their 40s no longer have to wait to be screened. The province’s decision to lower the self-referral age from 50 to 40 gives approximately one million additional women, trans, and non-binary people across Ontario the chance to be screened earlier.
“Breast cancer can and does occur in people in their 40s,” says Dr. Nicole Zavagnin, Regional Primary Care Lead for Cancer Care Ontario at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “Having the option to begin screening earlier means more people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage, when treatment is more effective.”
Through the OBSP, eligible individuals aged 40 to 74 who are at average risk can book a mammogram every two years at no cost with a valid OHIP card – no doctor’s referral needed. Those at higher risk, such as those with a family history of breast cancer, may need to start screening earlier or be screened more often based on advice from their healthcare provider.
Mammograms remain the most reliable tool for breast cancer screening, able to detect changes in breast tissue before symptoms appear. The benefits are clear: the five-year survival rate for breast cancer found at stage 1 is nearly 100%, but drops to less than 30% when diagnosed at stage 4.
“Cancer screening is for people who feel well and haven’t noticed any changes,” days Dr. Zavagnin. “By expanding eligibility, more patients can benefit from early detection and the wider range of treatment options it allows.”
While mammograms are key to early detection, breast health also involves knowing your body, reporting changes promptly, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a great time to reflect on your personal risk factors and talk with your healthcare provider about whether screening is right for you,” notes Dr. Zavagnin.
Where to Get Screened in Northwestern Ontario
Thunder Bay
Linda Buchan Centre for Breast Screening and Assessment, TBRHSC 980 Oliver Road (807) 684-7777
Thunder Bay Diagnostics 63 Algoma St. N, Suite 100 (807) 683-4411
Screen for Life Coach (serving Thunder Bay and regional communities) (807) 684-7777
Fort Frances
Riverside Health Care Facilities 110 Victoria Avenue (807) 274-4808
Kenora
Lake of the Woods District Hospital 21 West Sylvan Street (807) 684-7777
Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre 1 Meno Ya Win Way (807) 737-6579
