All employee are automatically entered into the Big Prize draw to win. Human Resources will add an extra entry for participation in each of the following initiatives: iCare Impact Awards nominees and nominators, Long-Service recipients, and flu vaccine participants.
The winner will be announced on Friday, March 6.
In light of the approaching Employee Recognition Week (February 27 to March 6), Recognition O’Grams will be available to order starting 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 18. Orders will be open while supplies last and are first-come, first serve.
All submissions will be reviewed by Human Resources prior to distribution to help ensure a positive and respectful tone. Please protect patient privacy by avoiding any identifying details, use language that reflects dignity and compassion, and focus your message on recognizing or thanking a colleague for their efforts!
Click on this link (https://erw-recognition.tbrhsc.net/) to submit your order.
Name: Casey Ruberto
Role: Kinesiologist, Cardiac Rehabilitation (Cardiac Rehab)
Why did you decide to become a Kinesiologist?
I’ve always loved sports and was interested in what made our bodies move. In University I had the opportunity to do an internship with Cardiac Rehab and I really enjoyed it. A few years after I graduated, the opportunity came up to apply for a Kinesiology position with Cardiac Rehab and I’ve happily been a Kinesiologist ever since!
Tell us about your role.
As a Kinesiologist in the Cardiac Rehab program, I’m a case manager for the participants of our program. It involves tailoring exercise prescriptions, providing education on safe exercise and cardiac risk factors, collaborating with patients on reaching their health goals, supervising patients during exercise sessions, helping patients navigate the health care system and referring patients to other disciplines when appropriate. My goal (and I like to think the goal of our program) is to get patients exercising safely, regularly, confidently and reduce their risk factors for another cardiac event or issue.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
One of the most challenging aspects of my role is supporting patients through the transition out of the program after they’ve completed it. While it is rewarding to see the progress they’ve made, ensuring they feel equipped and confident to maintain those lifestyle changes independently can be challenging. Facilitating that shift from structured support to self-management is an important part of the process.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?
The most rewarding aspect of my profession is helping people feel better both physically and mentally. I love that I get to be with patients for an extended period of time, get to help assist and witness their progress and help them meet their goals.
Any advice for those considering a career in health care?
Advice I would tell anyone considering a career in health care is to listening closely to what patients are saying and to try and see their situation from their lens. Empathy always goes a long way and everyone has something to teach you.
The Communications and Engagement team is pleased to provide the latest version of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Patient Care Resource.
This guide is designed to help patients, families, and care partners quickly find the information they need when accessing Hospital services or visiting our facility. It brings together helpful details from departments across the Hospital, including:
Read it here: bit.ly/TBRHSC-Patient-Care-Resource-Vol17-READ
Or download your own copy here: bit.ly/TBRHSC-Patient-Care-Resource-Vol17-DOWNLOAD
To arrange for pick up or delivery of print copies for your area, please contact us at TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net. Kindly note there are limited print copies available, so if able, please direct patients to the electronic version first.
For more information, or to provide feedback or input for next year’s edition of the Patient Care Resource, please reach out to a member of the Communications and Engagement team.
Please encourage patients and families to use the Patient Care Resource to learn more about the programs and services available and how we provide exceptional care for every patient, every time.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre uses social media to share updates about our programs and services, engage with patients and families, and celebrate our staff and the exceptional care they provide.
Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Discover the latest in patient-centered research by following the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute on Facebook.
Are you interested in learning more about Black history and culture? Below you will find a curated list of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry books by Black authors that reflect on various themes, including anti-racism and the ongoing fight for equity.
The Skin We’re In – Desmond Cole
Celebrated writer and activist Desmond Cole punctures the naive assumptions of Canadians who believe we live in a post-racial nation. Chronicling just one year in the struggle against racism in this country, The Skin We’re In reveals the injustices faced by Black Canadians on a daily basis: the devastating effects of racist policing, the hopelessness produced by an education system that fails Black children, the heartbreak of those separated from their families by discriminatory immigration laws, and more. Cole draws on his own experiences as a Black man in Canada, and locates the deep cultural, historical, and political roots of each event. To learn more, click here.
Black Boys Like Me – Matthew R. Morris
What does it mean to be a young Black man with an immigrant father and a white mother, teaching in a school system that historically has held an exclusionary definition of success? In eight illuminating essays, Matthew R. Morris grapples with this question, and others related to identity and perception.
Now an elementary school teacher in Toronto, Morris explores the tension between his consumption of Black culture as a child, his teenage performances of the ideas and values of the culture that often betrayed his identity, and the ways society and the people guiding him—his parents, coaches, and teachers—received those performances. Black Boys Like Me is an unflinching debut that invites readers to create braver spaces and engage in crucial conversations around race and belonging. To learn more, click here.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read. To learn more, click here.
Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
The eighteen personal essays collected here are by turns hilarious, dramatic, and deeply affecting. Noah’s stories weave together to form a moving and searingly funny portrait of a boy making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time, armed only with a keen sense of humor and a mother’s unconventional, unconditional love. To learn more, click here.
Black Berry, Sweet Juice – Lawrence Hill
Lawrence Hill’s BLACK BERRY, SWEET JUICE: On Being Black and White in Canada, he movingly reveals his struggle to understand his own personal and racial identity. Interspersed with slices of his personal experiences are the experiences of thirty-six other Canadians of mixed race interviewed for this book. A reflective, sensitive and often humourous book, BLACK BERRY, SWEET JUICE is a thought provoking discourse on the current status of race relations in Canada, and a fascinating and important read for us all. To learn more, click here.
Frying Plantain – Zalika Reid-Benta
Kara Davis is a girl caught in the middle — of her Canadian nationality and her desire to be a “true” Jamaican, of her mother and grandmother’s rages and life lessons, of having to avoid being thought of as too “faas” or too “quiet” or too “bold” or too “soft.” Set in “Little Jamaica,” Toronto’s Eglinton West neighbourhood, Kara moves from girlhood to the threshold of adulthood, from elementary school to high school graduation, in these twelve interconnected stories. In her brilliantly incisive debut, Zalika Reid-Benta artfully depicts the tensions between mothers and daughters, second-generation Canadians and first-generation cultural expectations, and Black identity and predominately white society. To learn more, click here.
The Sleeping Car Porter – Suzette Mayr
There When a mudslide strands a train, Baxter, a queer Black sleeping car porter, must contend with the perils of white passengers, ghosts, and his secret love affair. The Sleeping Car Porter brings to life an important part of Black history in North America, from the perspective of a queer man living in a culture that renders him invisible in two ways. Affecting, imaginative, and visceral enough that you’ll feel the rocking of the train, The Sleeping Car Porter is a stunning accomplishment. To learn more, click here.
Theft – Abdulrazak Gurnah
At the turn of the twenty-first century, three young people come of age in Tanzania. Karim returns to his sleepy hometown after university with new swagger and ambition. Fauzia glimpses in him a chance at escape from a smothering upbringing. The two of them offer a haven to Badar, a poor boy still unsure if the future holds anything for him at all. As tourism, technology, and unexpected opportunities and perils reach their quiet corner of the world, each arrives at a different understanding of what it means to take your fate into your own hands. To learn more, click here.
Sula – Toni Morrison
Sula and Nel are born in the Bottom—a small town at the top of a hill. Sula is wild, and daring; she does what she wants, while Nel is well-mannered, a mamma’s girl with a questioning heart. Growing up they forge a bond stronger than anything, stronger even than the dark secret they have to bear. Strong enough, it seems, to last a lifetime—until, decades later, as the girls become women, Sula’s anarchy leads to a betrayal that may be beyond forgiveness.
Masterful, richly textured, bittersweet, and vital, Sula is a modern masterpiece about love and kinship, about living in an America birthed from slavery. Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison gives life to characters who struggle with what society tells them to be, and the love they long for and crave as Black women. Most of all, they ask: When can we let go? What must we hold back? And just how much can be shared in a friendship? To learn more, click here.
Annie Allen – Gwendolyn Brooks – Annie Allen is a book of poetry by American author Gwendolyn Brooks that was published by Harper & Brothers in 1949. The book tells in poetry about the life of Annie Allen, an African-American girl growing to adulthood. It received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950 and made Brooks the first African American to ever receive a Pulitzer Prize. To learn more, click here.
Helium – Rudy Francisco
Helium is the debut poetry collection by internet phenom Rudy Francisco, whose work has defined poetry for a generation of new readers. Rudy’s poems and quotes have been viewed and shared millions of times as he has traveled the country and the world performing for sell-out crowds. Helium is filled with work that is simultaneously personal and political, blending love poems, self-reflection, and biting cultural critique on class, race and gender into an unforgettable whole. Ultimately, Rudy’s work rises above the chaos to offer a fresh and positive perspective of shared humanity and beauty. To learn more, click here.
Still Can’t Do My Daughter’s Hair – William Evans
Still Can’t Do My Daughter’s Hair is the latest book by author William Evans, founder of Black Nerd Problems. Evans is a long-standing voice in the performance poetry scene, who has performed at venues across the country and been featured on numerous final stages, including the National Poetry Slam and Individual World Poetry Slam. Evans’ commanding, confident style shines through in these poems, which explore masculinity, fatherhood, and family, and what it means to make a home as a black man in contemporary America. To learn more, click here.
If you have any questions or feedback, or would like to share a book recommendation for next year’s list, please email the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee at: TBRHSC.EDISteeringCommittee@tbh.net
Sodexo is now offering French toast, pancakes and omelets, everyday! Come on down to the cafe for some new breakfast choices (along with many other options) to get your day started right. Breakfast is served until 11:00 a.m.
Names: Dawn Jacobson and Laura MacMillan
Role: Registered Cardiac Technologist (RCT) with specialized training in pacemakers
Why did you decide to become a Registered Cardiac Technologist (RCT)?
We chose to become RCTs because we have a deep interest in cardiac health and technology. The field of electrophysiology is fascinating, particularly how advanced pacemakers, Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICDs) and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRTs) can dramatically improve patients lives.
Tell us about your role.
As an RCT, our primary responsibilities in the Pacemaker Clinic include:
What is the most challenging part of your job?
This role encourages continuous learning, as a key part of the job is staying current with the latest advancements in cardiac technology.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?
The most rewarding aspect of our profession is seeing the positive impact of our work on patients’ lives. Seeing patients regain their energy, improve their quality of life, and seeing how thankful they are. Knowing we play a role in their journey to better health is very rewarding.
Any advice for those considering a career in health care?
Our advice for anyone considering a career in health care is to volunteer in health care settings to understand the environment. Health care is constantly evolving, so a willingness to learn and adapt is crucial. Always remember you will be working with people so understanding their emotions and concerns is an important part of a health care career.
February is National Therapeutic Recreation Month! This is a time to celebrate the health care professionals that use research and therapeutic processes to assist patients in achieving their goals and highest quality of life.
The role of Therapeutic Recreation is to support and assist patients to develop and maintain healthy leisure lifestyle skills with the goal of community reintegration. Leisure skills can improve a person’s overall health, functional ability, and quality of life by enhancing their self-esteem, social skills, and independence.
In honor of this National Therapeutic Recreation Month, we would like to highlight some of the program Therapeutic Recreationists provide at our Hospital that leads to exceptional patient care. Thank you for all the work that you do!
Therapeutic Recreation on the Adult Mental Health (AMH) unit supports patients on their healing journey by encouraging healthy living through meaningful activities, self-discovery, and community connection. Weekly activities including games, music, and outings create a welcoming space that fosters connection, hope, and overall well-being.
Patients have opportunities to learn about positive affirmations, create artwork that encourages positive self-talk, and explore their dreams and personal goals.
Patients on AMH also participate in growing their own vegetables, from starting seeds indoors, purchasing plants, and nurturing them as they grow. After caring for the garden, they harvest the produce and prepare nourishing soups, salads, and snacks together. This hands-on experience provides opportunities to learn about nutrition and explore healthy recipes while building confidence and teamwork.
Celebrating the seasons, connecting with the community, and spending time outdoors are important for mental health and well-being. AMH patients visit local art galleries, museums, concerts, and community festivals to foster connection and enjoyment. Even simple walks around the Hospital grounds can be meaningful, offering moments of joy and calm through observing nature, such as spotting frogs and turtles.
Opportunities to relax, doodle, paint, or complete a puzzles support mindfulness and overall mental health, while encouraging patients to rediscover hobbies and interests that bring a sense of accomplishment.
AMH is grateful to have eight dedicated volunteers, including three who bring their therapy dogs each week, offering comfort, companionship, and a calming presence that can ease anxiety, reduce loneliness, and brighten difficult days.
Lakehead University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives invites you to join us for our R & I Week Event – Weweni Zhichge: Building Community Research Together Through Hide Tanning (Panel Discussion) on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the CASES ATRIUM. Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. Please share widely.
Event Contact Name: Stacey Pawluk
Event Contact E-mail: admin.ii@lakeheadu.ca
This event is a panel discussion bringing together Lakehead researchers and community partners to discuss building healthy research relationships, hide-tanning as a resurgent practice, the importance of Indigenous-led land-based learning, and bringing Anishinaabe ways of knowing and being into university spaces. It is hosted by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.
Dr. Larissa Speak is an Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Mino-waabandan Inaakonigewinan Indigenous Law and Justice Institute at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. She is a member of Fort William First Nation with both Anishinaabe and settler roots. Her work focuses on Anishinaabe law and practices through community engagement and land-based practices.
Dr. Leigh Potvin (she/they) is an Associate Professor in the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. She is a settler scholar from Thunder Bay. Her work focuses on settler colonialism and equity recreation/outdoor spaces.
To register for this event, please click here.
If you aren’t able to join us in person, this event will live-streamed. Please register here.
