The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre is hosting A Walk for Healing – Heartbeat of the Drum on May 10, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Waverly Park and walking down Red River Road to Marina Park. This walk honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and carries forward the legacy of Frances Wesley’s original 2016 walk.
The more voices we have spreading the word, the stronger our community showing will be. Please feel free to post the poster on your bulletin boards, social media, and share it with anyone who may want to join us.
Congratulations Kristin Spafford from Medical Affairs! She is the winner of last week’s Accreditation Trivia. Kristin won a $25 gift card to Eat Local Pizza.
Keep an eye on iNformed for the weekly Accreditation Trivia question for your chance to win.
Accreditation Trivia – Previous Questions and Answers
Week 1 Question: What are the four pillars of the Strategic Plan?
Answer: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Patient Experience; Staff Experience; Research, Innovation and Learning
Week 2 Question: How do you report a patient safety incident or near miss?
Answer: Patient Safety Reporting console (Incident Learning System [ILS])
Week 3 Question:How do you report workplace violence?
Answer:
If an employee is harmed, Employee Incident Reporting System (OH&S Incident System) (part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
If a patient is harmed, Patient Safety Reporting console (also part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
I would like to begin this month’s Blog by letting you know about some of the challenges surrounding our budget, preparing you for accreditation, and acknowledging what the past few months have looked like across our organization.
We are four months into the calendar year and our capacity pressures continue. A prolonged flu and RSV season have pushed volumes up at a time when the broader system is already under pressure. We all recognize and appreciate the hard work and extra efforts of our teams to support the continuing patient flow and transitions. We will continue to work with our partners, including Ontario Health to problem solve and ensure patients receive timely care in the most appropriate setting.
On the topic of system pressures, as you may recall in my past blogs and Town Halls, I referenced budgetary processes. The Ministry has directed every Ontario hospital to find a path to a balanced budget over the next three years. Cuts at other hospitals across the province have been in the news, and the Ministry has told each and every hospital in the province to find low-risk savings that will help to modernize and strengthen the health care system for sustainability, while not impacting quality of care and access. We are working with Ontario Health and our partners to identify those savings. We do struggle with this work as we are the only regional tertiary academic hospital in Northwestern Ontario, operating with fewer resources than most of our peers serving smaller populations.
While I do not have all the answers today and this can feel unsettling, please know that I will keep you informed as decisions take shape, and tell you what I know when I know it. If you have ideas about efficiency in your area, send them to me. Many a times, frontline staff see things leadership does not. This will be a team effort.
Our Accreditation Survey is almost upon us. In two weeks it is our chance to showcase the important work that we do here each and every day. During the week of May 11th, surveyors will be walking around our facility, talking to staff and observe interactions with patients and families. Please take the opportunity to review the posted information at your unit and at the link here. If a surveyor approaches you, speak to the work you do every day. If you do not know an answer, say so and refer them to your supervisor or unit leader. That is a professional response. Accreditation is a chance to show outside reviewers what we already know about ourselves.
We all have a role to play in shaping the patient experience. Through the Family CARE grants program some of you have submitted ideas to better our care and the overall experience through funding support by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. When those grants come through and a unit gets a piece of equipment or a program improvement that makes care better, I want to be clear in recognizing the donors who make it happen. I am talking about the person who bought a 50/50 ticket because they believe in this Hospital. The family that wrote a cheque after a loved one was treated here. The estate gift from someone who is no longer with us but wanted their final act to be one of generosity to this region. Those are the people who fund the improvements you see at the bedside. They support us because they believe in the hard work that you all do.
Every piece of donor-funded equipment in this Hospital exists because someone decided that the people of Northwestern Ontario deserved better. So, when you see a Family CARE Grant land on your unit, take a moment to remember that it came from a person who cares and wanted to help you do your job better.
To every staff member, professional staff member, volunteer and learner here, thank you. Every day, you do make a difference.
As always, you can reach me directly at rhonda.ellacott@tbh.net. I appreciate hearing from you.
Congratulations to April’s Patient and Family Centered Care Shout Out (Volunteer Edition) Winners, Cathi McIlwain and Rosetta Brizzi!
Cathi is a dedicated volunteer with the Cancer Clinic at TBRHSC who brings compassion, warmth and a light that truly brightens the experience of our patients. Whether she’s offering a listening ear or quietly providing a coffee and a treat to someone, Cathi meets each person exactly where they are with kindness, empathy, and grace. She also provides that same care to the staff, stepping in wherever she can to lend a hand and allowing them to focus more fully on patient care. Cathi’s genuine joy and a heartfelt desire to help make a meaningful difference in the patient experience create a comforting presence for everyone she meets.
Rosetta is a long-time volunteer at TBRHSC and has received recognition from staff and patients for her dedication and compassion within the Paediatric department. Rosetta consistently goes above and beyond in her role, demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting children and their families during what can often be challenging times. Through thoughtful actions and small gestures, Rosetta’s presence enhances the Paediatric environment and supports the emotional wellbeing of those in care, bringing joy, distraction, and reassurance to patients, and helping to create a more positive and less intimidating Hospital experience.
Hospital staff and leadership gathered to celebrate the 2025 Health Sciences Foundation Family CARE Grants, highlighting the $124,236 invested in frontline ideas to enhance patient care across the Hospital.
Frontline staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre play a critical role in shaping how care is delivered, bringing forward ideas that make a real difference for patients and families.
Through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation’s Family CARE (Care Advancement Recommended by Employees) Grants program, many of those ideas are able to be brought to life.
Now in its 17th year, the Family CARE Grants program continues to empower frontline healthcare workers to lead meaningful improvements across the Hospital. These staff-driven initiatives reflect real needs at the bedside and are designed to enhance care, comfort, and the overall experience for patients, their families, and the staff who support them.
This year, 100% of submitted Family CARE Grant ideas have been funded, bringing every frontline idea to life.
This was made possible through donor generosity, including a $15,000 contribution on behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Volunteer Association, and represents an investment of more than $126,000 into patient care.
Over the course of my career at the Hospital, I’ve seen firsthand the level of thought and care frontline staff bring to their patients,” says Sandra Willson, Board Director with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation and Co-Chair of the Family CARE Grants Selection Committee. “While larger investments often draw attention, it’s often the simplest, most thoughtful improvements that can make the greatest impact.”
“We’re proud to support the ideas coming from the Hospital’s frontline staff, who see every day where improvements can make a real difference,” says Glenn Craig, CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. “We are looking forward to the fall cycle and all the great ideas that will continue to be generated from frontline staff.”
“Our deepest thanks go to our staff, who are often the first to recognize opportunities to improve the care experience for patients and their families, and who bring forward valuable perspectives and ideas,” says Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Our staff truly embody patient and family-centred care and play a vital role in shaping meaningful improvements”
Some of the items making a difference this year include:
Medi Teddy IV bag covers for Paediatrics will help reduce fear and anxiety for children by concealing blood or medication bags. These reusable, BPA- and latex-free covers attach to IV poles and feature an open back for easy access by caregivers.
A vibroacoustic therapy rocker for Child and Adolescent Mental Health will provide a calming sensory experience by combining gentle rocking with therapeutic sound vibrations. Designed to support relaxation, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional regulation, it will help patients self-soothe and manage distress more effectively, potentially reducing reliance on medication.
A Ring Rescue Kit for the Emergency Department will allow clinicians to quickly and safely remove rings from swollen or injured fingers, reducing complications and improving patient comfort. Made in Halifax, this innovative system can cut through modern materials like titanium and stainless steel, and has also been featured on the tv show The Pitt.
Three accessible outdoor picnic tables will provide inclusive seating in two garden areas on the ground floor, featuring a design that accommodates individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or IV poles. These durable, eco-friendly tables will create more welcoming outdoor spaces for patients, visitors, and staff, supporting comfort, connection, and overall well-being.
These projects represent just a few examples of how frontline ideas are enhancing patient care and experience. View the full list of 2025–2026 Family CARE Grants at: www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare
Starting the week of April 27, the first floor main corridor and public washrooms are being painted (see map below). Painting will take place for multiple weeks.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff MacDonald, Facility Planning Assistant, Maintenance, at jeffrey.macdonald@tbh.net.
2. Review the attached resource titled Indigenous Child & Family Services Guidance Document. This document is intended to support and guide staff on which communities have received authority to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services and how to contact them.
Policy Changes:
Addition of the Federal legislation An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families (2020).
Addition of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Dibenjikewin Onaakonikewin (KIDO) child protection organization, representing the community of Big Trout Lake First Nation.
Process Reminders:
All staff and professional staff have a Duty to Report.
A Duty to Report is required when a child has confirmed harm, or there are reasonable grounds to believe there is a risk of harm to a child.
If you are unsure if an incident is reportable you may call a local child protection organization and provide the scenario (with patient identifying information omitted). They will provide you with direction on whether the situation warrants a Duty to Report.
A Duty to Report must be made by the individual that witnessed the event or heard the statements.
No one can make a report on your behalf as this would be considered hearsay.
Share only the information from the patient record that is directly relevant to the suspicion of abuse or neglect.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your manager. Social Workers can provide you with guidance on the process but they cannot make the report on your behalf.
Regional Cancer Care Northwest will be closed for the full day on Friday, May 8, 2026, to allow staff to participate in the Community Oncology Professional Education (COPE) Workshop.
For inquiries that day, please contact Franca Pellegrino at (807) 620-5792.
Managers to ensure that the updated policy is added to their area’s emergency codes binder and that all workers review the attached policy and safety huddle.
Policy changes:
Removal of Stage 1 Partial Exclusion and Stage 2 Full Exclusion; replaced with new single response for Code Grey – Air Exclusion to better align with building automation capabilities.
New definitions for Air Quality Health Index, Hold & Secure, Regular Hours, and After Hours.
Updated Roles & Responsibilities table to include steps for rapid onset events and prolonged air quality events.
Emphasized that a Code Grey Air Exclusion is the complete shutdown of the HVAC system with serious downstream impacts; specific instructions are captured in Code Grey – Air Exclusion – Physical Plant Response (PP-711).
Removed Appendix 2 – Forest Fire/Prolonged Air Quality Issues Response Guidelines, as actions for such situations are now covered in the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitoring (MTC-SOP-401).
New Appendix 4 – Equipment Disruptions; this is a high level overview.
Process Reminders:
If a worker witnesses or suspects there is a situation involving an external toxic airborne substance:
Worker will immediately report the issue to the Maintenance Supervisor on Call via Switchboard at “55”.
Maintenance Supervisor on Call will assess for required immediate actions and advise Switchboard if any all-staff instructions and/or a Hold & Secure message needs to be announced.
Upon Code Grey Air Exclusion Overhead Announcement:
Close all interior doors (including fire doors).
Encourage all building occupants to remain indoors until the “All Clear” is announced; Entrance to and exit from the Hospital will be restricted.
Any area that has specialized processing equipment that requires local exhaust system will cease to process as soon as practically possible and shutdown the exhaust thereafter.
Do not start new procedures.
Standby for further instructions.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness (ext. 6552 or mesha.richard@tbh.net)
