Lakehead University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law invite you to join us for a Book Launch and Signing with Dr. Chantelle Richmond on Thursday, January 9, 2025, 7:00pm to 9:00pm EST.
As part of the Patient Experience strategic priority in Strategic Plan 2026, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has begun the design and implementation of a co-design framework. This framework aims to foster a shared understanding of co-design among staff, patients, and families, ensuring it becomes a cornerstone of how we deliver care.
Over the past two years, tremendous effort has gone into defining what co-design means specifically for TBRHSC. A diverse committee of over 30 individuals—including frontline staff, physicians, administrative staff, and Patient Family Advisors (PFAs)—collaborated to craft a definition that reflects the values of our Hospital:
“Co-design is a collaborative partnership involving diverse groups of patients, families, allies, and hospital staff to improve quality, experience, and patient and family centred care. With trust, compassion, empathy, equity, and inclusivity at the heart of what we do, TBRHSC strives to create a welcoming environment where patients and families are full and equal partners in their care. This helps improve health services and involves listening and learning together.”
At its core, co-design embodies the value of collaboration of patient and family centred care, taking it to the next level by building meaningful partnerships.
Once the definition was finalized, the team developed a comprehensive framework to integrate co-design into the fabric of TBRHSC. This framework draws on Appreciative Inquiry and emphasizes person-centred communication principles, ensuring equity, relationship-building, and the inclusion of all voices. It establishes co-design as both a guiding philosophy and an actionable strategy for change.
The implementation of co-design spans two levels, macro- and micro-level co-design.
Macro-Level Co-Design: At the organizational level, co-design serves as a framework for large-scale projects and a change management tool. This structured approach ensures that initiatives across departments and programs are informed by the perspectives and insights of patients and families, creating a shared vision for improvement. The development of the macro-level framework has been completed, providing the foundation for this work.
Micro-Level Co-Design: At the bedside, co-design is about empowering patients to actively co-create their care. This involves applying person-centred communication principles to establish trust, foster mutual understanding, and ensure that care decisions reflect the unique needs and preferences of each patient. The micro-level work is now underway, focusing on embedding co-design into everyday interactions between staff, patients, and families.
By integrating co-design at both the macro and micro levels, TBRHSC is creating a culture where patients and families are truly equal partners in care. Together, we are making strides toward achieving the vision outlined in Strategic Plan 2026 and transforming the patient experience through collaboration, innovation, and trust.
The flooring in the corridors outside of Elevator-01 (along the terrace) and into SLC will be replaced starting on Monday, December 23 until Tuesday, December 31 (no work on Christmas and Boxing Days). To accommodate this work, travel through these areas will not be permissible until the work is complete.
Please see the attached for an alternate access route to SLC. Please note that access to and from Elevator-01 and Stair-A at the 3rd level is not possible during the work.
For access to SLC, please use the hallway around the back of the Auditorium. Signage will be posted to help with wayfinding, as well as inside Elev-01 and Stair-A. Access to SLC from the East Entrance can be via the Grand Staircase or the main lobby elevator (ELEV-04) adjacent to the Grand Staircase.
If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Judge in Capital Planning at kristi.judge@tbh.net or 807-684-7031.
Thank you to those continue to participate in the Holiday Cheer Week activities.
Below are today’s prize winners:
• Thomas Bulenga
• Alexis Berry
• Tessa Hargreaves
• Margaret Aijo
• Michael Conrad
• Grace Jewett
• John Sibi Thuniyampral
• Dana Monty
• Saird Ezack
• Maria Yabar
• Tammy Mechis ( $50 Cheese Encounters Gift Card)
• Laure Norris ( $50 Fresh Air Gift Card)
• Samantha Spenrath ( $50 Serenity Salon & Spa Gift Card)
• Kayla Nahkala ( $50 Gear Up Gift Card)
• 3A Surgical Inpatient Unit ( $50 Fresh Air Gift Card)
• Pacemaker Clinic/Holter Monitoring Lab ( $50 Cheese Encounter Gift Card)
For more information on how to participate, please use this link for reference.
Remember, every entry counts! Submit your photos, participate in trivia, and spread the holiday spirit for a chance to be featured as one of our winners. Additional winners will be announced daily so keep participating and celebrating the holiday season.
On December 11th, the Hard Core Troubadours brought the music of Steve Earle to life for Oyster Night at Goods and Co. A portion of the evening’s proceeds were donated to the Northern Cancer Fund, and thanks to the generosity of those who attended, $170 was raised for better cancer care in Northwestern Ontario.
A big thank you to the Hard Core Troubadours for supporting this important cause!
Shared on behalf of Phil Thompson, Director, Support Services
Canada Post will restart operations today, Tuesday, December 17th, and begin the process of safely ramping up and stabilizing operations across the country.
Canada Post will start by working through the mail and parcels trapped in the system since the strike began on November 15th. New commercial volumes will not be accepted into the network until Thursday, December 19th. This means they will not pick up or accept mail or parcels at their plants or depots for the first 48 hours.
As new volumes are accepted, mail and parcels will be secured and delivered on a first-in, first-out basis. Customers should expect delivery delays through the remainder of 2024 and into January 2025.
TBRHSC Mail Room has resumed picking up Canada Post mail. However, with backlog and volume there may be delays. Please continue to use our courier or Purolator for any urgent items over the next few weeks.
Urgent items may be brought to Shipping/Receiving to be shipped Purolator via our standard process, or by using our courier who will deliver any local mail that requires delivery within a 2-3 day delivery window.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Jennifer Svane, Jennifer.svane@tbh.net ext. 6202
Today’s Holiday Cheer Week Winners!
Thank you to those who participated in the second day of this year’s Holiday Cheer Week activities! Your enthusiasm and participation made the celebrations truly magical.
We are thrilled to announce today’s prize winners:
Grocery Draw Winners ($100 President’s Choice Gift Card)
Trivia Winners
Best Holiday Attire Winners
Showcase Your Holiday Decorations Winners
Keep the Holiday Cheer Alive and Participate Until December 19th!
For more information on how to participate, please use this link for reference.
Don’t wait—every entry counts! Submit your photos, participate in trivia, and spread the holiday spirit for a chance to be featured as one of our winners.
Additional winners will be announced daily so keep participating and celebrating with us. Let’s make this Holiday Cheer Week one to remember!
Sent on behalf of Dr. Miranda Lesperance, Vice President, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion
Effective December 16, 2024, the Indigenous Health Information page has been transferred and is now located under the Departments section with the new title: Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion.
This update reflects our ongoing commitment to enhance collaboration and awareness around Indigenous health and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion within our organization.
Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the updated information and contact sheets throughout the page including:
We encourage you to explore these sections and make use of the valuable resources provided. Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you to those who participated in the first day of this year’s Holiday Cheer Week activities! Your enthusiasm and participation made the celebrations truly magical.
We are thrilled to announce today’s prize winners:
Grocery Draw Winners ($100 President’s Choice Gift Card)
· Obediah Major
· Joel Lucas
· Dmitry Grebtsov
· Adrian McKee
· Sophie Barber
· Mouna Zakkak
· Nicole Rabachuk
· Rina Pratola
· Shannon Mancuso
· Katelyn Young
Trivia Winners
· Raymond Janeljins ($50 Cheese Encounter Gift Card)
· Anne-Marie Hutton ($50 Fresh Air Gift Card)
Best Holiday Attire Winners
· Hannah Church ($50 Cheese Encounter Gift Card)
· Marnie Defeo ($50 Gear Up Gift Card)
Showcase Your Holiday Decorations Winners
· Ashley Dell ($50 Fresh Air Gift Card)
· Laura MacMillian ($50 Serenity Salon & Spa Gift Card)
Keep the Holiday Cheer Alive and Participate Until December 19! For more information on how to participate, click here!
Don’t wait—every entry counts! Submit your photos, participate in trivia, and spread the holiday spirit for a chance to be featured as one of our winners.
Additional winners will be announced daily so keep participating and celebrating with us. Let’s make this Holiday Cheer Week one to remember!
New linear accelerator will connect more people to life-saving care in the northwest
The Ontario government has invested up to $9.3 million to support the expansion of Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre’s cancer care services, connecting more people in Northwestern Ontario to life-saving radiation therapy, closer to home.
Through this investment, approximately 3,100 sq ft of hospital space has been renovated to house a new Positron Emission Tomography-Computerized Tomograph (PET-CT) scanner used in diagnostics and the expansion of the linear accelerator (LINAC) service from two to three units, allowing for additional patient capacity.
“Our government is continuing to make record investments in health care to connect more Ontarians to convenient care options, close to home,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This expanded radiation therapy in Thunder Bay will allow even more people across Northwestern Ontario to access state-of-the-art cancer care closer to home, when they need it most.”
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is one of 14 regional cancer centres in Ontario that provide a range of advanced services to screen, diagnose, and treat cancers.
“I’m proud to see our government’s continued commitment to improving health care in Northern Ontario through this significant investment at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre,” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan. “The addition of the new PET-CT scanner and expanded linear accelerator service means that patients in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario can now access critical cancer care services closer to home. This investment is a game changer for families in our region, allowing more people to receive life-saving treatment more quickly and conveniently.”
Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is helping connect more Ontarians to convenient care, closer to home, for years to come.
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