Thank you to all those who participated in week 1 of Pride Trivia! Below you will find the answers to last week’s questions.

A reminder that week two of Pride Trivia is now live! Click here for week 2 of Pride Trivia questions.

Question 1: When was the Pride flag first raised at Parliament Hill in Ottawa?

Response: The first Pride flag was raised at Parliament Hill in Ottawa in 2016.

Question 2: How many colours did the original Pride flag have?

Response: The original Pride flag was developed by Gilbert Baker in 1978 to stand as a symbol of gay pride. Baker’s flag had 8 colours: hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple.

Question 3: How many colours does the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag have?

Response: 11 colours. The Pride flag has undergone several updates. The hot pink and turquoise stripes of Gilbert Baker’s original Pride flag were removed. Black and brown stripes were added to represent communities of colour, while black also represents the lives lost during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Light blue, pink, and white were added to represent the Trans community; and a purple circle on a yellow background represents the Intersex community. There are duplications of yellow and purple, for a total of 11 colours.

Question 4: How many Canadians over the age of 15 identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community?

Response: According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians over the age of 15 who identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, is 1.3 million.

Click here for more information.

Mr. Banskumar Arjune, a long time employee of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), dedicated his life to efforts supporting the treatment of patients with cancer and, despite a valiant effort, succumbed to that condition himself on May 22, 2025. Mr. Arjune launched his career in cancer care in 1984 joining what was then the Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Centre. By the early 1990’s Mr. Arjune had become certified as a Medical Physicist and, in the process, had become a “Jack of all Trades” in the field of radiation oncology. For a period of about three years he single-handedly fulfilled myriad roles that enabled the continued delivery of radiation treatment. Arguably, radiation treatment in Northwestern Ontario may not have survived that period without his commitment. Subsequent to the full integration of the cancer program with the TBRHSC in the early 2000s, the radiation treatment program continued to grow and is now a robust and world class operation. Over those years Mr. Arjune’s clinical contributions continued to be substantial and pivotal. He influenced the careers of many who have been integral to the program, some of whom continue to actively apply their talents in radiation treatment today. He was, and will continue to be, an inspiration.

His lifelong commitment and dedication to the promotion of the highest standard of radiation treatment is being honoured by the lowering of the flags to half-mast on June 11, 2025. That recognition reflects on both those who have and those who continue to dedicate their careers to the care of the patients of Northwestern Ontario.

To view the obituary and to send condolences, visit the online tribute.

As June marks Stroke Awareness Month, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre proudly celebrates a decade of implementing the Code Stroke process — a lifesaving protocol that has profoundly enhanced stroke care and outcomes. This month, we honor the innovations, dedication, and teamwork that have contributed to saving countless lives and improving the quality of care for stroke patients.

Stay tuned throughout the month as we share staff features of those who play a part in Code Stroke daily.

A Decade of Innovation in Stroke Care

Since its inception ten years ago, the Code Stroke process has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the emergency response to stroke incidents. Streamlining identification and treatment procedures has significantly reduced the time it takes to deliver critical care, improving recovery rates and outcomes for patients.

Lifesaving Collaboration and Impact

Our Hospital’s commitment to enhancing stroke care through the Code Stroke initiative has brought together a dedicated team of health care professionals. These experts work tirelessly to ensure rapid diagnosis and treatment, leveraging the latest advancements in medical technology and protocols. Over the past decade, this collaborative approach has not only saved lives but also reduced the long-term impacts of stroke, enabling patients to regain their independence and enjoy a better quality of life.

 “The success of the Code Stroke program is a direct result of the incredible collaboration across disciplines — from EMS to emergency, radiology, and neurology,” states Dr. Amro Lahlouh, Neurologist and lead of the Code Stroke working group. “This unified approach ensures that every patient receives timely, high-quality care when every second truly matters.”

Looking to the Future

As we commemorate this milestone, our Hospital remains committed to advancing stroke care through continuous improvement. We are exploring system optimization and methodologies to further enhance the Code Stroke process, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of stroke treatment and care.

This June, we invite the community to join us in raising awareness about the recognition, prevention, and treatment of stroke. Together, we can continue to make strides in saving lives and improving outcomes for stroke patients.

Donations supporting stroke care can be directed to the STROKE FUND through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation at healthsciencesfoundation.ca/donate or by calling 807-345-4673. For more information on stroke care in Northwestern Ontario, visit www.nwostroke.ca or email nwostroke@tbh.net.

Join Annette Klement, Cultural Safety Educator, for a Lunch and Learn on the 7 Grandfather Teachings. This session will provide a basic overview of what the 7 Grandfather Teachings represent, as well as how to use them to connect and support your patient’s care. Lunch will be provided.

Registration is required for this event. To register, email Annette at tbrhsc.culturalsafetyeducator@tbh.net.

This event is eligible for the Indigenous History Month raffle. To enter the raffle, print off the ticket below and fill out the information. At the event, find Annette and get your ticket signed. At the end of the month, submit all your signed tickets to Annette via email at tbrhsc.culturalsafetyeducator@tbh.net or interoffice mail. The draw will take place at the beginning of July. Good luck!

Check out the poster below for more information on events taking place throughout June to celebrate Indigenous History Month:

Hannah was a Phlebotomist who started at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) in 2021, her compassion, kindness and resilience touched everyone she met.

She made such an impact on her co-workers sharing all of her adventures and positive attitude , she was someone who truly listened, who made people feel seen and valued. In the face of her own battle she didn’t withdraw, she rose. She found purpose beyond her pain, pouring her strength into raising her awareness for appendix cancer selling her Tough Lady #DELEY Strong candles and donating proceeds to the Northern Cancer Fund.

She was strong but had a rare glow of someone who made the world, gentler, warmer and better. Though her time with us was far too short, her impact will echo in the lives she touched the love she gave and the legacy and compassion she leaves behind.

A Celebration Of Life will be held Tuesday, June 10, from12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Goods and Co. 251 Red River Rd. Our thoughts go out to her family for their loss. As a sign of respect and mourning, TBRHSC flags will be put to half mast on Tuesday June 10.

Obituary via Everest of Thunder Bay

Hannah Jeannene Deley
June 23, 1999 – May 21, 2025

It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Hannah Jeannene Deley, who left this world far too soon at the age of 25, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Hospice, surrounded by those who loved her most.

Hannah was born, completing our family and joining her big brother Ben. Hannah was determined and ready for adventure from day one. She was “our little miracle”.

Hannah attended Vance Chapman School.  Her zest for life and joy of friendship evident from the start. As Hannah started high school at Superior CVI, she played basketball and started Competitive Cheerleading.  She enjoyed cheerleading, excelling at the sport, and was able to attend a National tournament with the Dynamite Cheer Allstars in Sherbrooke Quebec. Hannah was a hard worker.  She started working at the Italian Hall first.  She also worked at Shell full serve gas station, taking pride when she connected with one of the customers, usually the seniors.  Hannah had a big heart and a large capacity for empathy.

Hannah attended Confederation College in the phlebotomist program. A great match to Hannah’s caring nature. Upon graduation, she worked at Life Labs for a short time, until she was hired by Thunder Bay Regional Hospital where she worked until her leave due to illness.  

Hannah lived her life with unmatched vibrancy, courage, and compassion. She was tenacious. A free spirit with an adventurous soul, Hannah found joy in every corner of life — from hiking winding trails and traveling to new places, to dancing freely at concerts and festivals. Her love for adventure was only matched by the love she had for those around her, including her loyal dog, Ozzy, who never left her side.

Hannah was a beacon of strength. From the moment of her cancer diagnosis, she faced her battle with the heart of a warrior — always with grace, courage, and unwavering hope. Her fierce determination inspired everyone who knew her.  Demonstrated by her candle fundraiser bringing awareness to Appendiceal cancer. Her generosity and kindness left a lasting mark on every life she touched.

She shared a rare and beautiful love with her soulmate, Jordan Owca, who remained her rock and her light through every chapter of her journey. Hannah was also the deeply loved daughter of Peter Deley and Lisa Johnson Deley, and a cherished sister to Ben Deley and Michelle Tallon Deley. 

Hannah is survived by her devoted families, countless aunts, uncles and cousins, her large and loving circle of friends, and all those whose lives were made better simply by knowing her. She is pre-deceased by many generations of loved ones, friends and family, of note Hannah’s stepfather Frank Vidotto, Jean “Nanny” Johnson, Grandma Irene Daggett, and Aunt Cindy Wright. Hannah’s compassion, laughter, and fearless zest for life will never be forgotten.

Many thanks to all the medical teams and caregivers in Thunder Bay and Toronto who supported Hannah, Jordan and the family throughout each stage of her illness, including the doctors and staff at Thunder Bay Regional Cancer Care and St Joseph’s hospice. Your thoughtful care and compassion will not be forgotten.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at Goods and Co. Market, with family and friends gathering at 12:30 p.m. and Tributes beginning at 1:00 p.m. Parking is available in the parkade across from the Market. 

Though her time with us was far too brief, Hannah’s legacy of love, strength, and joy will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.  

In keeping with the spirit of paying it forward, something Hannah believed in strongly, please consider donations to Thunder Bay Humane Society or the Salvation Army in lieu of flowers. Consider volunteering for the Cancer Society. With much appreciation. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Westfort Chapel, 420 West Gore Street at James.

Curious how our workplace is doing? Check out the leaderboard to see our progress! If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join—start logging your active commutes and help boost our total kilometers.

There are some great prizes up for grabs this year! The more often you replace your car with a sustainable commute, the better your chances of winning. Each week, five lucky participants will win a $50 e-gift card.

Visit the FAQ page for prize details and start logging your commutes today!

Did you know that nearly half of Thunder Bay residents live within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from work? And almost 50% of rush hour trips are under 5 km—yet many people still drive gas-powered cars for these short distances.

This week, why not replace one of those short trips with a sustainable commute? Whether it’s walking, biking, or taking transit, it’s an easy way to reduce emissions and support a healthier community.

Let’s make every commute count!

TBayOntheMove.ca

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As construction on the Cardiovascular Surgery Program advances, the final staging and setup of the construction area will begin Thursday, June 12. Changes to Hospital access are highlighted below and will be in place for the duration of the construction period.

Major Impacts

Road Closure

A portion of Ron Saddington Way (main roadway through the front of the Hospital) and the roadway to the Medical Centre front entrance (current temporary pick-up and drop-off location) will be closed. There will be no thoroughfare along the front (west side) of the Hospital until further notice.

Pick Up and Drop Off Area

The new pick-up and drop-off area will be located in the Fish (A3) parking lot (see map).

Hospital Access

All patients, visitors, and staff can still enter the Hospital via the West Entrance.

Please refer to the map showing Hospital access and the areas closed for construction.

For the safety of all patients, visitors, and staff, please respect and follow all construction fencing, barricades, safety notices, and wayfinding signage. Construction areas will be clearly marked, and access will be strictly limited to authorized personnel only. We kindly ask that everyone use designated walkways and remain vigilant when navigating near the construction site.

Learn more about this transformative project and get the answers to some frequently asked questions about the construction and parking at TBRHSC.

We understand that these temporary changes may cause some inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to expand and enhance cardiovascular care services in our region.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to advancing patient care at TBRHSC.

Shared on behalf of Occupational Health and Safety

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Why should I report Disrespectful Behaviour?

Disrespectful behaviour often precedes bullying or harassment in the workplace.

Addressing incidents of disrespectful behaviour as soon as possible is an important preventative measure to reduce the risk of escalating behaviours.

What is the difference between Disrespectful Behaviour and Harassment?

Disrespectful Behaviour and Workplace Harassment are related concepts, but they differ in scope and severity.

Disrespectful Behaviour: Includes actions, words, or attitudes that show a lack of respect toward others (e.g., rudeness, dismissiveness, discourteousness, condescending tone, etc.).

Workplace Harassment: Involves ongoing behavior or comments that are clearly unwelcome and may relate to any protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. This behavior is persistent, makes the workplace feel intimidating, and may include inappropriate actions or remarks aimed at a specific person or group.

How do I submit an Electronic Employee Incident Report?

Employees can access the reporting system by clicking on the Safety Reporting icon located on their desktop, or through the Quick Links section on the iNtranet home page and selecting the Employee Incident option.

Reporting Confidential Issues:

To report a confidential matter involving a co-worker or manager, select the Manager of Employee Relations as your Manager for report distribution purposes. Refer to policy HR-hr-07 (title of policy) for alternative reporting options.

Whistleblower Policy

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center has a Whistleblower Policy that provides protection to individuals acting in good faith if submitting concerns regarding questionable activity or compliance by employees and other stakeholders.

The policy applies to Employees, Members and Officers of the Boards of Directors, Professional Staff, Contractors, Learners and Volunteers.

Reportable activities include concerns of, but are not limited to:

• Non-compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; Suspected theft or fraud;
• Fraudulent reporting; Unethical behavior or practices; Questionable accounting, controls and auditing matters; Developing deals and/or accepting gifts for one’s own personal benefit/gain;
• Knowingly directing or counseling a person to commit an incident of wrongdoing;
• Failure to comply with the Hospital’s internal controls or policies;
• Circumventing the Hospital’s internal controls or policies;
• A retaliatory act against any party who, in good faith, reports a suspected violation or concern;  Any actions designed to have the effect of concealing any of the above.

For more information on the Whistleblower Policy, please visit this link:

https://informed.tbrhsc.net/getattachment/Policies/General-Manual/Administration/ Administration-Policies/Whistleblower-Policy-(ADMIN-19)/ADMIN-19-Whistleblower- Policy-Aug-2023.pdf

As we close the third year of our Strategic Plan 2026, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect upon one our five strategic priorities – Patient Experience. To ensure that patients and families across Northwestern Ontario receive the highest quality health care, we are reaffirming our commitment to our philosophy of patients at the centre of everything we do. Vital to this is understanding the patients’ health care experience. We have embraced opportunities to capture patient experience information as an integral part of enhancing the overall care experience for patients and families. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) was the first in Ontario to introduce a text message-based patient experience survey – a more modern, accessible approach to capturing the patient experience. Another initiative supporting the patient experience is a hospital-wide commitment to reducing stigma in health care. Our anti-stigma campaign involves raising awareness of what stigma is, how it is a barrier to care and providing opportunity for staff to actively participate in anti-stigma efforts. By implementing these initiatives, we aim to create a positive experience for patients, families, and staff, and cultivate an environment where there is empathy, compassion and respect in every patient and family encounter.

In other work enhancing the patient experience, frontline staff at TBRHSC continue to show their commitment to patients and families by submitting ideas and funding applications to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Family CARE (Care Advancement Recommended by Employees) Grant program. This program allows staff to apply for the grants to buy some of the “little things” that are not funded through regular channels. Their innovative ideas for small changes make a big impact on patient care. Last month, 74 grants totalling $139,265 were announced for patient care upgrades at TBRHSC for 2024-2025. Thank you to the staff who submitted applications for their creativity and commitment to making the care experience at TBRHSC better for patients and families.

Last month, we celebrated Indigenous Nurses Day (May 12) and National Nursing Week (May 12 to 18) by recognizing the hard work and dedication of our nurses. Nurses make up the largest group of employees at TBRHSC and these recognition events provide an opportunity to celebrate their clinical excellence, compassion and professionalism. Part of the recognition events included awards and bursaries specifically for nurses at TBRHSC. The dedicated nurses at TBRHSC work tirelessly, and I want to express my sincerest gratitude to all nurses for their incredible contributions in providing exceptional care to patients here in Northwestern Ontario.

To improve patient care for the region, TBRHSC has been working with the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC) at University Health Network (UHN) to co-develop a cardiovascular surgery (CVS) program at our Hospital. We are in an exciting stage of the project, where 76,000 square feet of space will be renovated and expanded to accommodate a new comprehensive CVS program that will allow TBRHSC to complete vital cardiac procedures, reduce wait times for urgent and elective procedures and ensure timely access to essential services in the region. Construction activities have begun on the northwest side of the main Hospital building, and it is exciting to see the progress being made. Keep an eye on our social media pages for construction updates.

Before the Board breaks for summer, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow Board members for another year of service. Your leadership, dedication, and passion are paramount to improving health care for the patients and families of Northwestern Ontario.

In closing, I wish you a safe, and healthy summer.

Patricia Lang
Chair, Board of Directors,
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre