We would like to inform you that construction work will start outside the Main Entrance (at the revolving doors) on March 24th. During this time, please be aware of the following activities:

• Construction fencing will be placed around the work area outside the Main Entrance, between the West Entrance and the Renal Entrance Doors, to ensure the safety of staff, patients, and visitors.

• The contractors will be constructing a covered walkway for the Stairwell ‘E’ Emergency Exit, to prepare for future construction phasing – This will be an exit only pathway when finished.

• West Entrance and Renal Entrances will remain open.

As a reminder until the interior flooring work is completed:

• Regional Cancer Care patients only can continue to enter through the West Entrance, to access Regional Cancer Care reception
• All other patients and visitors can still access the facility via the Renal Entrance Doors (adjacent to the main entrance) and utilize the A-Corridor back to the main corridor and then back to the Main Lobby.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/baby-friendly-initiative-20-hour-breastfeeding-course-tickets-1297325207619?aff=oddtdtcreator

Shared on behalf of Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Staff TBRHSC, Associated Professor, NOSM

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We are excited to announce that Michelle Addison has accepted the position of Director, Chief of Staff’s Office.

Michelle brings a wealth of experience in healthcare leadership, professional practice, and interprofessional collaboration. Since 2014, she has served as Director of Health Professions & Collaborative Practice, where she oversees professional practice for 29 healthcare professions, advances best practices, and leads collaborative initiatives. She previously supported Medical Affairs as the Interim Director, providing strategic leadership for the department, including the Hospitalist Program.

Michelle is highly regarded for her expertise in quality improvement and change management, having designed and facilitated over 150 workshops, retreats, and improvement events focused on enhancing health care team collaboration and patient care outcomes. She has been a Project Lead for multiple collaborative leadership initiatives, taking an evidence-based approach to advancing interprofessional practice. Her contributions in this area were recognized with the OHA Health Achieve Leading Practices Award for her work in leading change collaboratively to strengthen interprofessional practice.

In addition to her leadership in hospital settings, Michelle is an Assistant Professor at NOSM University, Registered Corporate Coach™ and Past-Chair of the Inquiries, Reports and Complaints Committee at the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Her deep knowledge of health care policy, governance, and performance management will be invaluable in her new role.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Michelle to our team!

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.