Nominate your peers for their hard work in providing Exceptional Care for Every Patient, Every Time.

The categories for nominations are as follows:

Strategy in Action Award (Senior Leadership Council to select and the Board of Directors to endorse)

Awarded to a team or initiative, which has contributed to a strategic project and/or initiative that made an impact on the patient and/or staff experience at TBRHSC.

Vision Award (Senior Leadership Council to select and the Board of Directors to endorse)

Awarded an individual or team who has contributed to our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. This individual or team is an outstanding contributor to our mission and vision and consistently exemplifies our values.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award

Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “we all belong”. This individual or team embeds diversity in all they do and ensures the provision of a culturally safe experience to staff and/or patients. 

Patient Experience Award

Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “empathy, compassion and respect in every encounter”. This individual or team embeds empathy, compassion and respect into their interactions with others, is focused on quality, and is an expert in caring for patients with complex needs. 

Staff Experience Award

Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “this is where we want to work, grow and thrive”. This individual or team works diligently to ensure that staff experience a psychologically safe and just work culture, and supports the ongoing development of employees and leaders alike. 

Research, Innovation, and Learning Award

Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “prioritizing our research efforts”. This individual or team works to ensure that we support staff capacity and capability for research and success, and creates an environment supportive of research, innovation and learning. 

Sustainable Future Award

Awarded to a member or members of the hospital community who contributed to a strategic initiative that embodies the goal of “ensuring our healthy future”. This individual or team embeds the principles of sustainability into their daily work and interactions with others. 

Click the link to nominate your peers: https://icare-awards.tbrhsc.net/

Shared on behalf of Adam Vinet, Vice President, Patient Experience, Chief Nursing Executive & RVP, Regional Cancer Care

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Due to current capacity challenges at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, effective today until Monday, January 12, 2026, eight additional inpatient beds will be temporarily made available in the back section of the Surgical Day Care Unit, utilizing beds 40 through 47.  On the admission census, these beds will be coded T 3ALC.  Attached is a map with the location of the area highlighted. 

In the case of an emergency, staff are instructed to identify the area as Surgical Day Care. In the event the unit needs to be called, the extension number is 6187.  Staff are instructed to follow all Surgical Day Care response plans in the event of an emergency.  

I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the rapid coordination and collaboration in organizing the opening of this temporary care space. Your flexibility and commitment are greatly appreciated and essential in ensuring continued safe patient care during this period of increased demand.

Please direct any operational questions or concerns to John Ross, Director of Surgical and Ambulatory Services, by email john.ross@tbh.net or by phone 807-630-1966.

Thank you again for your dedication and support.

Attachment: Surgical Day Care Short-Stay Unit (Overflow) Map

As we distribute the 2026 Well-Being Calendar across the organization, we would like to share an important clarification to prevent any confusion. 

We have identified an incorrect listing of the Civic Holiday. Please note that the Civic Holiday is observed on Monday, August 3, 2026, not August 1, 2026 as currently shown in the calendar. 

While we regret this error, reprinting the calendars is not feasible at this time. We kindly ask staff to make note of this correction when referencing the calendar, particularly for planning purposes.

For more information, please contact, Kimberly Myros at Kimberly.Myros@tbh.net.

Shared on behalf of Nicole Moffett, Manager Emergency Preparedness, Switchboard, Security

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We would like to acknowledge the exceptional work by teams across the Hospital in supporting the Code Green Stat that was activated in 1C on morning of December 30.

Upon activation of the Code, staff swiftly responded to the unit to support safe movement of patients. Ultimately 13 Maternal Newborn patients were evacuated from the unit. The unit was then temporarily relocated to Surgical Daycare, where they remained until January 1, while Maternal Newborn cleanup and repairs occurred.

Multiple teams were involved in supporting response and continuity efforts, repeatedly demonstrating dedication to our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. 

Thanks to your efforts, there was no harm to any patient, and no belongings were lost.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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Please be advised that the Influenza A outbreak has been declared OVER at TBRHSC, Forensics Inpatient Unit. All restrictions have been lifted. 

Please share this information with the appropriate staff. 

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. The department of Infection Prevention and Control encourages everyone to keep applying the routine practices of hand hygiene, proper use of PPE, equipment cleaning, and the appropriate admission screening of all patients.  Please set an example for staff and students and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.  

For more information, contact Infection Prevention and Control at extension 6094.

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

Self-referral can be made to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Physician, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Dietician, and Lactation Consultant.

To be seen by an Obstetrician, a referral is needed from your primary health care provider or midwife.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 98 babies born at our Hospital during the month of December. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting https://bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre-info

Thunder Bay Fire Rescue (TBFR) will provide onsite training in alternative evacuation techniques (e.g. blanket drag) coordinated by Interprofessional Education and Emergency Preparedness.

No registration is necessary. Staff are invited to stop by January 21 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. in Auditoriums A and B by for some hands-on learning.

Now that all TBRHSC and TBRHRI employees are using Microsoft Outlook, this is a great opportunity to ensure your email signature aligns with our corporate branding standards.

Please apply the appropriate signature template (by copying and pasting) to all tbh.net email accounts and customize it with your individual information.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute

Using a standardized signature helps ensure our communications to other staff, partners in health, and the community are professional, consistent, and reflective of our shared organizational identity.

The approved signature templates are also available in the Quick Links area of the main page of the corporate intranet under Tools/Training.

At this time, the corporate email signature template does not support the inclusion of additional elements (e.g., other logos, advertisements for events or initiatives). For more information or questions, please contact the Communications and Engagement team.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping maintain a polished and professional appearance in our email communications.

January 4 is National Ribbon Skirt Day. Indigenous Ribbon Skirts are vibrant symbols of identity, resilience, and tradition among Indigenous Peoples on Turtle Island. Primarily linked to the Plains Indigenous communities, these skirts have evolved and are now embraced across various territories on the continent. Traditionally crafted from materials like cotton and leather, these skirts are adorned with colourful ribbons. These ribbons symbolize beauty, femininity, pride, and storytelling, conveying cultural significance through their patterns and colours, which often reflect family lineage and communal values.

For many people, wearing a Ribbon Skirt is a spiritual practice, especially during cultural ceremonies, powwows, and gatherings. It fosters a deep connection to ancestors and the spirit world while serving as an expression of resistance against colonial narratives, reclaiming Indigenous identity and challenging stereotypes.

The craftsmanship of Ribbon Skirts is an esteemed art form, requiring skill and creativity. The process involves selecting fabrics and intricately sewing colourful ribbons into unique designs that vary among communities. Traditional techniques are often passed down through generations, fostering community bonds and preserving cultural practices. Contemporary artists are innovating these designs, merging traditional elements with modern influences while respecting the Skirts’ cultural significance.

Indigenous Ribbon Skirts are more than garments, they embody a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and artistic expression. Worn and created with care, they serve as living symbols of identity and resilience, bridging the past with the present and representing the beauty and strength of Indigenous cultures.

The priority of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion identified in Strategic Plan 2026 ensures that the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre embeds equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of its operations, providing a culturally safe experience for all patients and staff.

For more information on Ribbon Skirts, click here.

The 2025-2026 schedule is now live! To register for a session, click HERE.

We are pleased to invite all staff to take part in our new cultural safety training session titled, “Repairing the Sacred Circle: An Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Education Primer”. 

The session will introduce participants to an insightful way of thinking about truth and reconciliation. It will be a reflective pathway for cross-cultural discussion and an entry point to create the necessary change for awareness and inclusiveness within Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Participants will be introduced to concepts such as colonization, race and racism, common stereotypes, and how these contribute to health inequities for Indigenous Peoples within the current healthcare system.

This is a free training session, there is no cost to attend. The session is 3 hours long and takes place in-person. We encourage all staff (including students, residents, volunteers, and PFAs) to participate and look forward to seeing you there.

We’re happy to arrange a session for departments outside of the regular schedule. Please note, there is a required minimum of five participants to host a session. To book a department session, or if you have any questions, please contact: Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Lead at Annette.Klement@tbh.net.

Sign up today!