Shared on behalf Capital & Facilities and Occupational Health and Safety

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As many of you have noticed, wildfire smoke in the community has resulted in a noticeable smoke odor in some areas of the Hospital. We understand this may be concerning and want to provide an update on our indoor air quality monitoring.

The primary health concern associated with wildfire smoke is exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can affect respiratory health. To assess indoor air quality, particulate levels (PM2.5 and PM10) were measured throughout the Hospital.

The monitoring results show that both PM2.5 and PM10 levels remain within acceptable ranges, indicating that the concentration of airborne particles associated with wildfire smoke is low inside the facility.

These results demonstrate that the Hospital’s ventilation and filtration systems are effectively reducing airborne particulate matter from the outdoor wildfire smoke. While a smoke odor may still be noticeable indoors, this is likely due to gases and volatile compounds produced by the wildfire that can be detected by smell but are not measured by particulate monitoring equipment.

Although the presence of a smoke odor can be unpleasant, it does not necessarily indicate that harmful levels of smoke particles are present. Based on the monitoring completed, indoor particulate levels remain within acceptable limits, and the Hospital’s air handling systems continue to provide effective filtration.

Our Maintenance team is actively monitoring indoor air quality and testing areas throughout the Hospital on a daily basis to ensure ventilation and filtration systems continue to perform effectively. If you have concerns about the air quality in your work area, please submit a work order so that an assessment can be completed.

We will continue to monitor indoor air quality and outdoor wildfire conditions and will take additional measures if conditions change.

Please note that due to poor external air quality, the outdoor courtyards and terraces are closed until further notice. 

Thank you for your continued dedication to providing safe, high-quality care to our patients and community.

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

Self-referral can be made to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Physician, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Dietician, and Lactation Consultant.

To be seen by an Obstetrician, a referral is needed from your primary health care provider or midwife.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 136 babies born at our Hospital during the month of June Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre-info.

Check out the current posts for the Preceptor Thumbs Up HERE .

As part of our ongoing accreditation process, your feedback is important. Please take a few minutes to complete the Accreditation Feedback Survey and share your experiences, insights, and suggestions by clicking on the link or by scanning the QR code within the attachment.

Your input helps us identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. The survey is anonymous, and gift card entries will not be linked to your survey responses.

Shared on behalf of Ryan Sears, Director, Capital and Facility Services

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As we begin to encounter the effects of wildfire season in our region, it is important that we review and follow our indoor air quality monitoring processes and Code Grey – Air Exclusion policy. 

This wildfire season, Environment Canada has yet to issue a special air quality statement for the Thunder Bay area. However, smoke from active area fires has become noticeable. These fires put particles and gases into the air that can be harmful to human health. When this occurs, people may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Our Air Exclusion Policy aims to reduce this risk to the internal environment and mitigate or reduce these associated impacts. 

With Ontario’s legislated fire season running from April 1 to October 31 annually, Maintenance monitors internal air quality and will advise leadership accordingly should air quality degrade beyond acceptable thresholds. 

Please take a moment to complete the Recommended Actions below. 

Recommended Actions

• Review the Code Grey – Air Exclusion (Button Down) policy and associated refresher Safety Huddle (attached). Familiarize yourself with the policy and related procedures.
• Visit the Air Quality Health Index for information on how to reduce your health risk along with current and forecasted Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) values.

 Thank you, 

Ryan Sears
Director, Capital and Facility ServicesCode Grey – Air Exclusion Executive Sponsor

On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, volunteers from across our community gathered at Fort William Historical Park for the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards, an annual celebration recognizing the outstanding contributions and commitment of volunteers throughout Ontario.

The evening brought together volunteers representing a wide variety of organizations and sectors, all united by a shared commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the generosity, compassion, and community spirit that volunteers bring to our city each and every day.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre was proud to recognize nine exceptional volunteers who have reached significant service milestones with our organization. Their dedication has enriched the experiences of countless patients, families, visitors, and staff, and we are deeply grateful for the time, kindness, and expertise they continue to share.

This year’s recipients included:

• Marilyn Chisholm – 40 Years of Service
• Barb Rickards – 35 Years of Service
• Dorothy Martel – 35 Years of Service
• Sheila Meijer – 30 Years of Service
• Christine Hildebrand – 10 Years of Service
• Merrill Young and her therapy dog, Scarlett – 10 Years of Service

We were also proud to celebrate three outstanding youth volunteers who were recognized for their commitment to serving our Hospital and community:

• Dougie Newhouse
• Harrison Nelson
• Edelweiss Price

Whether they have volunteered for 10 years or an incredible 40 years, each recipient has made a lasting impact through their dedication, compassion, and willingness to serve others. Their contributions help create a welcoming, supportive environment for everyone who comes through our doors.Congratulations to all of our Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients, and thank you for the remarkable difference you make every day. We are honoured to celebrate your service and grateful to have you as part of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre family.

On July 10, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) welcomed a delegation of health care professionals from the Republic of Korea for an educational exchange focused on medical education and clinical training.

The visiting group included faculty members from Inha University College of Medicine, experts from the National Medical Center, and representatives from the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation. Their visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the innovative approaches to medical education, distributed learning, clinical training environments, simulation-based education, and learner support systems offered at TBRHSC.

The delegation toured several key clinical and educational areas, including the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab, the Physician Lounge, the ICU Regional Critical Care Response Program and Regional Paediatric Response Program. Throughout the visit, team members shared knowledge on how our programs support learners and health care professionals across Northwestern Ontario.

The visit highlights TBRHSC’s ongoing commitment to excellence in education and its role as a leader in training the next generation of health care professionals. International collaborations such as this foster the exchange of ideas, strengthen global partnerships, and contribute to continuous innovation in medical education and patient care.

We were pleased to host our colleagues from Korea and look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.

Starting the week of July 13, the first floor by Labour and Delivery will be getting painted (see map below). Painting will continue for multiple weeks.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff MacDonald, Facility Planning Assistant, Maintenance, at jeffrey.macdonald@tbh.net.