Steve is a licenced electrician at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. In his role, Steve maintains and repairs our Hospital’s electrical systems, ensuring the safety and functionality of equipment and lighting, and following protocols for patient and staff safety. From the smallest switches to the enormous generators, Steve is ready to tackle it all.

“My priority is always the patients,” says Steve. “Fixing beds, overbed lighting, the things that impact the patient’s care directly always comes first.”

Steve and the Maintenance team facilitates our Hospital’s strategic priorities of Patient Experience and Staff Experience by carefully planning their projects, and often coming in early or staying late. This is to support a positive experience for patients and ensure staff can work with minimal interruption. They collaborate internally and with contractors to ensure essential Hospital equipment is ready to go.
Check out these photos to see Steve in action.

In our Hospital, the clocks are all connected to a master time clock, to ensure accuracy and synchronicity. Steve is responsible for maintaining the universal clocks – a system that is crucial for accurate timekeeping, which is vital for coordinating patient care, administering medications, and recording medical events, ultimately minimizing errors and improving efficiency.

Our Hospital has an extensive fire alarm system, which Steve inspects daily. He ensures the system is in working order, handles any alarms, and troubleshoots any issues. When there is construction work being done in rooms, he is responsible for disabling the associated smoke detectors, to mitigate any false alarms.

A pneumatic tube system is used for sending materials throughout Hospital. This system allows for efficient and safe transport of materials, reducing contamination risk, saving staff time, and improving workflow, ultimately enhancing patient care. Steve handles the electrical components (including power and control systems), performs routine maintenance and resolves any issues to ensure the tube system is functioning safely and efficiently.

When accessing the industrial-sized power grid at our Hospital, safety is first! Steve is wearing a suit that protects against arc flashes, and must work in a pair. Here he is collaborating with a contractor, preparing to “rack” out a main breakers for routine maintenance.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Assembly adopting the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention represents a significant step forward in the global efforts to eliminate racism and discrimination.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is committed to delivering high-quality care while addressing racism and discrimination that lead to a lack of trust or delays in seeking health care services.

Building on our Hospital’s vision of celebrating diversity and creating a sense of belonging, The Equity Diversity Inclusion (EDI) Steering Committee, in collaboration with partners from EDI Strategic Plan projects, are working to embed EDI into all that we do with the development of an EDI framework and toolkit. These initiatives represent small steps forward along our journey to providing a safe, equitable environment for our patients, their families, and staff.

To learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, please visit:

The United Nations
The Government of Canada

You can also learn more about the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination here.

Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Celebration and Awareness Day is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness.

The day aims to recognize and celebrate the diversity of Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ identities, expressions, and experiences, while also raising awareness about the unique challenges they face and highlighting their valuable contributions.

Developed by the Two Spirit community and the Centre for Community-Based Research in Alberta, this observance takes place on March 20, intentionally coinciding with the spring equinox—a time symbolizing transformation and change, which holds significance for Two-Spirit peoples.

Together, we are advancing towards providing a culturally safe experience for all patients and staff and fostering understanding, community, and safety for all patients. Embracing these values is a top priority in our Strategic Plan 2026, and we are actively working to integrate them into every facet of our organization.

To learn more, click here!

Check out the YouTube videos and the podcast below to hear the stories of Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA+ Indigenous individuals.

The Indigenous Doctor Helping Trans Youth

• Alberta, Canada. Doctor James Makokis identifies as “two-spirit” – a term used by and for Indigenous LGBT+ people in North America who identify with both masculinity and femininity and which harks back to pre-colonial third gender roles. On the First Nations reservation of Kehewin Cree Nation, Dr. Makokis spends much of his working life supporting other “two-spirit” people, particularly transgender teenagers, many of whom face persecution within their own communities.

Elder Ma-Nee Chacaby Talks About 2-Spirit Identities

• Two-Spirit Elder Ma-Nee Chacaby shares her personal story as well as teachings

A 2-Spirit Journey:

Finding Identity Through Indigenous Culture

• Gina knew there was something missing in her life. Seeking help from a spiritual healer, she realized the answers lied within her own Mi’gmaq culture.

Deconstructing Colonial Gender Roles with Dr. Ruth Green (Podcast)

• Green is an activist turned accidental academic. She identifies as an urban Indigenous person and is a citizen of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She is from the Kanien’keha:ka Nation and is a member of the Turtle Clan.
• Green likes to think, discuss, and write about Indigenous education. She teaches about the Indigenous resistance to the social issues that the geo-political nation-state of Canada has created while also working to address the impacts on Indigenous communities.

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Did you know that Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) participates in the co-operative education placement program?

Co-operative education (also known as high school co-op) provides secondary school students with an immersive learning experience in a safe, culturally responsive environment. The co-operative education program aligns with our mission as an academic health sciences centre and our strategic priority Staff Experience , allowing students to learn about TBRHSC and to apply their skills and interests in different areas of the Hospital. Placements have been offered in various departments including Medical Device Reprocessing, Intensive Care Unit, Cancer Center, Cafeteria, Professional Practice, Nutrition & Food Services, Surgical Inpatient & Neurosurgery, Hemodialysis, Patient Portering, Housekeeping and Operating Room. Students are able to engage in unique learning opportunities that are not only memorable, but allow them to gain practical, hands on work experience that enhances their resume. In addition, the program can help students decide on a post-secondary career path, and may find themselves working at TBRHSC in the future!

Each student has a direct supervisor in their placement area, available to support them and answer any questions.

Here is what our supervisors have to say about the co-operative education experience:

Kerry Posselwhite, Manager, Base Hospital/Regional Trauma Program/Nurse Lead Outreach Team/Upsala Nursing Station

“The Northwest Region Prehospital Care Program, Trauma program and Nurse Lead Outreach Team all had the privilege of having Preston, a grade 12 student from St. Patrick’s High School. In the short months Preston had with this placement, he was able to widen his knowledge in the Paramedic field, office environment, experience a routine workday with the Nurse Practitioner’s and gain knowledge while assisting in tasks with the Trauma program. While each day brought a new challenge, Preston never missed an opportunity to learn and gain new skills, and demonstrated that he was a team player and was always positive and willing to help. It was a pleasure having Preston and we wish him all the best in his future education.”

Laura Jurimae, Manager, 3A Surgery

“Having Kali on 3A Surgery was an absolute pleasure. This was the first time 3A had a co-op student on the unit. Kali consistently approached her work with a positive attitude, always arriving with a smile that set a positive tone for the day. Kali was proactive in seeking out tasks and projects beyond her assigned responsibilities. She demonstrated eagerness to learn and grow, consistently taking on new challenges. Kali’s tenure as a co-op student was marked by her outstanding work ethic, proactive approach, friendly demeanor, and commitment to continuous improvement. We appreciated having her as a part of our team, and we wish her luck in the future.”

Ron Garon, Manager, Perioperative Services

“Cameron came to the OR knowing she wanted a career in health care, but was undecided on the path she wished to take; after her experience in the OR she has chosen nursing as her entry point into the Health Care industry. Cameron came prepared daily and researched the procedures she was going to be observing. The patients were extremely receptive to having a co-op student observe their procedure. Having a co-op student is rewarding for all parties involved and offers insight into areas most students would never be able to see”

Katherine Tuomi, Manager, Diagnostic Imaging

“We had Carrie in Diagnostic Imaging for co-op placement and she was definitely an asset. From day one, she was an enthusiastic learner and eager to help out in any area that she was needed. As Diagnostic Imaging encompasses many imaging modalities and specialties, we wanted to rotate her through and give her exposure to as many as possible so that she could make an informed future career decision. Carrie approached her tasks and our patients with a high work ethic, a positive attitude and a friendly “patient-first” demeanour which supported the TBRHSC vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. We were truly pleased to have Carrie as part of our Diagnostic Imaging team, and we wish her well in all her future endeavours.”

Edith Hart, Manager, Critical Care and Respiratory Services

“Ray and Nadia were awesome additions to the ICU team. They had many opportunities to learn all about critical care nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy and physiotherapy. It was a pleasure to have them on our team.”

Participating in a co-op placement at TBRHSC can help students see the possibilities that the future can bring and it assists us in developing our future workforce. Students create community connections while observing the value of education, and of being engaged, and compassionate members of the community.
Each semester the high schools receive a list of the available co-operative education placements. To learn more about future high school co-op placement opportunities contact the Human Resources Department at tbrhsc.humanresources@tbh.net.

Shared on behalf of Blake Rathje, Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Distribution, Purchasing & Stores

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Please note, Stores and the Print Shop will be closing early to complete year-end inventory counts on Friday, March 21, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.

Access to Stores will only be available in emergency situations. Please place orders for Stock items prior to the end of day on Thursday, March, 20. Orders placed on Friday, March 21, may not be delivered until Monday, March, 24.  

Stores will re-open and resume regular hours on Saturday, March 22, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. 

For more information, please contact, Blake Rathje Manager, Strategic Sourcing & Distribution, Purchasing & Stores at Blake.Rathje1@tbh.net.

Today is Dietitian Day in Canada. It celebrates dietitians as regulated health care professionals, committed to using their specialized knowledge and skills to translate the science of nutrition into terms everyone can understand to unlock food’s potential and support healthy living for all Canadians.

Dietitians are rigorously trained and regulated health care professionals and remain the most credible source of food and nutrition information. Dietitians can help cut through the clutter of fads and gimmicks. They provide ethical, evidence-based nutrition advice to help you eat in a way that works with your culture and traditions, preferences, nutritional and personal needs such as taste, food skills, budget, and health conditions.

Happy Dietitian Day to all the dietitians at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who support hundreds of patients each year. We connected with TBRHSC dietitians to talk to them about their role.

Today’s spotlight features Olivia!

Name: Olivia Zanette
Position: Registered Dietitian

Tell us about your role on the Nutrition and Food Service team. The Regional Bariatric Care Centre (RBCC) endorses treatment based on the three pillars of obesity management that support everyday nutrition and activity: psychological intervention, pharmacological therapy, and bariatric surgery. We offer a number of treatment options for patients such as pharmacotherapy and/or meal replacement therapy and bariatric surgery in conjunction with nutrition and physical activity counselling and psychological intervention.  My role as a Registered Dietitian working within the RBCC focuses on nutritional management of obesity as a chronic disease.  We collaborate with patients to help enact realistic, sustainable nutrition lifestyle behaviours and skills to support healthy living in conjunction with their treatment plan.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role? Dietitians are a main point of contact with patients within the RBCC, we work with patients over the course of years. We build and maintain relationships with a variety of diverse patients, getting to know them well. At early points of contact in a patient’s journey, we often spend time discussing health and quality of life goals, how living in a larger body influences daily life and what they would like to see themself achieve or improve through treatment. Watching patients achieve their goals and seeing the impacts it has on their health and quality of life in real time is the most rewarding part of my role. 

What inspired you to work in the field?I spent time at the RBCC as a dietetic intern, it was by far the most unique and personally intriguing placement I was engaged in. I also have people within my life living with obesity, some who have accessed bariatric treatment and saw the benefits and positive impact to their lives, making this area meaningful to me. 

How does working on a team of individuals from diverse backgrounds contribute to a positive impact on patient experience? Being a part of a dynamic interprofessional team is something that has helped me grow within my career as a Dietitian, it gives you such an appreciation for the wealth of knowledge coworkers from different health care backgrounds provide and shows you different perspectives. Working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team also helps to provide patients with individualized care and support based on what their needs may be.

Stay tuned for our next spotlight this week!

With Perkopolis, a proud member of TBHRSC Affinity Program, you can save more on everything from clothes and groceries, to events and travel. This perks program is free for you, so start enjoying members-only offers today.

To register:

1. Go to perkopolis.com
2. Enter our corporate emails address
3. Look for an emails from Perkopolis with a link to complete your registration

View the full Affinity List here.