Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour.

As we turn the calendar to December, and as you well know, we are entering the high-risk respiratory season. In Northwestern Ontario, this doesn’t just mean busier; it means managing complex care across vast distances for patients who rely entirely on us. You face challenges your colleagues at other hospitals across southern Ontario can’t even imagine.

So, I want to start by acknowledging the weight of that responsibility. I see the work you are doing, and I value the resilience you show every day. I know it’s not nearly enough and I apologize for that. Yet, for now, as we head into December, please know that the Senior Leadership Team and I see your hard work and we thank you for it yet again. I simply don’t feel we can thank you enough for going above and beyond the call, day in – day out.

Because we know the demands on you are high, our leadership focus this month has been on two things: reinforcements and resources.

Firstly, we know our greatest strength is our people, and we know you need support. That is why we aggressively pursued initiatives to bring new, skilled professionals into our teams this month, including:

• Hosting the Open Doors Career Showcase to introduce prospective new employees to a career path in health.

• Hosting the 5th annual Indigenous Career Experience (Kinomagai Akosii-agamong Anokiiwin), engaging 60 potential new future health care leaders.

• Welcoming 44 Grade 9 students for Take Our Kids to Work Day to spark interest in health care careers.

Secondly, we are also incredibly grateful to our generous donors as announced new funding from the Health Sciences Foundation. This isn’t just money; it is the capital we need to buy the innovative tools and technology that make your jobs easier and keep care closer to home for our patients. Our donors across Northwestern Ontario are the true ongoing heroes in this story.

We also saw the results of your excellence in action. Our Renal Network was recognized by Ontario Health for significant improvements to the North West Regional Renal Program. This award belongs to the front-line staff and physicians who did the heavy lifting. Congratulations.

As we head into Tuesday, which is Giving Tuesday, I hope we can carry this spirit of partnership and giving forward. But my primary ask of you this month is simple: Look after one another. We are heading into a busy season. We are a team. Check in on your colleagues and see how they’re doing. Thank you for showing up for our community, and for each other.

As always, I welcome your feedback about this blog or anything else on your mind. You can reach me at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I appreciate hearing from you.

Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical and Academic Affair

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I am pleased to announce that Dr. Joel Warkentin has been appointed as the Medical Lead, Pediatric Oncology at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre effective April 1, 2025.

In this role, Dr. Warkentin will provide expert clinical oversight and strategic leadership for the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) Satellite Clinic. Working closely with the Medical Program Director, Women and Children’s Program, and the provincial POGO network, he will ensure that pediatric cancer care delivered in Thunder Bay is equivalent in standard and outcome to tertiary childhood cancer programs across Ontario. Dr Warkentin’s expertise and leadership will allow our pediatric oncology patients to participate in clinical research and clinical trials, advancing our research mandate.

Dr. Warkentin brings a strong commitment to pediatric and family-centred care, excellence in clinical practice, and a collaborative leadership approach. His experience and vision will play a pivotal role in strengthening the delivery of pediatric oncology services and advancing the Hospital’s mission of providing safe, high-quality care for children and families in our region.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Joel Warkentin on his appointment and in offering your support as he takes on this important leadership role.

Congratulations to December’s Patient and Family Centered Care Shout Out Winner, Sarah Benincasa.

New to the organization, Sarah has worked as an RPN on 3A for the last year, consistently going above and beyond and moving mountains. She demonstrates compassion, and collaboration while including the patient and their families in the decisions and care.  She creates care plans that prioritize the patient’s unique needs while demonstrating respect for their dignity. Sarah always thinks outside the box and puts her patients at the center of her care. 

Sarah is an asset to the team and organization and deserves to be recognized for her genuine efforts!

Keep up the great work!

On November 27, Canadians celebrate National Physician Assistant Day, which recognizes the Physician Assistant (PA) profession and its contributions to health care in Canada. Working alongside physicians and other health professionals, PAs are having a positive impact on many aspects of health care including decreasing emergency room wait times, increasing access to primary care, and helping in acute inpatient medical and surgical settings. 

Join us in celebrating these health care heroes today. Learn more about the profession by visiting the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants ( @capa.acam ) website at https://capa-acam.ca/.

This month’s Town Hall took place on Wednesday, November 26 via Microsoft Teams. See below for a video recording of the session and a copy of the presentation slides.

If you have questions you would like answered, please send them to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net and we will do our best to address them at a future Town Hall.

If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Town Hall, visit the archive.

Thank you for your commitment to staying informed and engaged.

Reflections From the Front Lines provides our health care professionals with an opportunity to share stories and experiences about their role in providing exceptional care for every patient, every time.

We feature these each month during our Town Hall — a virtual venue designed to keep staff, professional staff, volunteers and leaners informed about what’s happening at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

Check out our previous episodes below (or on the Hospital’s YouTube channel), and be sure to tune in to future Town Halls for more stories.

Over 60 students from school boards across Thunder Bay were on-site at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to explore many different health care career and volunteer options.

In its fifth year, the Indigenous Career Experience is dedicated to inspiring Indigenous youth by providing essential insights into diverse health care career opportunities and by building relationships with TBRHSC. A significant aspect of the program is connecting with high school students before they make final decisions about post-secondary education. Through hands-on learning experiences, it ignites their enthusiasm for pursuing a future in health care. Additionally, the initiative supports the recruitment of Indigenous professionals within the health care sector.

A special part of this year’s event was the naming of the program with a traditional Spirit Name. Elder Aaron Therriault gifted the name ‘Kinomagai Akosii-agamong Anokiiwin’, which translates to ‘teaching hospital, career or work’. The name represents the work that our Hospital does, as it is a place for teaching and learning.

Students experienced a day filled with tours, presentations, and hands-on activities designed to provide them with an authentic feel of various health care roles. Students have the opportunity to interact with managers and staff, ask questions, and learn about the educational pathways required for various positions.

“It was a fun day. I think the hands-on activities were the best part. Using surgical tools in the operating room was super cool. I also really enjoyed learning about Indigenous traditions like drumming and smudging, which I don’t get to do often,” said a grade 10 student from Hammarskjold High School. “The ‘Amazing Race’ activity was really fun and interactive. I appreciated how the staff explained everything and answered our questions.”

The departments that participated, the Operating Room, Medical Device Reprocessing Department, Nutrition and Food Services, Maintenance, Miskwaa Biidaaban, Interprofessional Education, and Volunteer Services played a vital role in making this day a valuable and fun learning experience for the students.

“It was such a pleasure to run our Amazing Race Workshop with students from all grades and schools across Thunder Bay,” said Holly Freill, Interprofessional Educator. “Everyone jumped in with enthusiasm, making it a fun day filled with challenge, teamwork, and lots of laughter,” added Jennifer Gadioma, Interprofessional Educator.

Human Resources would like to say thank you to Elder Aaron, the planning committee, participating departments, and our Senior Leadership Council for your time, your knowledge, and your enthusiasm. The dedication to educating and inspiring the next generation of health care professionals is truly appreciated. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and inspire more young minds.

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When it comes to a project as large as the Cardiovascular Surgery Program, it truly takes a village—from the construction, safety, and communication teams, to those responsible for operational readiness and clinical integration, to other partners including the provincial government and donors to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, providing essential financial support. Below is a closer look at the dedicated team members and partners currently bringing the capital portion of this project to life. 

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Building the Future of Cardiovascular Care at TBRHSC: A True Team Effort

TBRHSC Cardiovascular Surgery Program Construction Project Management Team

Northwestern Ontario has the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the province. Patients often have to travel long distances for specialized cardiac care, which can create logistical, financial, emotional and health challenges. To address this, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) prioritized bringing cardiovascular care closer to home for the people of Northwestern Ontario through a collaborative “Two Sites, One Program” model with University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

Starting in 2013, the organizations collaborated on a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing patient care and advancing regional clinical outcomes in cardiovascular health. The first phase of the plan focused on the development and implementation of the vascular surgery program; the second phase consisted of developing a comprehensive Cardiovascular Surgery program, expanding services significantly. And with the expanded services comes the requirement for more space, which requires a multi-stage approval process set out by the provincial government.

By 2015, internal planning was well underway, and the pre-capital submission was sent to the Ministry of Health. Over the next several years, the project moved through several important planning stages—including the Functional Program, Detailed Planning and Design, and development of Construction Documents.

Then in June 2024, the project reached a major milestone: approval from the Ministry of Health to tender construction. A construction contract was awarded in December 2024, officially kicking off the next phase of bringing cardiovascular surgery closer to home.

And what started more than a decade ago as an exciting clinical vision for TBRHSC is now becoming a reality, with construction well underway on 76,000 square feet of new and renovated clinical and support spaces for the new Cardiovascular Surgery program.

Behind the bricks and mortar of this project is a dedicated group of professionals working together to bring the expansion to life. The Construction Project Management team involves a wide range of expertise, from clinical safety and communications to design, procurement, and finance—all working in harmony to ensure the project meets the highest standards.

It truly takes a village to bring a project of this scale to life—from coordinating construction to ensuring safety, communication, operational readiness, and clinical integration. Here’s a look at the dedicated team members and partners driving the capital project forward:

TBRHSC Cardiovascular Surgery Program Construction Project Management Team

• Ryan Sears, Project Director Provides overall leadership and oversight, including managing time, budget, quality, internal coordination, risk, and communication.
• Aaron Bruno, Project Planner Leads construction review, consultant coordination, project planning, and scheduling. Oversees change orders, quality assurance, financial reviews, and communication.
• Daniel Sedano, Project Coordinator Keeps a close eye on daily construction activities, ensuring quality and spec compliance. Coordinates departments, schedules, and consultant inputs.
• Clayton MacDonald, Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Reviews safety plans and ensures the site meets health and safety standards.
• Stephanie Erickson, Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) Ensures infection control protocols are integrated into every stage of the construction process.
• Raiili Pellizzari, Communications Leads all project-related communications—keeping internal teams and the community informed and engaged.
• Darin Pretto, Maintenance Coordinates construction activities within the existing facility, including system shutdowns and tie-ins.
• William White, Procurement Leads procurement of all hospital Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) for the expansion.
• Ted Wyant, Finance Oversees Hospital financial planning and coordination with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation and Ministry of Health.

External Partners & Consultants

• BTY Consulting Group Supports with project administration, construction reviews, consultant coordination, and FF&E management.
• FORM Architecture, Parkin Architects, HH Angus & Associates Manages the construction contract, issue formal documents (like change orders), respond to contractor questions, and certify progress payments.
• CES Engineering Acts as the Commissioning Agent—ensuring building systems (like HVAC and electrical) are installed and functioning exactly as designed.
• Tom Jones Corporation The General Contractor, managing construction and sub-trades, oversees the entirety of the construction project and brings the detailed Construction Documents to life.

As construction progresses, this collaborative team remains committed to creating a facility that reflects the high standard of care TBRHSC is known for. When completed, the new cardiovascular space will not only enhance local care options but also reduce the need for patients to travel for specialized treatment.

“This project has always been about delivering better care, closer to home,” said Ryan Sears, Project Director. “Patients and families in our region face the emotional and physical burden of traveling over 1,300 kilometers by air to receive cardiac care. That’s not just a journey—it’s a separation from their family or support networks and sometimes, even a barrier to treatment.

“Care closer to home means more than convenience in a difficult time. It means safety and the peace of mind that comes from knowing expert care is just down the road. It means families can stay together during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

“To me, this project is not just steel and concrete. It is a promise that the people of our community matter, their health matters, and that they shouldn’t have to leave home to get the care they deserve,” concludes Sears.

Do you know someone in our organization who consistently demonstrates exceptional Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC)?

Someone who takes the time to truly listen, who includes patients and families in care decisions, and who ensures everyone feels respected, safe, and valued?We want to hear about them!

Each month, the PFCC team is accepting “PFCC Shout Outs”. This is a way to recognize staff across all departments who go the extra mile to make the patient and family experience better. Whether it’s a small gesture of kindness, a meaningful conversation, or an example of true collaboration and compassion, we want to celebrate those moments.

What does a PFCC Shout Out look like?

• A nurse who takes time to explain care options in a way the patient understands
• A porter who makes a patient feel comfortable and less anxious during a transfer
• A unit clerk who warmly greets families and helps them navigate the hospital
• A physician who ensures the family is included in rounds and decisions
• Any team member who prioritizes dignity, respect, and collaboration

How to nominate someone:
Anyone, staff, patients, families, or volunteers, can nominate a staff member by sending a quick email to TBRHSC.PFCC@tbh.net. Please include the staff member’s name, department, and a brief description of what they did that deserves recognition.

Monthly winners will receive a small prize, have their photo featured on the PFCC intranet page, and be highlighted in Daily Informed newsletter.

Let’s celebrate the people who make this a truly patient and family-centred organization. Start shouting out today!