TBRHSC Celebrates Franco-Ontario Day

“Francophones have played an essential role in the rich history of Northwestern Ontario,” said Chisolm Pothier, VP, Communications and Engagement, Aboriginal Affairs and Government Relations TBRHSC.
“With close to 8,000 francophones living in northwestern Ontario, improving services to francophone patients and families at TBRHSC remains a priority.”

On Friday, September 25th, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) took part in Franco-Ontario Day, the province-wide celebration of the rich contributions francophones have made to the cultural, historical, social, economic, and political life of the province. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Franco-Ontario flag, and 400 years of French presence in Ontario.

To celebrate the day, TBRHSC raised the Franco-Ontarian flag with the assistance of Suzanne McLeod, TBRHSC employee who won the 2014 Walk the Talk Award French Language Service Award. TBRHSC also hosted information booths about bilingual services and job postings, encouraged staff to wear green and white, and offered a traditional French dessert in the cafeteria. To top things off, a guitarist and fiddler were in attendance to entertain the crowd with traditional French Canadian music.

Lina Mayer, Executive Director from Novocentre and President of La Coopérative du regroupement des organismes francophones de Thunder Bay (ROFTB Inc) which is the cooperative that assembles all the Francophone organizations of Thunder Bay, participated in TBRHSC’s Franco-Ontario Day celebration. “As an active member of the francophone community, I am pleased and delighted to say that francophones have been and continue to be welcomed and involved at TBRHSC,” she says. “I would like to congratulate the Health Sciences Centre for their dedication to improving services to Francophone patients, families, employees and visitors.”

A number of initiatives have been taken at TBRHSC to better care for francophone patients and families in the region. Educational documents and care instructions, such as consent forms, are being translated and made available to patients and families. The Annual Report to the Community is also available in French at www.tbrhsc.net.