Voting is now open to select the winners of the 2025 iCare Impact Awards.

The iCare Impact Awards are peer-to-peer recognition, aimed at highlighting the behaviours and initiatives that support our mission, vision, and values and strategic directions. The Awards recognize outcomes and impacts, and the people who made those outcomes possible. When placing a nomination, keep the impact front-of-mind, looking through the lens of our strategic vision; exceptional care for every patient, every time!

Click here to vote!

Have your voice heard by voting for the winners of the following award categories:

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award: Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “we all belong”. This individual or team embeds diversity in all they do and ensures the provision of a culturally safe experience to staff and/or patients. 

Patient Experience Award: Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “empathy, compassion and respect in every encounter”. This individual or team embeds empathy, compassion and respect into their interactions with others, is focused on quality, and is an expert in caring for patients with complex needs.  

Staff Experience Award: Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “this is where we want to work, grow and thrive”. This individual or team works diligently to ensure that staff experience a psychologically safe and just work culture, and supports the ongoing development of employees and leaders alike. 

Research, Innovation, and Learning Award: Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “prioritizing our research efforts”. This individual or team works to ensure that we support staff capacity and capability for research and success, and creates an environment supportive of research, innovation and learning. 

Sustainable Future Award: Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “ensuring our healthy future”. This individual or team embeds the principles of sustainability into their daily work and interactions with others.

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This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Diagnostic Imaging department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre sponsoring the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay’s Annual Christmas Wish Campaign, now partnered with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.

In a combined effort, Diagnostic Imaging staff came together to fill the holiday wishes of eight children receiving care through the Children’s Aid Society and/or Dilico. Each child receives a personalized gift bag filled with their wish list items, clothing, and other essentials, ensuring each child experiences comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging during the holiday season.

Rose Harding, who has led this initiative in Diagnostic Imaging for all twenty years, shared: “The staff really look forward to supporting this initiative and spreading some Christmas cheer in our community. It has become a department tradition, with many staff asking in early October about the campaign. It’s a simple way to give back and, over the years, we have supported at least 25 families, a few youth living on their own who are aging out of care, and this year eight individual children.”

The department’s commitment to giving extends throughout the year. Their community dinners are funded through the generosity of Dr. Mehran Midia, who provides lunch for staff on occasion. In return, staff contribute a toonie or more, which has enabled the department to sponsor and cook three to four meals annually at Shelter House Thunder Bay for several years. On Saturday, December 6, approximately 154 people enjoyed a hot meal through Dr. Midia’s generosity and the ripple effect created by staff contributions.

Thank you to everyone in Diagnostic Imaging for your continuous dedication to supporting families, youth, and community members in need.

If you’ve ever wondered where confidence, competence, and a bit of clinical magic are made, look no further than the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab — the beating heart of hands-on learning at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). This immersive, high-energy space is where students and clinicians step into realistic scenarios and sharpen their skills in ways that truly bring health care education to life.

Photo 1: Leanne Baird, Manager of the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab (Sim Lab) invited us in for a closer look at this dynamic space. Her passion for experiential learning and patient-centred training was contagious from the moment she welcomed us in. When asked what she likes about her job, she exclaims “Everything! My job is the best. Let me show you why!”

Photo 2: Baird starts by explaining that the Sim Lab is a learning hub for students, clinicians, and allied health care teams. Continuing professional development takes on a new level of excitement when professionals can refresh skills, trial new procedures, or participate in high-energy scenario training. In a field that evolves daily, simulation ensures health care providers stay sharp, confident, and ready for anything.  “The Sim Lab is hopping,” smiles Baird. “The schedule changes every week. We are a teaching Hospital, so we have every type of health care learner.” The photo shows an example of a training schedule for the week.

Photos 3, 4, 5: “It’s a high-impact, no risk environment,” shares Baird. “Imagine walking into a room that looks and feels exactly like a real hospital room with monitors beeping, equipment ready, and a patient [a high-fidelity mannequin] that can talk, breathe, bleed, and even give birth. We can set the space up like an operating room, a birthing suite, whatever is necessary for the specific medical skill the instructor is teaching.” This is where learners get to try, fail, try again, and ultimately master essential skills without ever putting a real patient at risk. “It’s hands-on learning at its most dynamic and empowering.”

Photos 6 and 7: From the control room, Leanne controls various aspects of the high-fidelity mannequin, including pupil dilation, chest movement and voice.  She demonstrates by speaking through the microphone and the mannequin suddenly comes to life, blinking and talking. The blend of realism, innovation and teamwork, creates a dynamic and exciting learning environment.

Photos 8, 9, 10: Some clinical events happen only a few times in a clinician’s entire career, but when they do, there is no margin for error. The Sim Lab allow teams to rehearse skills that are High Acuity, Low Occurrence (HALO) until they can respond with calm precision. It is all about building muscle memory, confidence, and clinical excellence that directly translates into safer patient care.

Photo 11: After every scenario, teams come together for structured debriefing, providing a safe, supportive space to reflect, share insights, and refine performance. These conversations are where breakthroughs happen. Learners unpack what went well, what could be improved, and how to elevate their practice. It’s the heartbeat of a culture focused on continuous growth and excellence.

Shared on behalf of Information Technology

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As we introduced Microsoft Teams and are transitioning to OneDrive and SharePoint, additional applications or add-ins can be requested. At this point in time, only Microsoft applications or add-ins are being approved, like Forms and Polls.

Requests for non-Microsoft applications will be reviewed at the conclusion of the project in late spring of 2026. This timeline is necessary since these integrated applications require a thorough review for contract alignment, licensing, and compatibility, which is a time-intensive process.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Help Desk at Help.Desk@tbh.net.

Help spread recognition and joy throughout the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre by nominating your peers for a 2026 iCare Impact Award.

Click here to submit your 2026 iCare Award nomination.

Don’t forget, there is still time to vote for the 2025 iCare Impact Awards. Click here to vote for 2025’s winners.

The 2025-2026 schedule is now live! To register for a session, click HERE.

We are pleased to invite all staff to take part in our new cultural safety training session titled, “Repairing the Sacred Circle: An Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Education Primer”. 

The session will introduce participants to an insightful way of thinking about truth and reconciliation. It will be a reflective pathway for cross-cultural discussion and an entry point to create the necessary change for awareness and inclusiveness within Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Participants will be introduced to concepts such as colonization, race and racism, common stereotypes, and how these contribute to health inequities for Indigenous Peoples within the current healthcare system.

This is a free training session, there is no cost to attend. The session is 3 hours long and takes place in-person. We encourage all staff (including students, residents, volunteers, and PFAs) to participate and look forward to seeing you there.

We’re happy to arrange a session for departments outside of the regular schedule. Please note, there is a required minimum of five participants to host a session. To book a department session, or if you have any questions, please contact: Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Lead at Annette.Klement@tbh.net.

Sign up today!

Skip the all staff email. Post your message on the Daily Informed Newsletter instead.

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The Daily Informed Newsletter is published Monday to Friday and distributed to all Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute staff via email.

Why should I post my message in the Daily Informed Newsletter?

It’s the most effective way to reach all staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers electronically. It can also support a variety of content formats.

By the Numbers:

• Lifetime published articles: 4,317
• Lifetime visits: 1,245,419
• Visits, last 30 days: 31,219
• Visits, last 365 days: 285,756

Submission guidelines:

• All submissions to the Daily Informed Newsletter are sent to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net.
• Please use Word (.doc/.docx) for text-only submissions.
• To ensure all materials intended for the Daily Informed Newsletter (e.g. event posters, memos, etc.) adhere to our corporate branding and style standards, please contact a member of the Communications and Engagement team for assistance, use the pre-existing templates available to all staff, or view the Production of Publicly Distributed TBRHSC Promotional Materials (COMM-03) policy for more information.
• Please include a high resolution photo (.jpg or .png) to accompany your item. A member of the Communications and Engagement team would be happy to take the photo for you if needed.
• Indicate both the preferred date to start posting and the expiry date.
• Submissions about events include any education, information or awareness raising initiatives and activities happening in the community that support TBRHSC and TBRHRI’s Strategic Plan.
• Please ensure that content intended for the Daily Informed Newsletter has been endorsed by your department’s Manager/Director/VP prior to submitting.

Questions? Contact TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net

Clean Hands, Bright Holidays!

Spread cheer—not germs. Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) wants to remind staff to perform proper hand hygiene – see IPC-2-12 Effective Hand Hygiene.

Members of the IPAC team will visiting departments from December 8 – 31, handing out draw tickets to staff seen washing their hands. Prizes will be drawn weekly.

Remember to wash or sanitize your hands:

• Before patient contact
• Before a clean/aseptic procedure
• After body fluid exposure risk
• After patient and patient environment contact

Let’s wrap the year with excellent hand hygiene!

To support campus safety, there are 20 emergency blue poles across the property. These poles provide 24/7 two-way communication with Security for immediate assistance during emergencies. 

How they work: Activation automatically directs nearby cameras to the pole. Security Control receives an immediate alert for two-way communication and then dispatches Security or emergency services as required.

These poles are tested bi-weekly by the Security Team to ensure proper operation. Below is a map outlining emergency blue pole locations. 

Jeannine Verdenik, VP People & Culture and Justin Garofalo, VP Facilities, Capital Planning, Support Services & CFO

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Parking lots can provide opportunity for safety risks such as slips, falls and personal security concerns. As a reminder for all employees, please prioritize personal safety when walking to and from parking areas—especially during early morning or late evening hours.

Here are a few safety practices to keep in mind:

• If you ever feel unsafe, please contact Security for assistance by using the emergency blue pole in the parking lot or calling 807-684-6509.
• Avoid walking to the parking lots alone. Whenever possible, leave with a co-worker or group of staff or request a Security escort.
• Do not leave your vehicle running or unlocked. The recent incident involved someone approaching cars that were running.
• Stay alert and aware of your surroundings. Avoid distractions such as using your phone while walking.
•  If you have a personal alarm – don’t hesitate to use it.
• Report any suspicious behavior immediately to Security at 807-684-6509. Consider saving this number in your personal device.
• In cases of imminent danger – call 911.

Your safety and well-being is important and we want you to feel supported. By following the above tips, we can reduce risks and ensure a safer environment for everyone.

If you have any concerns or would like to report a situation then we ask that you contact Occupational Health and Safety 807-684-6240.