Booking a breast screening mammogram in Thunder Bay is now easier than ever. 

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre recently launched online booking for screening mammograms at the Linda Buchan Centre. The new option gives eligible people another convenient way to schedule an important part of their health care. 

Whether you’re fitting in your screening around work, family responsibilities or a busy schedule, you can now go online to view available times and choose one that works for you. 

This added flexibility follows the historic expansion of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). The starting age for self-referral was lowered from 50 to 40, giving more people the opportunity to access routine breast screening without requiring a referral from a primary care provider. 

Now, eligible women, Two-Spirit, trans and nonbinary people at average risk between the ages of 40 and 74 are recommended to get screened with mammography every two years through the OBSP.  

Those who would prefer to have their mammogram on the Screen for Life Coach, which provides cancer screening services at locations throughout Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario, can continue to book by calling (807) 684-7777. 

Staying up to date with screening matters. Mammograms can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms, when it may be easier to treat. 

To book your breast screening mammogram at Linda Buchan Centre, visit tbrhsc.net/OBSPonline. 

To learn more about breast cancer screening, eligibility, and for a full list of screening locations in the region, visit tbrhsc.net/breast-cancer-screening. 

On October 4, we recognize the National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit Peoples (MMIWG2S+).

This day honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, while calling attention to the ongoing violence and systemic injustices experienced by Indigenous Peoples and their families.

In 2019, Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released. The National Inquiry heard from more than 2,380 family members, survivors, experts and Knowledge Keepers. The Final Report identified persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses as being at the root of the disproportionate violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The report issued 231 Calls for Justice, which provide a roadmap for meaningful change.

We encourage TBRHSC staff to:

• Read Reclaiming Power and Place and learn about the 231 Calls for Justice and the experiences and truths shared by families and survivors.
• Consider displaying a red dress in a window, on a porch or in another visible location as an act of remembrance and awareness. Learn more about artist Jaime Black’s REDress Project, which uses empty red dresses to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and draw attention to gendered and racialized violence. https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/
• Make space for and amplify the voices of Indigenous families, survivors, advocates and organizations working to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people.
• Share information and resources about MMIWG2S+ with your colleagues, families and communities. Building awareness is important, but meaningful change also requires continued learning, reflection and action.

Community Event:

The Ontario Native Women’s Association invites you to join in honouring and remembering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls at the MMIWG Pow-Wow.

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Location: Mountain Bingo, 400 Anemki Dr, Fort William First Nation
Time: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
7:30 a.m. Sunrise Ceremony
11:00 a.m. Grand Entry

From October 4 to 10, 2026 we recognize Fire Prevention Week™. This year’s FPW campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Safe Charging Is a Superpower” focuses on the everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer. The campaign stresses how important it is to BUY, CHARGE, and RECYCLE safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries.

Use Your Charging Superpowers With These Six Safety Tips:

1. Cheap charger? Don’t chance it. Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer.
2. Soft surface? Hard pass. Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table, desk, or bare floor.
3. Fully charged? Time to unplug. Unplug your device when it is fully charged.
4. For tools and rides, charge outside. Charge large items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging.
5. Feels hot? Stop using it. Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sounds.
6. On a flight? Keep it in sight. When on a plane, keep devices where you can see them while charging. Do not charge e-cigarettes or vapes on the plane. Tell a flight attendant if you notice a problem with your device.

This week is also an opportunity to share information about the importance of extinguishers and escape plans, as well as share fire safety tips such as:

• Develop escape plans that take everyone’s abilities into consideration and practice them regularly with everyone who lives in the home.
• Keep fire extinguishers in kitchens, basements, and garages, and know how to use them.
• Close doors at night to help slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Have questions or feedback? Contact Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness via email at mesha.richard@tbh.net.

Resources

Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD) is an annual experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Ontario.

This year’s TOKTWD will take place on Wednesday, November 4. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is excited to welcome Grade 9 students from a variety of schools throughout the city. The day provides students with an opportunity to explore the diverse careers and services offered within the Hospital through interactive tours, demonstrations, and presentations.

Throughout the day, students are divided into groups of approximately 10 and guided by Human Resources through various Hospital departments. Each group visits pre-scheduled areas for a tour or demonstration. Departments that have participated in previous years include Medical Device Reprocessing Department, Operating Room, Emergency, Biomedical Engineering/Maintenance, Laboratory, Diagnostic Imaging, Simulation Lab, Pharmacy, and Nutrition and Food Services. Participating in TOKTWD provides students with valuable insight into the wide range of career opportunities available within a hospital setting. It also offers an excellent opportunity for employee engagement by encouraging staff involvement and interaction with students.

The event promotes team building, collaboration, social interaction, productivity, and employee participation, while helping students gain a better understanding of the many roles that contribute to the delivery of health care.

Employees with children in grade nine are invited to enroll them in Take Our Kids to Work Day. The enrollment period will close October 23, 2026. Registration is limited to 40 participants and will be filled in the order received.

Registration deadline: October 23, 2026.

Please use the link below to access the information and forms you’ll need to complete and submit.
https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/human-resources/programs/take-our-kids-to-work-day

This October, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re inviting you to make a difference while being a part of a collaborative work of art.

Join us in the lobby, across from Season’s Gift Shop, on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. to add your personal touch to a stunning paint-by-number masterpiece designed by artist Vik Wilen and created by Paintillio.

For just $20 per tile, you can paint your piece of the puzzle and watch the artwork come to life, one tile at a time. Every dollar raised will support breast cancer. Once the final tile is in place, the finished artwork will be auctioned, raising even more for the Northern Cancer Fund.

This initiative is part of our Luncheon of Hope celebrations – and the art piece will be brought to the event on October 16. Whether you’re an artist or haven’t picked up a brush since grade school, everyone is welcome.

Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) would like to recognize our September Hand Hygiene Champion.

Jaime Huston works as a Housekeeper on 2C In-Patient unit and says that her hand hygiene practices have became part of her routine. She does not see any barriers to completing proper hand hygiene as it protects patients and staff from the spread of infections.

Thank you Jaime.

Get Started with SharePoint

With the transition to SharePoint, we want to make sure you’re ready!

Join one of our drop-in sessions or check out our training resources to get started on your SharePoint journey.

Learn About SharePoint

Visit M365Hub.tbh.net or nwohealth.sharepoint.com/sites/M365Training to check out our education resources.

Join SharePoint Drop-In Sessions

On Wednesdays from June 10 to December 9, ask questions and get support for SharePoint. Visit the M365Hub training page at M365Hub.tbh.net for links.

SharePoint Training [All Staff]

• Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

SharePoint Training [Leaders and Owners]

• Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Contact Us

Give us a call at 807-684-6411, email us at Help.Desk@tbh.net, or submit a ticket on our Help Desk Self Service app for support.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at Help.Desk@tbh.net.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Prevention and Screening Clinical Services invites staff to help raise awareness about the importance of breast screening.

Wear Pink Day on October 8. Show your support by wearing pink on October 8 and snapping a photo with your colleagues. Share your photos via email to lexie.williamson@tbh.net to help us celebrate across TBRHSC.

Book Your Mammogram Online. Eligible people, including staff, can now conveniently book their screening mammogram online at the Linda Buchan Centre.

Mirror Decals. Local businesses are getting involved by displaying breast screening reminder decals throughout the month of October. See if you can spot one!

Together, we can help spread awareness and encourage more people to make breast screening a priority.

Every person has a story, and listening to those stories can help change the way we understand substance use and addiction.

In a new series of educational videos, individuals share their personal experiences and perspectives on stigma, substance use, addiction, and health care. Their stories offer an important opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand how our words, actions, and assumptions can affect those seeking care.

These videos also honour those who have been lost to substance use and addiction-related harms and acknowledge the grief experienced by their families, friends, and loved ones. By sharing these experiences and perspectives, we can deepen our understanding of the impact of stigma and recognize the importance of approaching every person with compassion, dignity, and respect.

At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, we recognize that stigma can create real barriers for patients and families. Outdated language, stereotypes, and misconceptions can influence how people are treated and whether they feel safe and supported when accessing care. By listening to and learning from people with lived and living experience, we can challenge these assumptions and help create a more compassionate, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Developed as part of the Patient Experience pillar of Strategic Plan 2026 and our ongoing work to reduce stigma associated with substance use and addiction, these videos reflect our collective resolve to do better and to move forward with greater compassion, understanding, and respect for those seeking care.

We invite you to watch, listen to the stories and perspectives being shared, and reflect on how each of us can help reduce stigma and make a positive difference.

This week, we hear from Andrea Raynak:

For more stories visit bit.ly/confronting-stigma-TBRHSC