Enjoy the convenience of the TBRHSC Christmas Employee Plan where your purchases automatically come off your pay-cheque over a two year period.
Shop until December 15, 2025 at acoservices.ca or view the catalogue on the following link: https://www.flipsnack.com/acoservices/employee-purchase-plan-extended-catalogue-2025
The Cancer Centre Systemic Therapy Department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is proud to support the Children’s Aid Society’s 17th Annual Christmas Wish Campaign this holiday season.
Our team has sponsored five children, ages 3 to 16, who receive services through Dilico and the Children’s Aid Society. Each child will receive a personalized Christmas Wish Bag filled with essential items, clothing, toys, and gift cards selected to meet their unique needs and interests.
For many of these children, this may be the only gift they receive during the holidays.
Our staff are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this meaningful tradition and to help bring joy and comfort to children and families in our community.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) invites an accomplished, collaborative, and visionary physician leader to serve as the next Chief of Staff (COS) — a pivotal leadership role at one of Ontario’s most innovative and community-focused academic health sciences centres.
This unique 0.6 FTE leadership position allows the successful candidate to maintain clinical practice while shaping the future of care across Northwestern Ontario.
WHERE WORLD-CLASS CARE MEETS NORTHERN SPIRIT
TBRHSC serves the vast and diverse population of Northwestern Ontario with a mission grounded in research, innovation, education, and exceptional patient care. The organization’s 2026 Strategic Plan prioritizes equity, diversity, inclusion, patient experience, staff experience, research, and sustainability.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the Chief of Staff ensures medical excellence, high professional standards, and a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
WHY THIS ROLE IS EXCEPTIONAL
REGIONAL IMPACT
As Northwestern Ontario’s only tertiary referral hospital, serving a population of over 250,000 in a land mass the size of France, TBRHSC relies on its COS to influence care across rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
INNOVATION & GROWTH
The hospital is investing in digital health, leadership development, academic partnerships, and long-term clinical services planning.
SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP CULTURE
The COS joins a collaborative leadership team that values transparency, accountability, cultural safety, and progressive system change.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
JOIN US
If you are a compassionate, accountable, and visionary leader who believes in exceptional care for every patient, every time, we welcome your interest. You can reach Kevin Kirkpatrick by email kevin@averyprofessionalgroup.com or phone/text 905-447-2151
Avery Professional Group is proud to support Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in this important search.
Link to this career opportunity can be found HERE.
At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences, we are committed to fostering an environment where all patients, their families, staff, professional staff, volunteers, and learners are treated with dignity and respect, feel affirmed in their identity, and receive safe, equitable care.
December is a month marked by a variety of significant holidays celebrated across different cultures, and religious, and spiritual traditions. You can learn more about each of these dates below.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3)
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on December 3, and was first established by the United Nations in 1992. This day highlights the importance of supporting the dignity and wellbeing of people with disabilities, and the ongoing need to advocate for accessibility and inclusion.
Human Rights Day (December 10)
Human Rights Day is observed annually on December 10, to commemorate the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was formally adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The Declaration recognizes all human beings as having inherent dignity and worth, and fundamental rights that they are entitled to regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, or any other status that they may hold. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is considered a common standard throughout the world for protecting human rights.
International Universal Health Coverage Day (December 12)
Universal Health Coverage Day, held each year on December 12, marks the anniversary of the United Nations’ 2012 resolution calling for access to quality, affordable health care for all.
The day raises awareness of the urgent need for strong, equitable health systems—so that everyone, everywhere can get the care they need without financial hardship. It’s also a global call to action, urging countries around the world to invest in health, support vulnerable populations, and accelerate progress toward universal health coverage by 2030.
Hanukkah/Chanukah (December 14 – 22)
The Hebrew word Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, means “dedication.” Hanukkah is known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, and celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days—symbolizing resilience, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness.
Winter Solstice / Yule (December 21)
The Winter Solstice is significant for Indigenous Peoples, as it marks a time of renewal, reflection, and connection to natural cycles, including the return of longer days and the continuation of traditional practices. Many Indigenous Peoples celebrate Winter Solstice with community gatherings, feasts, storytelling, and ceremony. The Winter Solstice is also celebrated in other cultures throughout the world, including the Hopi people’s Soyal ceremony, and the Dongzhi Festival in China, and Yule in Pagan, Wiccan, and Druid traditions.
Christmas (December 25)
Christmas is the Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is also celebrated secularly by non-Christians.
Boxing Day (December 26)
Celebrated in Great Britain, and some commonwealth countries including Canada, the day after Christmas Day was traditionally celebrated as the day tradesmen and servants would receive gifts from their employers, and came to be known as Boxing Day. Boxing Day has since become synonymous with shopping and sporting events. (International)
Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African cultural holiday that has been adopted around the world including in Canada. First developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa celebrates history, values, family, community, and culture. The name Kwanzaa means “first fruits”—an agricultural celebration. Kwanzaa is celebrated annually between December 26 and January 1.
New Year’s Eve (December 31)
The evening before the first day of the new year, according to the modern Gregorian calendar.
If you have any questions, please contact the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee at: TBRHSC.EDISteeringCommittee@tbh.net.
Presented by Dr. Rittenberg, Ms. Jennifer Spencer, Dr. Brenden Osborne and Dr. Deanna Buitenhuis
When: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Where: In person (ICP Main Meeting Room 2178) and virtually (via Microsoft Teams)
As of Monday, December 1, the Telemedicine Department has moved to Room 1527 on Level 1, across from the Garden of Life courtyard by Professional Practice. Access is directly on the main corridor – see map below.
Department telephone and fax numbers remain the same.
Take a drive by 753 Syndicate Ave (off Northern Ave) during the month of December, tune your radio to 92.3 FM, and be prepared for a light show featuring four singing light bulbs!
After receiving two stents and finding a new lease on life, James Hill has a gift for Thunder Bay. For the last 10 years, James has been bringing smiles and Christmas cheer with his light show. He’s asking passers by to donate to the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign, to help bring cardiovascular surgery to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Drive up and watch a song or two, or stay for the full 20 minute show — all from the comfort of your vehicle.
Help us reach our fundraising goal of $1,000 for the Our Hearts at Home Campaign! https://www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/lights
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:
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
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.
