Earlier today, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) celebrated the vibrant Francophone culture in Northwestern Ontario by hoisting the Franco-Ontarian Day flag. Representatives from Ontario Health North West, Association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario (AFNOO) and Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario (Réseau) attended the flag raising.

TBRHSC recognizes the importance of providing culturally sensitive care to improve health outcomes and the quality of care. Our Hospital is dedicated to meeting the social, cultural, and linguistic needs of all patients, including the diverse Francophone population.

TBRHSC is committed to ensuring that it respects and responds to Francophone cultural preferences, needs, and values, along with those of all the other diverse populations it serves.

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Aujourd’hui, le Centre régional des sciences de la santé de Thunder Bay (CRSSTB) célèbre la culture francophone rayonnante du Nord-Est de l’Ontario en hissant le drapeau franco-ontarien. Des représentants de Santé Ontario Nord-Ouest, de l’Association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l’Ontario et du Réseau du mieux-être francophone du Nord de l’Ontario ont assisté à cette cérémonie.

Le CRSSTB reconnaît l’importance de fournir des soins adaptés à la culture afin d’améliorer les résultats sur le plan de la santé ainsi que la qualité des soins. Il ne ménage aucun effort pour répondre aux besoins d’ordre social, culturel et linguistique de tous les patients, y compris ceux de la population francophone diverse.

Le CRSSTB s’engage à reconnaître et à respecter les préférences, les valeurs et les besoins culturels de la population francophone, ainsi que ceux de toutes les autres populations diverses qu’il sert.

Shared on behalf of Medical and Academic Affairs

We are excited to announce that Dr. Yoko Schreiber has joined Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as an Infectious Disease Specialist with the Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Schreiber completed her Doctor of Medicine at Dalhousie University before pursuing residency training in Internal Medicine and subspecialty training in Infectious Diseases at the University of Ottawa. She further completed a Master of Science in Epidemiology and the Clinician Investigator Program at the University of Ottawa, strengthening her expertise in research and evidence-based practice. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases) and has held academic appointments at the University of Ottawa, the University of Manitoba, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

Dr. Schreiber brings extensive experience as a consultant in Infectious Diseases, with a strong focus on improving care in rural and remote communities. Her clinical and research work has included antimicrobial stewardship, tuberculosis, skin and soft tissue infections, and the health impacts of housing and environmental conditions in Indigenous communities. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications in journals such as CMAJ, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, and JAMMI, and she has been recognized with national awards for her research on rheumatic fever in First Nations communities.

She has also served in multiple leadership roles, including Chief of Inpatient Medicine and Chief of Specialist Services at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre, member of the Public Health Testing Strategy Expert Panel at Public Health Ontario, and consultant to Indigenous Services Canada. In addition to her clinical expertise, she is committed to advancing medical education and has taught and supervised learners at multiple academic institutions.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Schreiber to our Hospital and the Thunder Bay community. Her dedication to infectious disease care, public health, and health equity will be a tremendous asset to our patients and community.

Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD) is an annual experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Ontario. This year, TOWKTWD is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025. In previous years, our Hospital has hosted grade 9 students from a variety of schools within the city.

Throughout the day groups of students travel to pre-scheduled departments for a tour or demonstration. These students are broken down into groups of 10 and led by Human Resources through various areas and departments within the Hospital. Departments that were visited in past include MDRD, Operating Room, Emergency, Biomedical Engineering/Maintenance, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging and Nutrition and Food Services. 

By participating in TOKTWD, students are able to learn about the variety of careers within the Hospital. This day also creates a great opportunity for employee engagement within the workplace. This event encourages teambuilding, productivity, social interactions and employee involvement.

Deadline to enroll is October 24, 2025. You can find more information and the enrollment forms on the intranet: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/human-resources/programs/take-our-kids-to-work-day.

If you have any questions, or would like to submit your enrollment forms, contact Rina Pratola, Human Resources Advisor, at Rina.Pratola@tbh.net or by calling extension 7058.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is currently seeking volunteers to serve on our Research Ethics Board (REB). We are seeking members for the following two positions: 

Indigenous Community Member
Must be unaffiliated with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and able to provide input regarding their knowledge about the Indigenous community of  Thunder Bay and region.

Physician Member
Must be a physician and able to contribute to the evaluation of a study on its ethical, scientific and statistical merits and standards of practice.

REB members are expected to devote up to four hours per month towards their duties which include attending monthly meetings (virtually or in-person) from September to June. Experience in research ethics is valuable but not a requirement as all necessary training will be provided.

If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, or would like to learn more about the positions, please contact:

Carol Pelletier, Research Ethics Officer, at TBRHSC.REO@tbh.net

Please submit your expression of interest and CV by September 30, 2025. 

French Language Interpretation Services

Interpretation services are available to patients in all clinical units and departments at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) through several options. TBRHSC encourages the use of free, local interpretation options before using paid phone and video options. Below you will find interpretations services that connect French-speaking patients to their health care providers.

French-English Interpretation by TBRHSC staff members

The Hospital maintains a list of staff who are able to provide French-English interpretation services, in order to enhance the quality and accessibility of health services for the Francophone population, and ensure timely communication between patients and their health care providers.

To request translation services from a French-speaking staff member, you can download the “List of Hospital staff who interpret for patients in English/French” from the Intranet at: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/corporate-info/french-language-services

* Please note that staff availability varies

L’Accueil francophone de Thunder Bay

L’Accueil francophone’s main focus is to offer interpretation services between French-speaking clients and health care professionals. They provide quality interpretation services in a confidential and professional manner.

L’Accueil francophone’s interpretation services are available onsite, virtually, or by telephone, and are funded by the Ministry of Health, and are therefore offered free of charge.

To arrange French interpretation services, please contact L’Accueil francophone as soon as possible in advance of your patient’s appointment in order to guarantee availability:

• Phone: 807-684-1940
• Toll-free: 1-844-202-2370
• Email: interpretation@accueilfrancophone.com
• Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

To learn more about L’Accueil francophone’s services, please see the brochure here (available in French and English).

L’Accueil francophone via the Ontario Telehealth Network

L’Accueil francophone also offers French Language interpretation in real time via the Ontario Telehealth Network, connecting regional patients with their health care providers. Services can be accessed in the community by phone, at a hospital using the OTN system, and from home using a computer or tablet. 

Instructions on how to schedule French Language Interpretation Services via OTN can be found here in French and in English.

InSight Video Interpreting by LanguageLine

InSight Video interpreting offers interpretation services by medically trained interpreters, in 140 languages.

Availability varies, but is generally Monday – Friday, early morning to late evening hours, with the most common languages available on weekends.

To access InSight interpreting services, please use your unit/department iPad, and follow the instructions posted in the InSight Video Interpreting quick reference guide. The guide can be found here.

Remember to have your unit-specific Secured Access Code prior to initiating services, as the interpreter will ask you for this information. If you do not have your unit’s Secured Access Code, please request this from your Manager.

*Please note that there is a fee for service

Over the phone interpretation

Phone interpretation services provided by medically trained interpreters are available in 140 languages. Most languages are available 24/7.

To access phone interpretation services, please follow the instructions outlined in the Over the Phone Interpretation quick reference guide. The guide can be found here.

Remember to state the language you require for interpreting services, and have the Hospital client ID number and unit-specific Secured Access Code prior to initiating services, as the interpreter will ask you for this information. If you do not have your unit’s Secured Access Code, please request this from your Manager.

*Please note that there is a fee for service

Multicultural Association

Face-to-face interpretation services are offered by the Multicultural Association. A limited number of languages are available, and hours of service are typically Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Pre-booking is preferred.

*Please note that there is a fee for service

To learn more about interpretation services at TBRHSC, please access the Interpretation Overview on the intranet.

If you have any questions about French Language Services, please contact Rae-Anne Robinson, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator at 807-684-6396.

International Day of Sign Languages is celebrated annually on September 23, during the International Week of Deaf People. This day is an opportunity to bring awareness to the Deaf community, Deaf Culture, and the importance of protecting the human rights of all sign language users.

Throughout the world, there are over 70 million Deaf people using more than 300 sign languages. Sign languages are fully realized visual languages with unique grammatical structures that use handshapes, movements, and expressions to convey meaning. Sign languages may be an individual’s first language, with their country’s official language being their second language. In Canada, this may include American Sign Language (ASL) and English, and Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ) and French.

Accessing Sign Language Interpretation Services

Do you need Sign Language Interpretation Services for your patient? Below you will find options for accessing Sign Language Interpretation.  

LanguageLine

InSight Video interpreting offers interpretation services by medically trained interpreters, in 140 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL), which is available 24/7.

To access ASL interpretation services using InSight Video interpreting services, please use your unit/department iPad, and follow the instructions posted in the InSight Video Interpreting quick reference guide. The guide can be found here.

Remember to have your unit-specific Secured Access Code prior to initiating services, as the interpreter will ask you for this information. If you do not have your unit’s Secured Access Code, please request this from your Manager.

It is important to establish a stable internet connection; to do this, please ensure that your iPad is connected to TBRHSC’s WiFi, rather than free WiFi options. To connect an iPad to TBRHSC’s account, please contact the Help Desk at: 807-684-6411.

*Please note that there is a fee for service

Canadian Hearing Services

Canadian Hearing Services offers On-demand Quick Access Interpreting as well as Emergency Interpreting for various sectors, including healthcare.

Video-remote sign language interpreting is available 24/7 in American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des Signes Québécoise (LSQ). To learn more about these services, visit the Canadian Hearing Services website.

To access emergency sign language interpretation through Canadian Hearing Services, please contact them at:

Phone: 1-866-518-0000

Email: urgent@chs.ca

Text: 416-712-6637

*Please note that there is a fee for service, and manager approval may be required. Please give priority to the LanguageLine service, and use Canadian Hearing Services as an alternative if LanguageLine is unavailable, or in other exceptional or emergency circumstances.

To learn more about the International Day of Sign Languages, please check out the United Nations’ website.

To learn more about how to work respectfully with Sign Language Interpreters, please go to the Ontario Association of Sign Language Interpreters website.

To enhance Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC), Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has transformed the ICU waiting room into a more welcoming and comfortable space. This thoughtful redesign features new furniture, vibrant paint, and the inspiring integration of student artwork from Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School. By fostering an inviting environment, TBRHSC aims to support families during challenging moments while celebrating local student talent. The artwork will be refreshed annually or semi-annually, ensuring a dynamic and engaging space for all who visit.