It is National Nursing Week and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. Meet Kendaaz White, a Registered Nurse at our Hospital.

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Kendaaz White recently graduated Lakehead University (class of 2025) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Throughout the past five years, he has been involved in multiple areas within the health care system, including rehab and treatment centres, long-term care homes and research studies within First Nations communities. With his array of experience in health care, Kendaaz ultimately found a true passion for nursing. He now works at TBRHSC as a Registered Nurse on 2C (Cardiology). Kendaaz shares, “I have consistently found fulfilment by helping and caring for patients and families as they go through some of the most difficult times in their lives. My ability to work as a nurse has allowed me to help many individuals and families physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ultimately, I am proud to be a Registered Nurse at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre!”

Click HERE to complete today’s National Nursing Week Trivia Questions.

Each submission will be entered into a draw to win prizes! Winners will be announced on the Daily Informed Newsletter during National Nursing Week (May 12-18).

Shared on behalf of David McConnell, Director, Regional Cancer Care Northwest & Prevention and Screening Services

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I am pleased to announce that Meagan McIlwain will assume the position of Interim Manager of, Outpatient Clinics, Nursing, Systemic Therapy, Palliative and Supportive Care, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre-Regional Cancer Care North West. This will be in effect on May 19, 2025 as Lori Hygaard officially transitions to her role as Manager of 1A Medical/Oncology Inpatient Unit.

Meagan graduated from Lakehead University in 2009 obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During her time as a nursing student, she spend her fourth year preceptorship on 1A where she became passionate about Oncology and ultimately accepted a position on 1A afterwards. In 2013, she transitioned to the Cancer Centre where she primarily worked as a Hematology RN and Charge RN. Meagan most recently was acting Coordinator of Outpatient Nursing in the Cancer Centre where she has gained experience in leadership.

Meagan will be responsible for overseeing the Management of the outpatient clinics in the Cancer Program, as well as leading and participating in many Quality Initiatives through Ontario Health-Cancer Care Ontario. Meagan’s well-rounded experience will make her a valuable asset in this position.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming her to her new role.

May 4 – 10, 2025, was Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. Thank you to everyone who attended the personal preparedness session in the Auditorium, as well as those who joined in on discussions about personal preparedness and hazard related trivia during unit rounding. There were many interesting questions raised regarding our internal Hospital emergency colour code processes, as well as regional risks, such as what this wildfire season might have in store.

Shout out to our two gift card winners:

• Haley Koopman, Academic Affairs
• Elizabeth Lempiala, Paediatrics

Don’t forget one free personal preparedness activity you can do throughout the year is to stay informed. How? Visit the Emergency Preparedness department webpage and tune into local news and emergency notification applications:

• Highway information, including road conditions and road closures via Ontario 511’s cellphone app and website
• Weather alerts via Environment Canada’s WeatherCAN cellphone app and website
• Forest fire activity and fire restrictions via the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources website
• Wildfire smoke conditions via FireSmoke Canada
• Air quality conditions via the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Thunder Bay monitoring station

If you have questions, please reach out to Mēsha Richard, Lead, Emergency Preparedness (ext. 6552 or mesha.richard@tbh.net)

It’s finally National Nursing Week and we want to acknowledge the incredible impact nurses have in shaping health care, driving innovation, and advocating for patient centred care.

National Nursing Week serves as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of nurses at our Hospital and across Canada. 

To the nurses at our Hospital — we are excited to celebrate this year’s edition of National Nursing Week with you! Click on the poster below to learn about the upcoming events and activities.

On May 9, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre proudly celebrated the graduation of 51 of our Hospital’s dedicated leaders and aspiring leaders who have actively participated in — and successfully completed—leadership development training through our most recent cohorts of the Humber College and Rotman School of Management programs.

This milestone reflects not only the hard work and commitment of our graduates but also our organization’s ongoing investment in leadership growth and team development. By continuing to support both personal and professional advancement, we are building a culture where excellence, innovation, and collaboration thrive.

Congratulations to each graduate on this outstanding achievement! Let’s continue to inspire one another, pursue excellence, and lead the way toward a stronger future — together.

Shared on behalf of Infection Prevention and Control

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Please be advised that the respiratory outbreak on Transitional Care Unit at TBRHSC is declared over. Thank you to everyone who assisted in ending hospital acquired transmission on this unit. 

All restrictions are lifted. 

As always, our number one priority is the safety of patients and their families, staff and visitors. 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 and assist us by maintaining compliance and due diligence.

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

Click HERE to complete today’s National Nursing Week Trivia Questions.

Each submission will be entered into a draw to win prizes! Winners will be announced on the Daily Informed Newsletter during National Nursing Week (May 12-18).

As part of this year’s edition of National Volunteer Week (April 27 – May 3), Directors at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) were invited to spend a day walking in the shoes of our dedicated volunteers. The initiative offered leaders a first-hand glimpse into the day-to-day contributions that volunteers make across departments in our Hospital.

From greeting patients at the front desk to assisting in the patient experience surveys, directors experienced the meaningful — and often unseen — ways volunteers enhance the patient experience. This year’s program reinforced the essential role volunteers play in shaping our Hospital’s culture, while fostering stronger connections between leadership and frontline support.

TBRHSC extends its deepest thanks to our volunteers — and to the directors who took the time to understand their impact. We look forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.

It is National Nursing Week and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. Meet Erika Whatley, a Registered Nurse at our Hospital.

Erika Whatley’s journey in nursing began here, working as a unit care aide while completing a diploma in Practical Nursing. In 2019, she graduated as a Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) and developed a passion for surgical nursing. However, she felt a strong drive to continue advancing in her career.

In 2020, Erika returned to school to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Nipissing University’s bridging program, all while balancing full-time work. After a challenging but fulfilling journey, she graduated with Honours in December 2023 and successfully completed her NCLEX in March 2024. Erika felt fortunate to secure a permanent part-time position in Hemodialysis, where she could continue to grow and make a meaningful impact.

Over the past year as a Registered Nurse, her drive to push forward has only strengthened, and she now serves on the Nursing Practice Council and as the Policy and Political Action Executive Network Officer for the RNAO Lakehead Chapter. Florence Nightingale’s words, “I attribute my success to this – I never gave or took any excuse,” continues to resonate with Erika as she remains committed to advancing nursing, constantly pursuing further education, and aiming toward a future where she can earn a Master’s degree and make an even greater difference in health care. This unwavering drive to keep learning and improving has been the foundation of her career, and Erika looks forward to the many opportunities ahead to continue pushing herself and the profession forward.