To commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), the Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion team will host cultural events throughout September to honour Residential School survivors and their families in recognizing the strength and resilience of Indigenous Peoples and communities. 

As we continue with our Strategic Plan 2026, we remain dedicated to providing a culturally safe experience for all staff and patients. We encourage staff to attend the events listed below.

Registration is required for four events (Orange Shirt Day Beading, Tobacco Tie Making, Elder’s Lunch and Learn and Secret Path film screening). You can register by clicking on the poster below. For each event you register for, you will be entered into a draw for the grand prize. The draw will take place on October 1.

Be sure to wear your orange shirt throughout September to show your support. Please send any photos of your team in orange shirts to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net.

The second week of cultural events to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was underway at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. On Monday, staff had the opportunity to make hand drums, lead by Natalie Hache, Traditional Wellness Navigator, Anishnawbe Mushkiki. On Tuesday, staff came together to learn and connect through a Beading Lunch and Learn. Participants got to bead a beautiful orange shirt pin and had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation. 

Today, a Lunch and Learn was held to provide staff with the opportunity to learn from and engage with Residential School Survivor Peter Sackaney. Peter is a Survivor of St. Anne’s Residential School. Participants heard about Peter’s experience and gained a deeper understanding of the impact of Indian Residential Schools. Miigwetch Peter, for sharing your story with us! 

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Space still available – register today by emailing Gloria Ranger at gloria.ranger@tbh.net.

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St. Joesph’s Care Group invites all Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre staff to participate in a Kairos Blanket Exercise on September 25.

The Kairos Blanket Exercise uses Indigenous methodologies, with the goal of building an understanding about our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Kairos Blanket Exercise effectively educates and increases empathy Participants will walk through pre-contact, Treaty-making, colonization and resistance. Everyone is actively involved as they step onto blankets that represent the land, and into the role of First Nations, Inuit and later Métis peoples.

For more information, or to register, contact: Gloria Ranger: gloria.ranger@tbh.net.

The deadline to register is September 19.

Shared on behalf of Senior Leadership Team

If you know Peter, then you know he is not one to have a celebration where he is the focal point. While Peter does not want a celebration, we still wanted to find a way to acknowledge his dedication and work throughout his years at the Hospital and Health Research Institute.

Peter has provided guidance at all levels of both organizations and held many responsibilities within his portfolio over the years. Throughout his time here, no matter the changes and challenges, he always remains upbeat and positive through it all.

On behalf of our Senior Team, the Board and all of us, let’s thank Peter for his commitment and expertise provided throughout his time at TBRHSC and TBRHRI. His work has not gone unnoticed and we wish him well as he starts his new role at Confederation College.

Please take the opportunity to wish Peter well in the next few days or when you see him out and about!

The Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPS) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) proudly recognize an important milestone — the one-year anniversary of the Provincial Forensic Pathology Unit (PFPU) Mobile Team initiative for medicolegal autopsies from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Through this innovative partnership, we are able to continue to perform high-quality medicolegal autopsies in Thunder Bay when a PFPU-staffed Mobile Team is present. This local service is highly meaningful to families, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, partners and our staff. The interim initiative will remain in place as the OFPS continues to explore a more permanent solution.

Pictured (L-R)

• Jennifer Wintermans, Vice President, Quality and Corporate Affairs, TBRHSC
• Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), TBRHSC, and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
• Dr. Liza Boucher, Medical Manager/Forensic Pathologist, PFPU
• Georgia Carr, Manager of Laboratory Services, TBRHSC
• Maureen Currie, Autopsy Services Coordinator, PFPU
• Tenecia Baptiste-Carmichael, A/Executive Officer, OFPS
• Charles Engelen, A/Autopsy Services Coordinator, PFPU
• Bonita Anders, Sr. Manager, Quality, Information Management and Post Mortem Services, OFPS
• Deanna Hicklin, Quality and Safety Compliance Coordinator, Laboratory Services, TBRHSC

As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on the Strategic Plan 2026, Strategy and Performance is sharing updates in alignment with the identified priorities: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Patient Experience, Staff Experience and Research, Innovation, & Learning.

The September 11th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured an update on the Learning Culture and Professional Development and was presented by Amy Carr, Director, Human Resources & Organizational Development and Dawna Perry, Senior Director, Nursing, Academics & Practice Excellence.

Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.

Nancy Kruk, Administrative Assistant, has been with our organization since 2011 and with Patient & Family Centred Care since 2012. We connected with Nancy to find out more about her role.

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Tell us about your role.

While my role includes various clerical and administrative tasks such as organizing and scheduling meetings, drafting email communications to Directors, Managers and the Patient Family Advisory Council, my primary role is to support the Manager of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC), the PFCC team and our Patient Family Advisors (PFAs), in their efforts to enhance patient care within our organization.

A typical day entails following up on correspondence, organizing and scheduling meetings or working with various PFCC team members to plan or review current projects or upcoming events. It also includes collaborating with PFAs to review and update policies, processes or patient education materials, facilitating departmental requests for PFA participation on the various councils/committees throughout our Hospital, or being available to support the PFAs whenever they require direction.

My role is important because it supports our Patient Family Advisors in bringing the patient perspective to all aspects of Patient and Family Centred Care at our Hospital. My role exemplifies the core concept of Communication in that, as a liaison, I ensure that the necessary information and concerns, are shared between the PFCC team, the PFA Council and management. Working with our PFAs to develop or update education, policies, procedures and processes for Patient and Family Centred Care exemplifies the core concepts of Dignity/Respect, Participation and Collaboration. When you put all of this together, it supports the implementation of our Vision to bring exceptional care for every patient, every time.

What is your contact information?

I can be reached via email at tbrhsc.pfcc@tbh.net or by telephone at 807-684-7322.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Wintermans, VP, Quality & Corporate Affairs

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I am pleased to announce Katherine (Kati) Tuomi has accepted the position of Manager, Diagnostic Imaging & Diagnostic Administration that includes CT, Mammography, General & Interventional Radiology, MRI, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine & Clerical, effective September 9, 2024.

Kati has been serving as interim Manager of Diagnostic Imaging since July 1, 2024 and at that time was also designated the Radiation Safety Officer. In this manager role, Kati will provide leadership and oversight while creating an environment that fosters creativity, innovation and excellence in patient care, in addition to ensuring that all aspects of quality and safety are adhered to in the Diagnostic Imaging department.

Kati holds a Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Regina, as well as an advanced diploma in Nuclear Medicine from The Michener Institute for Applied Health Science and a Bachelor of Science in Medical Radiation Sciences from the University of Toronto. Kati has been with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre since November 2015 and held the positions of Charge Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Technologist and Registered Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Technologist. Through volunteer roles with the Ontario Association of Medical Radiation Sciences (OAMRS), Kati has actively contributed to the advancement of the medical radiation community and is a strong advocate for the Medical Radiation Technologist profession.

Please join me in congratulating Kati in her permanent leadership role within the organization.

Mike Sharma, Interim Director, Diagnostic Imaging will continue to support strategic and director oversight as we work towards finalizing a permanent structure within the portfolio and division of modalities. Further communication will be forthcoming once positions are finalized and the recruitment process is conducted for Diagnostic Imaging leadership.

Shared on behalf of Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience, Chief Nursing Executive & Regional Vice President, Regional Cancer Care and Jeannine Verdenik, Vice President, People & Culture

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We would like to announce that Volunteer Services will be realigned from the People and Culture Portfolio to the Patient and Family Care (PFCC) portfolio. We believe that having Volunteer Services as part of the PFCC portfolio will enhance the impact of our volunteer programs, patient family advisory program, and overall PFCC.

Key Benefits:

1. Collaborative Recruitment Efforts: By combining resources and strategies, we can more effectively reach equity-deserving groups, and expand our volunteer, Patient Family Advisor (PFA) and Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) base to better reflect our community and organizational program needs.
   
2. Improved Training and Development: All volunteers, including PFA and HELP would have access to the same standardized onboarding process and training as well as additional training depended on the stream or streams of volunteerism they are interested in.
   
3. Elimination of Redundancy: Integrating all volunteer streams will eliminate duplication of initiatives, making our departmental process more efficient and focused.
   
4. Enhanced Coordination: Better able to identify through a single recruitment and onboarding process the interests of potential volunteers so that new volunteers are aligned with projects and roles that are of interest to them including becoming a PFA or HELP volunteer.
   
5. Strengthened Patient and Family-Centred Care: Ensure that volunteer efforts are directly contributing to our goal of providing holistic, compassionate care.

Moving forward Megan Valente Coordinator Volunteer Services will report to Shannon Schiffer, Manager PFCC, Patient Experience, Engagement and Advocacy. The HELP program will remain with Cardiovascular Medicine & Renal Program; and Volunteer Services will continue to collaborate with the HELP Coordinator to identify and align volunteers with their program.

At this time the operation of Seasons Gift Shop reporting through the Volunteer Association will be remain with the VP People and Culture.