TBRHSC Board Chair Report (February 2026)

We enter 2026 acknowledging the extraordinary commitment of our staff and physicians, volunteers and partners who continue to serve our community under significant pressure. The challenges faced over the holiday season were a record number of patient visits including an increase in acutely ill patients. In response, we adopted enhanced masking requirements. We continue to be dedicated to protecting our patients, families, and staff to ensure we have sufficient capacity during this influenza season.

The focus of this report is to celebrate our workforce and their commitment to the community. It is a testament to the culture of this organization that our teams continued to support our broader community. Staff participated in the annual food drive in support of St. Andrew’s Dew Drop Inn and the Emergency Department supported the Children’s Aid annual Christmas Wish Campaign. These are just a few of many examples of care and compassion even when stretched.

The Paediatric Emergency Transport Team (PETT) recently marked its one-year anniversary of its first paediatric transport. This highly skilled team collaborates with existing provincial transport teams and ORNGE to transport children (primarily under one year of age) to a higher level of care, either at TBRHSC or a specialized children’s hospital. This initiative drastically improves access to care and reduces wait times for these younger patients in need of critical care. Throughout last year, TBRHSC celebrated many inspiring and significant milestones that illustrated the unwavering commitment to our mission. I am deeply impressed with the ongoing advancements and the ingenuity of the dedicated teams who continually strive to elevate the care and services we provide to our communities. The collective efforts of our talented teams through innovative care delivery and community engagement enable us to go above and beyond to ensure care needs are met, while adapting to an ever changing health care environment. I invite you to learn more about these highlights of 2025 by reading HERE.

One final note, strong governance is required to navigate the challenges faced across healthcare in the North. To that end, TBRHSC’s Board of Directors is looking to fill four Board Director vacancies and two Committee vacancies. This is an incredible opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to health care for patients and families across Northwestern Ontario. The Board and its Committees help guide how care is delivered, how resources are stewarded, and how TBRHSC lives its commitment to equity, compassion, and accountability. Learn more on these opportunities by visiting our website:

Committee Community Member Volunteer Opportunity

Board of Directors Volunteer Opportunity