A COVID outbreak (#2262-2026-00042) has been declared on 1A unit as of today, April 7, 2026. All restrictions are in place. 

Please note: 1A remains in an RSV outbreak (#2262-2026-00038).

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.

All patients identified as having an exposure to this outbreak will require isolation with appropriate additional pre-cautions. 

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 by maintaining compliance and due diligence. 

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

Every year on April 7, health care organizations around the world recognize World Health Day, a global observance led by the World Health Organization (WHO). The day marks the founding of WHO in 1948 and serves as an opportunity to highlight pressing public health priorities and inspire collective action to improve health outcomes for all.

The theme for World Health Day 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science,” which emphasizes the critical role of science, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making in protecting and advancing global health, and transforming knowledge into meaningful health outcomes.

Understanding the One Health Approach

A central concept highlighted this year is the One Health approach—an integrated framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health.

According to the World Health Organization, One Health seeks to “balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems” by acknowledging that these systems are deeply interdependent. While this approach is often framed through Western science, its foundations align closely with Indigenous worldviews, values, and teachings, which have long emphasized the relationships between all living things.

Turning Knowledge into Action

World Health Day 2026 is not just about awareness—it’s about action. The campaign calls on healthcare organizations and professionals to champion science-driven solutions and strengthen partnerships that improve health at every level.

At Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre, this can mean:

• Supporting quality improvement initiatives, research, and innovation
• Promoting patient safety and evidence-based care standards
• Encouraging open dialogue and knowledge sharing among colleagues

A Shared Commitment

“Together for health” reflects the idea that improving health outcomes requires collective effort. By standing with science and working together, we can build more resilient healthcare systems and deliver better care for our patients and communities.

This World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to science, collaboration, and compassionate care, for every patient, every time.

To learn more about World Health Day and the One Health Approach, please go to: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/04/07/default-calendar/world-health-day-2026-together-for-health-stand-with-science and https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2026/key-messages

Shared on behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation

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Do you have a kitchen or bathroom renovation coming up?

Know someone getting engaged or married?

Or just want more reasons to get out and enjoy the year ahead?

If you said yes to any of the above, then you need to be at Bullseye Chase the Case presented by Doane Grant Thornton on April 16.

With 20 incredible prize packages — ranging from home upgrades to unforgettable experiences—there’s something in the room with your name on it.

Already planning a project, a trip, or a few nights out?

Why not kick it off by winning it…all while supporting a cause that matters as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their life.

100% of auction proceeds go directly to the Northern Cancer Fund — so while you’re walking away with something that amazing, you’re also ensuring that local women are receiving the best care possible when they need it.

Tickets are only available until April 9 and VIP is already sold out — don’t wait.

www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/case

Shared on behalf of Patricia Lang, TBRHSC Board Chair

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On behalf of the Hospital Board of Directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Laura Power as Chief of Staff for Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), effective April 20, 2026.  

Reporting to the Board of Directors, and in close collaboration with the President & CEO and Senior Leadership Council, the Chief of Staff will provide medical and administrative leadership to ensure medical services are delivered effectively and in alignment with Hospital By-laws, and strategic and operational priorities. In this role, Dr. Power will act as an advocate for safe, high-quality patient care; promoting innovation, evidence-based practice, and interprofessional engagement.

Dr. Power currently serves as Chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and brings extensive clinical and leadership experience to this position. Dr. Power holds a number of post-graduate medical licenses and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Obstetrics and Gynecology, and an Associate Professor at NOSM University. Throughout her career, Dr. Power has held numerous medical leadership roles, demonstrating a strong commitment to clinical excellence, professional accountability and system leadership.

Please join me in extending congratulations to Dr. Power. I look forward to her ongoing contributions to our Hospital, and I am confident in her abilities to serve the organization well in this new role for her.

Please also join me in expressing appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Staff, Dr. Bradley Jacobson for his dedication as he ends his term. I wish him continued success with future endeavors.

A plan is in place to ensure a smooth transition of medical leadership to maintain progress on key projects and priorities.

All staff, professional staff, learners, and volunteers are invited to tune in, stay informed, and get involved as in our monthly Town Hall. This is your chance to hear the latest updates from across our Hospital and Health Research Institute — from strategic priorities to day-to-day operations — and to have your voice heard.

Past and Upcoming Town Hall Dates Via Microsoft Teams

September 17 @ 2:00 p.m.
October 15 @ 2:00 p.m.
November 26 @ 2:00 p.m.
December 17 @ 2:00 p.m.
January 21 @ 2:00 p.m.
February 25 @ 2:00 p.m.
March 25 @ 2:00 p.m.
April 15 @ 2:00 p.m.
May 20 @ 2:00 p.m.
June 17 @ 2:00 p.m.

Got questions or feedback?

This is your forum. Ask questions live during the Q&A segment or submit them in advance to ensure the right people are available to respond.

Submit your questions by:

• Emailing TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net
• Asking in real time during the Q&A segment of the Town Hall.

Submitting questions in advance ensures the right people are available to respond.

Don’t miss it — we look forward to seeing you there!

If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Town Hall, visit the archive.

We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of NODDING training for our 3A champion staff — marking an important step forward in strengthening person-centred communication across our organization.

A multidisciplinary group from 3A came together for an immersive 2.5-hour training session, with representation from management, patient flow, nursing, and social work. The session was co-facilitated alongside four Patient and Family Advisors (PFAs), whose lived experiences brought powerful depth and authenticity to the learning.

The training provided a deep dive into empathy in healthcare — exploring common thinking traps, recognizing patient cues, and building the skills needed to foster meaningful, patient-centred interactions. PFAs shared real-life stories that highlighted the profound impact empathy has on patient experience, safety, and trust.

Participants actively engaged in hands-on role play, demonstrating the core elements of NODDING:

• Developing trust
• Interacting meaningfully
• Noticing patient cues
• Being genuine

These skills move beyond introduction and into intentional connection — enabling patients and families to feel heard, understood, and empowered to co-design their care.

3A will serve as the pilot unit for NODDING implementation, with rollout supported by the Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) team and led by our trained champion staff. This work reflects our continued commitment to embedding empathy into everyday practice — not as a soft skill, but as a critical driver of safety, quality, and patient experience.

The compassion and dedication demonstrated every day by the staff, professional staff, volunteers and learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is second to none; which is why celebrating Employee Recognition Week is so important. We, the Board, recognize the collective commitment to the health of patients and families of Northwestern Ontario is what sets us apart. In March we set aside a week to express our appreciation through small gestures, recognizing the dedication and exceptional work of those who support patient care – both directly or indirectly.

As a part of this celebratory week, we also hold our iCare Impact Awards – a forum for staff to recognize others for their efforts and outcomes that positively impact our patients and their families. This year’s winners reflect what our people do each and every day:

• Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Award – Trisha Desa, Registered Nurse (RN), for her work practicing trauma informed care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and implementing culturally appropriate breast/chest feeding prenatal classes in collaboration with community partners.
• Patient Experience Award – Linda Buchan Centre Staff, as the staff consistently go above and beyond to support patients during highly stressful situations. They work collaboratively to ensure each patient feels comfortable and receives the highest quality of care possible.
• Staff Experience Award – Anne Purves, RN, Manager of 3B Surgery, for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment.
• Research, Innovation & Learning Award – Clinical Nurse Specialists, Interprofessional Educators, and Nursing Practice Leaders, for their transformative work in the nursing on-boarding process, driving an innovative, dynamic, and continually evolving program that directly strengthens the organization’s nursing workforce.
• Sustainable Future Award – Open Doors Career Showcase Organizing Committee, for their innovative recruitment and retention initiative effort in designing an inclusive event that proactively builds our future workforce and fosters a culture of belonging.
• Vision Award – Miskwaa Biidaaban (Indigenous Collaboration department), for the work the Indigenous Care Coordinators (ICCs) do to support Indigenous patients receiving care at TBRHSC. The ICCs work tirelessly to ensure Indigenous patients feel they are supported, receiving equitable care, having their voices heard in their care plan, and ensuring Indigenous patients are receiving care in a culturally safe environment.
• Strategy In Action Award – Cook Serve Meal Program Service, for their dedication and hard work in the implementation of the Cook / Serve program, where meals are prepared in real time. This allows for a higher quality and more varied menu for patients, which has improved patient experience.

Congratulations to all our award winners and nominees for their work in advancing our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time.

This month, we also celebrate the generosity of our volunteers and Patient Family Advisors, who give so freely of their time. Their contributions to our Hospital community are invaluable, enhancing the care experience for patients and families and making our organization a warm and welcoming place. If you know or see a volunteer, please take this opportunity to thank them for their incredible commitment, and the meaningful difference they make in our community.

I would also like to recognize the volunteer members of the Board of Directors. Thank you for gifting your time and talent to guide the Hospital’s priorities, provide strategic direction and oversight in order to improve the quality of care for patients and families of Northwestern Ontario.

Finally, coming up next month, surveyors from Accreditation Canada will visit our Hospital. Accreditation ensures we meet nationally endorsed standards, provides a formal process for ongoing evaluation, and allows for discussion of education and training. We look forward to sharing details from the survey with the community when they are available.