Category: Informed

International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31)

Shared on behalf of Rae-Anne Robinson, Lead, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

International Transgender Day of Visibility takes place annually on March 31. It is an opportunity to celebrate and empower the trans community, while also bringing awareness to the barriers and ongoing discrimination trans people face. The day also celebrates and recognizes the incredible accomplishments of the Two-Spirit, Transgender, and Non-Binary communities.

Unfortunately, the Trans community still faces many challenges, especially when it comes to accessing health care services. The community also experiences high rates of suicide and suicidal thoughts.

What is gender-affirming care?

Gender-affirming care is a range of services that provide life-saving health care for trans individuals. This includes transition-related services and other medical care, mental health care, and social services.

How can health care workers start to provide more gender-affirming care?

It is so important for us to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for Trans patients at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Even small gestures like asking for pronouns and preferred names, correcting a colleague who makes inappropriate comments, and advocating for a patient who may be misgendered can make a huge difference in making someone feel safe and respected. You can also show solidary by wearing pink, blue or white, a Transgender flag pin or a name tag indicating preferred pronouns.  

Let’s take a moment to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Trans community!

For more information, visit: https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/TransHealthGuide/index.html

Learn more about affirming and inclusive language on Egale Canada at: https://egale.ca/awareness/affirming-and-inclusive-language/

Bullseye Chase the Case (April 16)

Do you have a kitchen or bathroom renovation coming up?
Know someone getting engaged or married?
Or just want more reasons to get out and enjoy the year ahead?

If you said yes to any of the above, then you need to be at Bullseye Chase the Case presented by Doane Grant Thornton on April 16.

With 20 incredible prize packages—ranging from home upgrades to unforgettable experiences—there’s something in the room with your name on it.

Already planning a project, a trip, or a few nights out?

Why not kick it off by winning it… all while supporting a cause that matters as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life.

100% of auction proceeds go directly to the Northern Cancer Fund—so while you’re walking away with something that amazing, you’re also ensuring that local women are receiving the best care possible when they need it.

Tickets are only available until April 9 and VIP is already sold out—don’t wait.

www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/case

Green Shield Health and Dental Benefits Update

Shared on behalf of Human Resources

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre regularly evaluates the performance of our benefit plans and premiums to ensure the long-term sustainability of the plan, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. A recent review of the plan indicated an adjustment of 6% to dental premiums and 6-10% for extended health premiums, depending on division, are required to adjust for utilization and inflation.

How This Affects You: The average adjustment to employee premiums for combined single coverage is $3.74/ month and $10.13/month for combined family coverage. For employees with Green Shield coverage, the new premiums will be effective April 1 and reflected on your ninth pay stub.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these changes. Our goal is to continue offering you high-quality benefits that help support your health and well-being.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at TBRHSC.HumanResources@tbh.net.

Did you miss March’s Town Hall? Don’t worry — we’ve got a recap for you

town fall

This month’s Town Hall took place on Wednesday, March 25 via Microsoft Teams. See below for a video recording of the session and a copy of the presentation slides.

Presentation-Town-Hall-March-25-2026Download

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.

We’re Looking for PFCC Shout Outs: Volunteer Edition

April is National Volunteer Week, and to celebrate, we will highlight volunteers through the PFCC Shout Outs.

Do you know a Volunteer in our organization who consistently demonstrates exceptional Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC)? Someone who takes the time to truly listen, 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”, recognizing staff and volunteers 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, Volunteer Edition look like?

  • A volunteer who takes time to explain directions in a way the patient understands.
  • A volunteer who makes a patient feel comfortable and less anxious during a wheelchair transfer.
  • A volunteer who warmly greets families and helps them navigate the hospital.
  • A volunteer 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.

Just include the Volunteers member’s name, department, and a brief description of what they did that deserves recognition. Winners will receive a small prize, have their photo featured on the PFCC intranet page, and be highlighted in the Daily Informed newsletter. Let’s celebrate the people who make this a truly patient and family-centred organization. Start shouting out today!

Goodbye ZENworks! The New Desktop

What’s Changing?

With the move to a fully Microsoft environment, your ZENworks Application Launcher (ZAP) is going away. So, the way you access your applications is going to change! To access your applications going forward, there are four main methods:

Option 1: Desktop Icons

Core applications used throughout the organization will be located on the desktop.

1. Locate the application’s desktop icon.
2. Double-click the icon.

Option 2: Search Function

Quickly search and open your applications.

1. Click the Windows Start button.
2. Start typing the name of the application.
3. Click the application from the search results.

Tip: This is the fastest way to open any installed application, as you don’t have to go looking for it.

Option 3: Pinned Apps

Personalize your desktop! Pin your frequently used applications to the Start menu or taskbar.

1. Click the Windows Start button.
2. Click All.
3. Locate the application in the list.
4. Right-click and select Pin to Start or More > Pin to taskbar

Option 4: Browse All Apps

View all your installed applications to locate the one you need.
1. Click the Windows Start button.
2. Click All.

Application not listed? Click on the Company Portal icon located on the desktop and see what’s available for you to install.

For IT assistance or missing applications, please contact the Help Desk: Email Help.Desk@tbh.net | Phone 807-684-6411

SCOPE (Surgical Care Optimization & Primary Care Education) on May 4, 2026

Registration is now open for SCOPE (Surgical Care Optimization & Primary Care Education), hosted by the Regional Surgical Services team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Who should attend?

MDs, NPs, PAs, medical students, nurses, physiotherapists, and chiropractors.

What can participants expect?

Participants will get up to date practice guidance on various medical/surgical conditions, master orthopedic physical assessments, and learn new clinical skill sets in cortisone injection practice. Participants will have the opportunity to network with our Central Intake team to better incorporate electronic referral platforms and pathways into their primary care practice and various community programs and services to optimize patient care.

Participating Specialties

Hematology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Otolaryngology, and Surgical Oncology.

When and where is this happening?

Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, ON

To register, visit https://event.fourwaves.com/scope.

Registration closes on April 20, 2026.

For more information, please contact Katie Cardy, NP-PHC at (807) 684-7103 or Katie.Cardy@tbh.net.

*This program has been certified for up to 7.5 Mainpro+® credits and up to 7.5 MoC Section 1 learning hours.

Reflections From the Front Lines (New Episode!)

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.

In this episode, we hear from Matthew, a Pharmacist, and Kristi, a Pharmacy Technician, from the Renal Department’s Pharmacy team. Matthew and Kristi share a patient story that illustrates how care coordination can help deliver care closer to home and why it is so important for patients and their families.
In this episode, we hear from Casey Ruberto, a kinesiologist with our Cardiac Rehab program. Casey shares how connecting with patients and providing empathy, compassion and respect in everything we do, leads to positive outcomes.
In this episode, we had the opportunity to connect with Judy Martinsen, a Patient Flow Operation Coordinator at our Hospital. Judy shares a pair of compelling patient stories from behind the scenes of Admitting and patient flow.
In this episode, we hear from James Stevenson, a member of the Security team here at our Hospital. James shares a touching story about how he helped contribute to a positive outcome for a patient in Adult Mental Health.
In this episode, we hear from Savanna Boucher, Indigenous Care Coordinator and Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator who will share a story about the positive outcome they saw when they incorporated Traditional Medicine into a patient’s care plan.
Desiree Towedeo, Indigenous Care Coordinator, shares a story about how she provided culturally safe care to a patient that led to improved health outcomes during their stay, and how meaningful her role as an Indigenous Care Coordinator is to her.
In this episode, we hear from Megan Valente, Coordinator of Volunteer Services. Megan shares a patient story that highlights a new initiative and showcases how volunteers play a crucial role in the patient experience.
In this episode, we will hear from Michelle Opaski, a Mammographer who works on the Screen for Life Coach. Michelle shares a patient story that highlights how bringing cancer screening services closer to home allows individuals to prioritize their health and detect cancer early.
In this episode, we hear from Nikki Cooper, and Kelti Matson – both Registered Nurses from the Peritoneal Dialysis Renal team. Nikki and Kelti have a patient story that highlights how providing education, compassion, and respect, along with cross-department collaboration, allowed for exceptional patient care.
In this episode, Lyllian Stavropoulos, Co-ordinator of Specimen Collection and Dispatch in Laboratory Services at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
In this episode, Ashley Hill, a Registered Practical Nurse in the Emergency Department, speaks about her experience with the cultural safety training called, Repairing the Sacred Circle. Repairing the Sacred Circle was designed, developed and launched by N’doo’owe Binesi at St. Joseph’s Care Group in 2022 with the support and guidance of the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin – Elders Council.
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Laura Power, an ObGyn at our Hospital. Dr. Power provides us with a look into the interprofessional and comprehensive care available at the Maternity Centre for patients in Thunder Bay and across the region.
In this episode, Mike Heerema, the Critical Care Staffing and Wellness Coordinator in our Intensive Care Unit, tells us about the Tokens of Love initiative for patients and families.
In this episode, we hear from Jessica and Jolene from the Regional Cancer Program at our Hospital.
In this episode, Danielle McLean, a Registered Nurse from the Intensive Care Unit at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
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