Cruising for a Cure – Jeep Raffle officially launches September 26, 2025! This one-of-a-kind 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition in Tuscadero Pearl (pink), valued at over $160,000 was generously donated by Lakehead Motors in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every ticket sold supports the Northern Cancer Fund, with 100% of proceeds staying right here in Northwestern Ontario. Tickets start at $25—grab yours at www.cruisingforacure.ca.
Shared on behalf of Blake Rathje – Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Distribution
On September 25, 2025, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) launched a national strike following the announcement from the government on Canada Post’s transformation plan. Effective immediately, the Mail Room will cease mail delivery to Canada Post. Mail can still be delivered using the following options:
If mail was picked up from your department today, Friday September 26, 2025, it will be held in the Mail Room until Canada Post resumes service. If you had urgent mail in this pick up, please come to the Mail Room to retrieve it or to discuss the alternate solutions as mentioned above.
Canada Post will not process or deliver mail and parcels for the duration of the national strike, and some post offices will be closed. Service guarantees are suspended for items already in the postal network. Canada Post has notified customers that their scheduled pickups have been cancelled. No new items will be accepted until the national disruption is over.
All mail and parcels in the postal network will be secured and delivered as quickly as possible once operations resume. However, a national strike of any length will impact service to Canadians well after the strike activity ends. Processing and delivery may take some time to fully return to normal.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact myself or Jennifer Svane at Jennifer.svane@tbh.net ext. 6202.
Today, we celebrate the heart of our Hospital’s mission — our Human Resources (HR) team.
Behind every patient and family we serve and every team member we support, there is the dedication and expertise of our HR professionals. From recruitment and onboarding to employee wellness, benefits, training, and conflict resolution, the HR team plays a vital role in ensuring our Hospital remains a place of compassion, excellence, and collaboration.
Human Resource Professional Day, observed this year on September 26, is a moment to recognize the often behind-the-scenes efforts of those who keep our organization thriving. HR professionals are not only stewards of policy and process — they are champions of people, helping to shape a workplace culture that is positive, inclusive, and resilient.
To our HR team: Thank you for your unwavering dedication, your ability to navigate complex challenges with grace, and your steadfast support of every employee at our Hospital. Your work is seen, valued, and deeply appreciated.
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.
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.
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.
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’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:
To learn more about L’Accueil francophone’s services, please see the brochure here (available in French and English).
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 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
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
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.
