Enjoy complementary Well-Being Therapy Sessions during Employee Recognition Week (February 28 – March 7, 2025).

For more information including session dates, times, and locations please visit https://erw.tbrhsc.net/

Reflexology with Jillian Veneziano

Jill Veneziano is a Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist (RCRT) and a 300-hour certified yoga teacher with specialized training in Ashtanga, Yin Yoga, and Traditional Chinese Medicine elements. With nearly a decade of experience in the wellness industry, she offers holistic treatments that promote relaxation, balance, and overall well-being. Jill provides reflexology and yoga massage to support stress relief and recovery, helping individuals feel rejuvenated and restored.

Auricular Acupuncture to Regulate the Nervous System with Carrie Johnsen

Auricular Acupuncture to Regulate the Nervous System with Registered Acupuncturist Carrie Johnsen. Drop-in if you have 20 minutes to sit and breathe with 3-5 acupuncture needles placed at points on the ear used clinically to help manage physical manifestations of stress.

Soft Tissue Therapy with Dr. Megan Rubin

Dr. Megan Rubin, BSc., D.C. will be providing soft tissue therapy to address muscle tension and restore motion in stiff joints. Dr. Rubin can also provide rehabilitation exercises, along with ergonomic and postural advice to prevent future pain or limitations that are keeping you from enjoying the activities you love. Dr. Rubin believes that each treatment is unique in order to optimize health and well-being.

Mini Massages with Angelo Papa

A mini massage is a brief therapeutic session, lasting 5 minutes, focusing on key areas like the neck, shoulders, and back. It’s designed for quick relief, offering immediate benefits like reduced stress and muscle tension. This makes it an excellent choice for busy individuals looking for a fast way to rejuvenate and enhance mental clarity during a hectic day.

Therapeutic Touch with Karen Eberhardt

Therapeutic Touch® is a holistic, evidence-based therapy that incorporates the intentional and compassionate use of universal energy to promote balance and well-being. Therapeutic Touch practitioners are educated to modify a person’s energy field when disease or illness obstructs or depletes their flow of energy. The Therapeutic Touch treatment restores order and harmony to the client’s field.

Meditation for Coworkers with Justyna Kondakow

Justyna holds space to offer tools to calm the nervous system in a quick, 15-minute session during your lunch break. You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to remove all thoughts and there’s certainly no pressure for ultimate cosmic bliss, although, you just might find it.

Shared on behalf of Dr. William Harris, VP, Medical and Academic Affairs

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I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Brienne Bodkin to the position of Medical Lead, Maternity Care and Perinatal Services, effective immediately.

Dr. Bodkin will work in partnership with the Women and Children’s Program Administrative Director and Managers/Coordinators to ensure operational excellence and patient outcome-orientated, cost effective, quality maternity care and perinatal services at the TBRHSC and the Maternity Centre.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Bodkin to her new role.

Hello, Boozhoo, Bonjour.

As the snow begins to melt and people start getting outside more, I’m hopeful that we’ll soon see a decrease in influenza and respiratory illnesses. It’s been an especially challenging season — among the worst in recent years — marked by a late start and longer-lasting illnesses. As you know, this has placed significant demands on our Emergency Department and overall healthcare resources, as we continue to operate at record capacity. I want to sincerely thank each of you for your dedication, resilience, and commitment to providing exceptional care for every patient, every time, even under strenuous conditions. Please know your efforts are seen and appreciated.

On that note, we are kicking off Employee Recognition Week (ERW). This special week is dedicated to recognizing the outstanding efforts of our staff and professional team members across both the Hospital and Health Research Institute. Throughout the week, we’ll be hosting various activities and small gestures of appreciation to highlight the positive impact you have on our Hospital and research community. To learn more about ERW, please click here.

February is Black History Month, and in alignment with our Strategic Plan 2026 pillar, we’re committed to integrating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) into all we do to foster an environment where We all Belong. Throughout the month, our EDI team shared educational resources and articles to deepen our understanding of the significance of Black History Month. We’ve also explored the diverse accomplishments of Black Canadians and look forward to continuing this journey as we build on these resources and celebrate more achievements in the future.

Speaking of accomplishments, I’m proud to highlight Dr. Alexandra Bastiany, a valued member of our Hospital community. Dr. Bastiany recently received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded in recognition of her significant contributions as the first Black woman to practice as an Interventional Cardiologist — right here at our Hospital. Please join me in congratulating her on this incredible and inspiring achievement.

In case you missed it, our February Town Hall covered exciting new initiatives, including updates on the Cardiovascular Surgery Project, which promises to bring advanced care closer to home. I invite you to watch the latest Town Hall recording (found here) for more information.

Please remember how much we value everything you do. Together, we’re accomplishing remarkable things while maintaining our philosophy of keeping patients at the center of everything we do. Thank you for your continued dedication and compassion.

Thank you, everyone, and have a wonderful month ahead!

As always, I welcome your feedback — about this blog or anything else on your mind. Feel free to reach out to me at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I appreciate hearing from you.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/baby-friendly-initiative-20-hour-breastfeeding-course-tickets-1144632630009?aff=oddtdtcreator

As part of our commitment to keeping staff engaged and informed on our Strategic Plan 2026, Strategy and Performance is sharing updates in alignment with the identified priorities: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Patient Experience, Staff Experience and Research, Innovation, & Learning.

The February 26th Operational Updates and Strategic Planning Meeting featured an update on Sustainable Future: Clinical Services Plan and was presented by Michael Del Nin, Director, Strategy and Performance and Wayne Taylor, Director, Cardiovascular, Medicine and Renal Program.

Visit the Strategic Plan 2026 page on the Hospital’s corporate intranet, where these presentations, along with other resources can be found.

**Revised Closure Date

This notice is to inform you that our contractor will be mobilizing to site soon for the upcoming Cardiovascular Surgery (CVS) Project, which will affect the BEAR (B1) parking lot. Starting Saturday, March 1, the BEAR (B1) parking lot will be closed and designated as the contractors staging area. The MOOSE (B2) and EAGLE (A1) parking lots will be prioritized for patient use.

We ask that all staff & visitors be mindful of the changes and allow extra time for parking, if necessary. Please ensure that your patients are notified of these parking adjustments ahead of their visits so they can plan accordingly.

Key Points to Remember:

• Impacted area: BEAR (B1) Parking Lot
• Date of closure: Saturday, March 1
• Expected duration: Until further notice
• Prioritized Patient Parking: MOOSE (B2) and EAGLE (A1) parking lots

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we move forward with this vital project. Further details, including detour maps, updates, and mitigation efforts, will be communicated regularly as construction progresses.

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to improving patient care at TBRHSC.

For further inquiries, please contact Aaron Bruno at aaron.bruno@tbh.net.

February is National Therapeutic Recreation Month! This is a time to celebrate the healthcare 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 Therapeutic Recreationists that provide exceptional patient care at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Thank you for all the work that you do!

“It is a joy to help people find their passions, learn new skills, connect with community, nature, art and the beauty around us everyday. Recreation and leisure helps people build confidence, restore connection, and discover passion- ingredients that help us heal and gives hope.” – Donna Ross, Therapeutic Recreationist – Adult Mental Health Program

“People who tell themselves they are too busy for recreation may in time struggle with mental wellness. By making small changes in our daily lives we can make a significant impact on our overall wellness.” – David Pyle, Therapeutic Recreationist – Forensic Mental Health Program

“Things you can do include improving sleep, increasing movement, developing mindfulness or practicing gratitude.” – Mark Kozyra, Therapeutic Recreationist – Forensic Mental Health Program

“Therapeutic recreation is essential because it empowers individuals to reclaim their joy, strength, and independence, fostering physical, emotional and social well-being. It reminds us that healing is not just about restoring function, but also about enhancing life’s quality and reconnecting with the world around us.” – Alexandrea Seggewiss, Therapeutic Recreationist – Assertive Community Treatment Team

Congratulations to the Power Puffs team for securing victory in the highly competitive 2024-2025 Nursing Skills Day Escape Room Challenge, completing the course in an impressive 16 minutes and 20 seconds!

Nursing hires are invited to participate in Nursing Skills Days after three months of employment to refine and reinforce essential clinical skills.

The winning team included Maddy B. (2C), Patricia D. (1A), Lara G. (3B), Lauryn H. (2C), Mya H. (2B), Leslie K. (3C), and Nathaniel Q. (ED). Their swift performance showcases both their teamwork and clinical expertise under pressure.

We’re pleased to inform you that T4 tax slips for the 2024 tax year are now available for viewing and printing through the Employee Self Service (ESS) Portal.

To access your T4 tax slip, simply log into the ESS portal and select the “Tax Slips” option.

A quick reminder: If you plan to access your T4 from home, you must first enroll in Cisco Duo to enable multi-factor authentication. If you haven’t done this yet, please contact the Help Desk at 684-6411 or help@tbh.net for assistance.

Please note that some employees may receive two T4 slips for the same tax year. We kindly ask you to review your tax documents carefully and ensure both slips are included in your income tax preparation, if applicable.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Michael Iorianni, Manager of Payroll & Accounting, at 684-6917 or michael.iorianni@tbh.net.

Every year in Canada, Pink Shirt Day is observed on the last Wednesday in February to take a stand against bullying.

The first Pink Shirt Day took place in 2007. It was inspired by the efforts of two Grade 12 students in Nova Scotia, who distributed pink shirts to all of the boys at their school in a show of solidarity for a grade 9 boy who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt.

Bullying includes behaviours such as physical aggression, verbal abuse, exclusion, or online harassment that are repeated; these behaviours humiliate, intimidate, cause physical and emotion harm, and traumatize the person who is being bullied. Over 75% of people say that they have experienced bullying.

Youth who are bullied experience long-term impacts to their physical and mental health, including stress-related illnesses, low self-esteem, and suicidality (BullyingCanada, 2025).

To learn more about how to support youth who are being bullied, please visit BullyingCanada, here.

To learn more about Pink Shirt Day, please visit The CKNW Kids’ Fund’s Pink Shirt Day website, here.