What is Ramadan?

Each year, Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, one of the holiest months of the Muslim calendar. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin on February 17 and conclude on March 19, with possible variation of dates based on the lunar calendar.

During the month of Ramadan, which commemorates the revelation of the Qu’ran, Muslims engage in practices such as fasting, reflection, spiritual devotion, and charity.  

How to support patients during Ramadan

During Ramadan, fasting takes place from sunrise to sunset, and involves foregoing all food and drink for 11-17 hours each day, depending on the time of year in which Ramadan takes place. Although fasting is not always required for those who are sick, Muslim patients may still wish to fast. This may mean adjusting meal times to allow for religious observance.

Patients who are unable to, or choose not to fast, may still wish to engage in other observances throughout the month. Patients may also require transportation help to participate prayer observance.

Respectful Greetings

During Ramadan, respectful greetings include “Ramadan Mubarak” and “Ramadan Kareem,” which translate to “blessed Ramadan” and “generous Ramadan” in Arabic.

The conclusion of Ramadan is marked by the new moon, and the celebration of the festival of Eid-al-Fitr, which means “the breaking of the fast” in Arabic. Respectful greetings include “Eid Mubarak” and “Eid Sa’id,” which translate to “blessed Eid” and “Happy Eid,” respectively.

Multifaith Spaces

The Multifaith Centre is available for prayer, meditation, and sanctuary. We encourage all staff to be mindful and respectful of religious observance during Ramadan. There is also a Musallah available for staff near the Staff Wellness Room on Level 1. Please contact Spiritual Care for the code: TBRHSC.SpiritualCare@tbh.net

On behalf of TBRHSC, the Spiritual Care staff, along with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee, wishes our colleagues and the Hospital community a blessed Ramadan.

To learn more about Ramadan, please go to: https://ing.org/resources/for-all-groups/calendar-of-important-islamic-dates/ramadan-information-sheet/

Join the Healthy Living and Cancer Prevention & Screening Series on Thursday, March 5 at 2pm EST for a virtual presentation, ‘Stories and Screening: Colon Cancer and Kidney Health’.

Colon cancer survivor Norine Van Breda will share her personal story and the importance of colon cancer screening. Ramsey Broennle, Registered Nurse with the Northwest Regional Renal Program, will also provide an overview of the new Kidney Screening Program.

The Healthy Living and Cancer Prevention & Screening Series offers ongoing education and awareness about chronic disease prevention, cancer prevention and screening for Indigenous communities, partners and organizations throughout Northwestern Ontario.

No registration required. Click here to join the presentation on March 5.

The eReferral and Central Intake Playbook provides Ontario regions with a standardized framework to implement and scale eReferral and Central Intake (CI) models. It supports consistent, patient-centred intake processes that improve access, reduce wait times, and streamline referral pathways. This playbook guides Ontario Health regions and delivery partners (including hospitals, health care organizations, and community providers) in deploying eReferral and establishing Central Intake. It outlines the foundational standards, workflows, governance, and use of the referral management system (RMS) needed to support future digital integration.

Designed as a practical toolkit, it offers a structured approach to planning, readiness assessment, and implementation. While adaptable to local contexts, the framework aligns with provincial standards to ensure a seamless transition to integrated eReferral and Central Intake processes.

What’s Inside

eReferral and Central Intake Overview

• Purpose and role of the tools in improving patient care
• Key features that streamline referrals and communication
• How the tools enable coordinated, integrated care across providers and settings

Central Intake Hub Implementation Guidance

• Requirements for successful implementation
• Roles and responsibilities of partners
• Core processes and workflows for operating Central Intake hubs

Together, we are building a more connected, efficient, and equitable health system for all Ontarians.

Click here to read the eReferral and Central Intake Playbook.

Shared on behalf of the Lakehead University Relay for Life Committee

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Relay for Life is back in town! On March 6, 2026, Lakehead University Relay for Life Committee is hosting its second Relay for Life! Relay for Life is a walk-a-thon-like fundraiser for raising awareness of cancer research, treatment, and advocacy. We are an official fundraiser in support of Canadian Cancer Society. All funds raised from our event are contributed to support various national CCS programs.

Last year, we raised nearly $7,000 after hosting our first ever event since the pandemic. This year, we are hoping to raise $10,000, and we need your help to achieve this goal together!

This year, our event will be held at the Lakehead University Hangar (955 Sanders Dr.) from 4 pm – 12 am. Participants do NOT have to stay for the entire duration! Participants are free to visit, and leave based on the schedule that works the best for them! We welcome everyone from our community, and participants do NOT have to be Lakehead student.

There is a $20 registration fee, which includes the event-access, food, and a t-shirt. This $20 fee also contributes toward our overall donation amount.

We also welcome cancer survivors, patients, and/or caregivers to join our event! We dedicate our events to everyone in our community who has been impacted by cancer, and we would love to have you at our Relay for Life event. 

If you are interested in registering, or you would like to make a donation, please visit our website at relayforlife.ca/lakehead. If you have any questions, or are interested in making a cash donation, please contact us at relayforlifelakehead@gmail.com.

On February 14, as part of Heart Month, we at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) recognize the dedication and expertise of our Registered Cardiology Technologists (RCTs) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technicians who play a vital role in the Cardiac Diagnostics Department.

RCTs are highly trained health care professionals who contribute to every aspect of cardiology, working in specialized areas such as:

• Electrocardiography – capturing heart rhythms to assist in diagnosis
• Pacemaker Clinic – monitoring and ensuring pacemakers are functioning properly
• Stress Laboratory – conducting exercise and pharmacological stress tests to evaluate how the heart functions under exertion
• Cardiac Catheterization Lab – assisting with pacemaker programming during device insertions
• Holter Clinic – assessing heart rhythms for a period of time to help guide treatment 

ECG Technicians at TBRHSC support clinical teams throughout the facility and keep the workflow running smoothly, which strengthens the entire department. These dedicated staff apply skill and precision to patient care every day.

Cardiology Technologists and ECG Technicians are integral to patient care, working alongside cardiologists and other health care physicians to ensure timely and accurate diagnose for heart patients across our region.

To become an RCT, you must first complete a Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT)-approved Cardiology Technology program and successfully pass the CSCT National Exam. There are many schools across the county with multiple delivery methods to suit most everyone’s situation.

RCTs are in high demand and there is the option of on the job training for those enrolled in an online program. To learn more about joining our team, please visit https://jobs.tbrhsc.net/.

Join us in celebrating our incredible Cardiac Diagnostics team and their dedication to heart health!

Sent on behalf of Chris McNaughton, Administrative Manager- 2A, 2B, 2C, and TCU

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We are pleased to announce that Alyson Vescio has accepted the position of Temporary Full-Time Patient Care Manager for the 2B Medical Inpatient Unit.

Alyson brings nearly 15 years of clinical experience to this role and will officially join the leadership team within the Cardiovascular, Medicine & Renal Program effective April 7, 2026, while Rachel Lyon is on maternity leave.

Alyson has spent the majority of her career in emergency medicine. She began her nursing career on the Clinical Resource Team at Credit Valley Hospital before returning to Thunder Bay, where she has worked in the Emergency Department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre since 2011. During this time, she developed strong expertise in acute care and later transitioned into the role of Patient Flow Coordinator on the 2B Medical Unit. In this capacity, she focused on improving patient flow, supporting timely discharges, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.

More recently, Alyson has served as Operations Coordinator for Outpatient Medical Programs. She led the launch of the OPAT program and gained valuable experience in project development and implementation. Her work has included coordination of the Hospital to Home Program, Medical Transitions Clinic (MTC), Internal Medicine Clinics, and other outpatient services such as CCDC, Telemedicine, the Regional Bariatric Care Centre, and the Pediatric Healthy Living Program. These experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of complex medical care across the continuum.

In addition to her operational expertise, Alyson is a dedicated mentor to novice staff and students and consistently promotes a supportive and safe environment for learning and professional development.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Alyson to her new leadership role within the 2B Medical Inpatient Unit. We look forward to the continued strength and collaboration she will bring to the team.

It is important for Hospital staff to be able to acquire your contact information using the 411. The 411 is a “Self Serve” application which means users are responsible for managing their own contact records.

If you haven’t already done so, or if your information needs to be updated, please follow the instruction below.

Entering your name and contact information only takes a moment. Please log in to the application at https://411umgt.tbrhsc.net/ using your username and password.

If you have any questions regarding the self-serve 411, please contact Robert Srigley (Systems Specialist) at Robert.Srigley@tbh.net.

Welcome to the Affinity List Surnet Insurance – Degagne Insurance Solutions.

SurNet Insurance Group – DeGagne Insurance Solutions is a locally rooted insurance brokerage committed to providing trusted advice, personalized service, and insurance solutions designed to support individuals, families, and professionals throughout Northwestern Ontario.

Through this affinity partnership, eligible members can access preferred insurance options and professional guidance tailored to their unique needs, with the same integrity, transparency, and accountability that define our approach to quality customer service.

See our updated Affinity List for details on how to access this discount.

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The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC)’s Regional Cardiovascular Program fosters the development and delivery of collaborative care across Northwestern Ontario, supporting the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with conditions affecting the cardiac and vascular system.

TBRHSC provides cardiovascular services including Cardiac Diagnostics (ECHO, Stress Testing, ECG, Holter Monitor Clinic), Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Pacemaker Clinic, Rapid Access Vascular Examination (RAVE) Clinic, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, alongside the dedicated cardiac and vascular units where patients received specialized care. Across these services, highly skilled interdisciplinary teams work together to provide care and support the needs of patients and families from across Northwestern Ontario throughout their care journey. The team consists of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, general and interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiac sonographers, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical radiation technologists, data specialists, clinical nurse specialists, registered cardiology technologists, ECG technicians, registered respiratory therapists, respiratory aides, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, physiotherapists, registered dietitians, pharmacists, clerical and administrative staff along with clinical leaders across the program. TBRHSC’s Regional Cardiovascular Program strives to promote collaboration, partnership, and equitable access to care in the North.

The team responsible for developing the new Cardiovascular Surgery Program is working with internal and external partners to bring cardiac surgery to Northwestern Ontario, strengthening our ability to provide specialized care close to home. This work builds on a partnership that began in 2014 with University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, using a “One Program Two Sites” model that supports shared standards, learning, and clinical expertise across teams. Phase 1 successfully introduced vascular surgery services at TBRHSC, and phase 2, now underway, focuses on launching cardiac surgery, creating new opportunities for staff growth, collaboration, and advanced practice.

“Our Regional Cardiovascular Program reflects our commitment to ensuring people across Northwestern Ontario can access high-quality, specialized cardiac and vascular care closer to home,” said Wayne Taylor, Director, Cardiovascular, Medicine and Renal Program at TBRHSC. “Through strong partnerships, interdisciplinary teamwork, and a clear focus on equity and collaboration, we are strengthening cardiovascular care across the region. The expansion of services, including the introduction of cardiac surgery, represents an important milestone for our organization and for the patients and families we serve, today and into the future.”

The expansion will include a new hybrid operating room, two operating rooms for open-heart surgery, a 14-bed Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, a six-bed Coronary Care Unit, a Cardiovascular Care Clinic and expansion of our Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD) at TBRHSC. To support this expansion and the many people and families who access our services across Northwestern Ontario, the Program works closely with regional partners to promote collaborative design and equitable implementation across the region. Data guides quality improvement and service planning, supported by TBRHSC data specialists, while promoting evidence based best practice across the program. Together, the team is continuing to strengthen clinical services and regional presence to support exceptional care for every patient, every time.

The 2026 theme for Black History Month in Canada, “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries,” honours the Black Canadians who have shaped our past and present, and the inspiration they provide to future generations.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we will be highlighting the outstanding work of Black Canadians who have contributed to health care.

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott

Did you know that Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott made history by becoming Canada’s first formally credentialed Black doctor? He attended the Toronto School of Medicine and received his license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada, paving the way for future generations of Black medical professionals.

Dr. Abbott then moved to the United States to practice medicine but later returned to Canada, where he spent his last years writing about Black history and medicine.

Dr. Abbott also advocated for racially integrated schools and believed that Black access to higher education was essential. His legacy continues to inspire and uplift communities to this day.

For more information, click here.

Lillie Johnson

Lillie Johnson emigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 1960 after training as a nurse and midwife in Jamaica and the U.K.  She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Toronto and became the first Black director of public health in Eastern Ontario.

In 1981, Johnson founded the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and lobbied the government to add the disease to its list of newborn screening. It is now standard practice to screen for sickle cell disease for newborns in Ontario.

She received recognition for her advocacy and work, which includes the Toronto Public Health Champion Award, the Black Health Alliance Legacy Award and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Viola Desmond Award, and was the recipient of the Order of Ontario.

For more information, click here.