Spending quality time with family members and friends plays an important role in our lives and can help us maintain our wellbeing and stay positive. Life can be busy and full of other commitments, but reconnecting with family and friends can help us to reconnect with ourselves, our culture, and reflect on what matters most in life.
As part of the contest hosted by Prevention and Screening Clinical Services, staff were asked to submit a photo and share the fun activities they did with their family and/or friends during the March Break. Our staff kept busy by skiing and snowboarding, going for a walk with a pet, snowshoeing, ice fishing, DIY pottery, and many more activities! Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo.
Congratulations to the winner of the March Break Photo Contest, Alex Thibodeau! As the winner of the draw, Alex and her family have won a family prize pack with donations from Vanderwees, the Canada Games Complex and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer diagnosed in Ontario. It is also the third most common cause of cancer death among Ontario men and women.
With these statistics in mind, have you ever wondered how your lifestyle affects your risk of colon cancer?
There are certain factors, like age and family history, which can increase our risk for developing colon cancer. These are referred to as non-modifiable risk factors, as they cannot be changed. The good news is that there are some risk factors that we can control – the modifiable risk factors.
Kelly-Jo Gillis, Manager of Preventive Health Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, shared eight modifiable lifestyle tips to help reduce our risk of developing colon cancer.
Be a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is essential to good overall health and may be one of the most important ways to protect yourself from cancer throughout your life.
Get active
Being physically active in every day life can help decrease your risk of colon cancer. According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity each week. Any amount of activity can make a difference; you can start small and increase your amount of activity each day.
Eat your fruits, vegetables and whole grains
Evidence has shown that eating foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains play a role in preventing cancer because these foods are high in fibre and essential nutrients. By following recommendations from Canada’s Food Guide, this will ensure that you are eating the appropriate amount of plant-based foods each day.
Skip the junk food
Fast foods and other processed foods are typically high in fats, starches and sugars. Although they can be more convenient, fast food and other common processed foods such as chocolate bars, chips, cookies, sugary cereals and fried foods should be consumed in moderation. Instead, fuel up on non- or minimally processed foods; you will feel better eating nutritious foods.
Limit consumption of red meat and processed meat
There is evidence that eating red or processed meats increases your risk of colon cancer. Eat little, if any processed meat (deli meat, hot dogs, sausages, etc.) and limit the amount of red meat you consume (beef, pork, lamb, etc.).
Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks
Reducing the number of sports drinks, pop, fruit juice, and other sugary beverages can help to decrease your risk of colon cancer. Make water your drink of choice.
Limit your alcohol consumption
When it comes to cancer prevention, there is no safe amount of alcohol. However, if you do decide to drink alcohol, limit your consumption to one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.
Live smoke-free
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your overall health and to reduce your risk of cancer. Tobacco use is not only linked to lung cancer, but many other types of cancer including colon. It’s never too late to benefit from becoming smoke-free.
March is colon cancer awareness month. Learn more about your personal risk for colon cancer and how you can prevent colon cancer by visiting www.mycanceriq.ca
Since last year, the cyclotron at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) has been providing a reliable supply of isotopes used for patient care.
A cyclotron is a machine used to make short-lived radioactive isotopes that can be used for medical imaging to scan clinical oncology patients, as well as for research. These isotopes attach to an injectable sugar substance (radiotracers) and are used to detect the presence and location of cancer cells in the body. A PET (positron emission tomography) scan is used to help diagnose cancer in a way that is effective and safe for the patient.
TBRHSC has been using isotopes for diagnostic imaging since 2008 but prior to producing our own these isotopes were sourced from a vendor in Hamilton, Ontario. Using an out of region vendor often resulted in flight delays or cancellations due to weather or transportation factors, thereby creating a delay in patient care due to scans being canceled.
“During the startup phase of the cyclotron, isotopes were coming from a southern Ontario supplier for a month-long period to ensure everything was running smoothly. During this time, there were two events where the supply from southern Ontario did not arrive,” explains Peter Myllymaa, Executive Vice President, Corporate Services and Operations at TBRHSC and Chief Operating Officer, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI). “However, with our own supply, the Hospital was able to provide the diagnostic service to the patients who needed them. Prior to producing isotopes locally, these patient procedures would have been cancelled and rescheduled.”
Cyclotron, Isotopes and Patient Impact
Having a local cyclotron provides many benefits to patients in our community and region who receive care at TBRHSC. Producing isotopes in Thunder Bay for patient use means:
Improved availability of isotopes for use in imaging at our Hospital (e.g., cancer diagnosis) to enable faster treatment planning.
Critical infrastructure to enable our researchers to work on new discoveries, and uses for the isotope radiotracers.
Expand and grow our imaging uses to improve prevention, early diagnosis and management of cancers.
Allow our researchers to connect and collaborate with other researchers and networks to further enable scientific discoveries in diagnostic imaging with implications for patient care.
“One of the biggest benefits that we are seeing in producing our own isotopes is the number of patients we can treat,” said Sandra Willson, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging at TBRHSC. “When we were outsourcing isotopes, we could see a maximum of five patients per day, and that is if they arrived here without any delays. That number has grown to nine – almost double. This means less cancellations, less rescheduled appointments, and a faster diagnostic time, which means treatment planning can begin sooner. This is especially important, not only for patients in Thunder Bay, but those travelling from across Northwestern Ontario for their appointments.”
Apart from patient care, isotopes from the cyclotron can also be used for research.
“In addition to the F-18 isotopes that we are producing for patient use, there are isotopes we produce that are being used for research projects for TBRHRI and Lakehead University,” said Agha Hasan, Director of Cyclotron Operations at TBRHSC. One interesting project underway is being led by Dr. Jinqiang Hou, Research Chair at TBRHRI and Lakehead University, related to radiochemistry including radio-tracer and drug discovery for targeted cancer diagnostics using PET.
“The cyclotron brings a unique opportunity to our Hospital and Health Research Institute”, said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of TBRHRI. “It gives us the ability to be more responsive to the needs of our oncology program and support health research that puts the patient first. No longer will a patient arrive in Thunder Bay having travelled from a remote community in the region to learn that the plane carrying the isotopes did not make the trip and they should go home and re-schedule the appointment. They will be treated with locally produced isotopes that will guarantee the care when and where they need it. Bringing this technology to Thunder Bay would not have been possible without the support of our partners in government, and the generosity of donors who continue to make exceptional cancer care possible here at our Hospital.”
Wade Durham from Thunder Bay was the lucky winner of the March Thunder Bay 50/50 Grand Prize draw, bringing home a whopping $731,215.
“This is crazy!,” Wade said when he received the phone call notifying him about his winnings, “I’ve been buying tickets since almost the beginning, and at the end of every month I tell my wife ‘ Today’s the day!’ Then obviously it’s come and gone… I can actually call her now and tell her it’s actually the day.”
Wade says he and his wife Sarah will use part of their winnings to pay some bills and save for schooling for their young kids.
The Thunder Bay 50/50 is a monthly draw in which proceeds go towards purchasing vital equipment and making upgrades at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and its satellite programs across Northwestern Ontario.
“It’s always so exciting for me to make that phone call the last Friday of each month,” says Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “I love hearing the shock and excitement on the other end of the line, and it’s a win-win: we’ve given away millions, but we’ve also been able to purchase millions of dollars of equipment for our Hospital.”
April Draw Now Open
Tickets for the April 2022 jackpot are now are available online only at www.thunderbay5050.ca. All proceeds from the April draw will help fund improvements and upgrades in the cancer centre at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
$10 for 5 numbers
$20 for 30 numbers
$50 for 150 numbers
$75 for 300 numbers (Best Value)
** Tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 28, 2022 to be eligible for the Grand Prize draw on Friday, April 29, at 11:00 a.m.
Questions about the draw can be sent to info@thunderbay5050.ca. Ticket purchasers must be present in Ontario to purchase and 18 years old or older. The Thunder Bay 50/50 continues each month with the Grand Prize drawn on the last Friday of the month.
Photo Caption – Wade Durham is the winner of the March 2022 Thunder Bay 50/50 jackpot.
Video Caption – Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation contacts Wade Durham, letting them know they won the March Thunder Bay 50/50 Jackpot.
Shared on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Christopher Mushquash has accepted the position of Vice President (VP), Research and Chief Scientist effective March 15, 2022.
In this position, Dr. Mushquash will have dual reporting to both the President & CEO of TBRHSC and the CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI). The VP, Research and Chief Scientist is a member of the Senior Leadership Council (SLC) of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and provides leadership, oversight and strategic direction to a diverse portfolio of health professionals and scientists in the area of research and development. This role also provides scientific research leadership and strategic direction for TBRHSC and TBRHRI, as well as scientific advice and expertise to SLC, the TBRHRI Executive Management Team, the Boards and other scientific committees. Dr. Mushquash will champion scientific direction at conception and through implementation of a strategic plan based on those directions, the recruitment and retention of scientific staff, and for the overall success of the research agenda.
Dr. Mushquash is a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction. His primary academic affiliation is as Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University. He is the Director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Lakehead University. He also holds an appointment in the Division of Human Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. He has served as the Interim Executive VP Research at TBRHSC and Chief Scientist at TBRHRI since November 2021. In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Mushquash is a Registered Clinical Psychologist providing assessment, intervention, and consultation services for First Nations children, adolescents, and adults at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.
In 2017, Dr. Mushquash was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. He is currently the vice-chair of the Institute Advisory Board for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health.
Dr. Mushquash is Ojibway and a member of Pays Plat First Nation. He is an Indigenous scholar who was born and raised in rural Northwestern Ontario.
Dr. Mushquash’s esteemed educational background includes earning his Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) from Dalhousie University, a Pre-Doctoral Residency (Clinical Health Psychology) from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Arts (Experimental Psychology) and an Honours Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from Lakehead University.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Mushquash on his appointment.
The 10th Annual respect. Awards, recognizing individuals, businesses, and organizations in the community that have demonstrated leadership in enhancing diversity, inclusion, equity and respect for others were awarded on February 23, 2022.
The Awards were established by the Respect Initiative Working Group and are sponsored by Diversity Thunder Bay. Two recipients will receive awards this year, including an individual and one for an organization or business.
The respect. Initiative is a joint initiative of the Anti-Racism & Respect Advisory Committee and Community Safety & Well-Being Thunder Bay.
Congratulations to the 2022 respect. award winners, Barbara Cooper and Elevate NWO.
Barbara Cooper, who works in Health Records at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre was nominated for her caring and compassionate approach to her work. She recognizes the importance of human dignity and exemplifies respect in her interactions with co-workers and clients.
Elevate NWO was recognized as it staged an intervention to support individuals who were sleeping unsheltered in local encampments. Finding appropriate housing and supports, the group’s approach prioritized compassion, dignity and respect. Individuals involved in the program are being supported to work as house leaders in the housing units, and as community support workers at Elevate’s warming centre. The program participants are gaining valuable employment skills that will help them secure permanent housing.
IT has launched a new GroupWise Web client for our end users. This new software, named “GroupWise Web” shows the new ‘look and feel’ of what the GroupWise web client will eventually look like.
Although it does not yet have all the same feature parity as GroupWise WebAccess, the vendor is continually updating the software to bring more features to this new web client, which will be applied to our environment once software updates are released.
Please note that Stores and the Print Shop will be closed for year-end inventory counts as of 1:00 pm Friday, March 25th.
Access to Stores will ONLY be available in emergency situations. Please place any orders for stock items prior to Thursday, March 24th. Orders placed on Thursday, March 25th may not be delivered until Monday, March 28th.
For more information, please contact Phil Thompson, Regional Manager, Distribution and Data Management at thompsph@tbh.net.
The City of Thunder Bay is seeking input to help shape the future of Indigenous Relations in Thunder Bay. Members of the Indigenous community, community partners, service providers, and the general public are asked to get involved as the City plans its way forward.
Community input will be used to help prioritize areas of action such as more Indigenous spaces in the City, increased awareness of Indigenous culture, more responsive City services, additional community supports, and a focus on anti-racism education, in addition to other projects. Feedback from the community will help to set the direction for annual action plans focused on the areas identified in the seven year Indigenous Relations Strategy.
“It takes a community to change a community,” said Tanis Thompson, Manager of Indigenous Relations. “It’s important that public aspirations and concerns are directly reflected in our action plans. This is an opportunity for all voices to be heard as we collectively implement change and build a respectful and inclusive City for everyone “Maamawe” – All Together.”
Until April 17, citizens can get involved by completing an online survey or filling out the survey at various community locations. All surveys will be entered into a draw to win an iPad. Survey pick up & drop off locations include:
City Hall Lobby
All Branches of the Thunder Bay Public Library
Anishnawbe Mushkiki, Community Health & Wellness Aboriginal Access Centre – 1260 Golf Links Road, 3rd Floor
An online idea board also requests comments on what living in a more inclusive city looks like, and community partners are invited to register for upcoming virtual engagement sessions this May. Sessions will discuss the commitments in the Indigenous Relations Strategy and how collectively they can be implemented in Thunder Bay.
The vision of the Indigenous Relation Strategy is to enhance relationships with Indigenous partners and communities, while advancing Indigenous Peoples’ inclusion in Thunder Bay through opportunities and growth. Actions of the Indigenous Relations Office are guided by the City of Thunder Bay Anishinaabe Elders Council and local Indigenous community partners.
