As part of our ongoing accreditation process, your feedback is important. Please take a few minutes to complete the Accreditation Feedback Survey and share your experiences, insights, and suggestions by clicking on the link or by scanning the QR code within the attachment.
Your input helps us identify strengths and opportunities for improvement. The survey is anonymous, and gift card entries will not be linked to your survey responses.
Shared on behalf of Ryan Sears, Director, Capital and Facility Services
As we begin to encounter the effects of wildfire season in our region, it is important that we review and follow our indoor air quality monitoring processes and Code Grey – Air Exclusion policy.
This wildfire season, Environment Canada has yet to issue a special air quality statement for the Thunder Bay area. However, smoke from active area fires has become noticeable. These fires put particles and gases into the air that can be harmful to human health. When this occurs, people may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Our Air Exclusion Policy aims to reduce this risk to the internal environment and mitigate or reduce these associated impacts.
With Ontario’s legislated fire season running from April 1 to October 31 annually, Maintenance monitors internal air quality and will advise leadership accordingly should air quality degrade beyond acceptable thresholds.
Please take a moment to complete the Recommended Actions below.
Recommended Actions
Thank you,
Ryan Sears
Director, Capital and Facility ServicesCode Grey – Air Exclusion Executive Sponsor
On July 7, volunteers from across our community gathered at Fort William Historical Park for the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards, an annual celebration recognizing the dedication, generosity, and lasting impact of volunteers from across the province.
The evening brought together volunteers representing a diverse range of organizations and sectors, united by a shared commitment to strengthening their communities and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the compassion, time, and energy that volunteers contribute each and every day.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre was proud to recognize nine exceptional volunteers who have achieved significant service milestones with our organization. Through their unwavering commitment, they have helped enhance the experiences of countless patients, families, visitors, and staff. We are incredibly grateful for the time, kindness, and expertise they continue to share in support of our Hospital and the community we serve.
This year’s recipients included:
Marilyn Chisholm – 40 Years of Service
Barb Rickards – 35 Years of Service
Dorothy Martel – 35 Years of Service
Sheila Meijer – 30 Years of Service
Christine Hildebrand – 10 Years of Service
Merrill Young and her therapy dog, Scarlett – 10 Years of Service
We were also proud to celebrate three outstanding youth volunteers who were recognized for their commitment to serving our Hospital and community:
Dougie Newhouse
Harrison Nelson
Edelweiss Price
Whether they have dedicated 10 years of service or an incredible 40 years, each recipient has made a lasting impact through their commitment, compassion, and generosity. Their contributions have helped create a welcoming, supportive environment for patients, families, visitors, and staff, strengthening the care experience for everyone who comes through our doors.
Congratulations to all of our Ontario Volunteer Service Award recipients. Thank you for the remarkable difference you make each and every day. We are honoured to celebrate your achievements and deeply grateful to have you as valued members of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre family.
On July 10, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) welcomed a delegation of health care professionals from the Republic of Korea for an educational exchange focused on medical education and clinical training.
The visiting group included faculty members from Inha University College of Medicine, experts from the National Medical Center, and representatives from the Korean Institute of Medical Education and Evaluation. Their visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the innovative approaches to medical education, distributed learning, clinical training environments, simulation-based education, and learner support systems offered at TBRHSC.
The delegation toured several key clinical and educational areas, including the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab, the Physician Lounge, the ICU Regional Critical Care Response Program and Regional Paediatric Response Program. Throughout the visit, team members shared knowledge on how our programs support learners and health care professionals across Northwestern Ontario.
The visit highlights TBRHSC’s ongoing commitment to excellence in education and its role as a leader in training the next generation of health care professionals. International collaborations such as this foster the exchange of ideas, strengthen global partnerships, and contribute to continuous innovation in medical education and patient care.
We were pleased to host our colleagues from Korea and look forward to future opportunities for collaboration and shared learning.
Starting the week of July 13, the first floor by Labour and Delivery will be getting painted (see map below). Painting will continue for multiple weeks.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff MacDonald, Facility Planning Assistant, Maintenance, at jeffrey.macdonald@tbh.net.
Sal was nominated by his CNS, Katie Nelson, in recognition of his exceptional commitment to mentoring new hires and nursing students on 3C. He creates a welcoming and supportive learning environment where new staff feel comfortable asking questions, building confidence, and developing their clinical skills. Sal consistently goes above and beyond for those he mentors. His dedication to teaching, exceptional patient care, and commitment to developing the next generation of nurses exemplify the qualities of an outstanding preceptor. Thanks for all you do, Sal!
Microsoft Publisher will be retired in October 2026 and will no longer be supported after that date. If you currently use Publisher, please plan to convert your files to Word or PowerPoint by October 2026.
If you need help finding the best format or want to explore other poster ideas, branding and templates, please reach out to Communications for support and guidance.
All requests for Communications and Engagement support must be submitted through the online
ticketing system at: https://comms.tbrhsc.net/communication-request
Communications service requests are reviewed by the Communications and Engagement team on a daily basis for priority sequencing.
All TBRHSC and TBRHRI templates can be found on the Organization Resources SharePoint site under TBRHSC Desktop Templates.
Questions? Please contact the Help Desk: Email: Help.Desk@tbh.net | Phone: 807-684-6411
Disability Pride Month is observed annually in July. This month offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of disabilities as a natural part of human diversity. It also highlights the contributions that individuals with disabilities make to society. In Canada, approximately 8 million people live with disabilities, both visible and invisible, including physical, sensory, and psychiatric disabilities, and neurodivergence.
Disability Pride Month is also a time to reflect on the barriers that continue to impact people with disabilities, many of whom continue to face systemic ableism and discrimination in everyday life. As health care providers, we recgonize that access to safe, inclusive, and barrier-free care remains essential to driving change and ensuring equity for all.
To learn more about Disability Pride Month, please go to: https://www.blueskylearning.ca/post/celebrating-disability-pride-month.
Disability Pride Flag
Flags are symbols of solidarity and pride, and can help to raise awareness and visibility. The Disability Pride Flag was originally designed by disabled writer, artist, and activist Ann Magill in 2019. The original flag featured the coloured stripes of the current flag in a zigzag formation, representing creativity when navigating obstacles.
In 2021, Magill redesigned the flag to its present configuration, after learning from members of the disability community that the zigzag created a strobe effect on computer and phone screens, potentially triggering symptoms for those who live with epileptic seizures and migraines.
The meanings and colours of the flag are as follows:
To learn more about the history of the Disability Pride Flag, please go to: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a43876914/disability-pride-flag/.
Disability Pride Month – Reading List
For Disability Pride Month in 2022, CBC compiled a list of 12 books that illustrate the importance of accurate representation for those living with disabilities. The list contains works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books for Young Adults, and children’s books. For detailed descriptions of each book, click here.