Report from Patricia Lang
Chair, Board of Directors
December 2024
Thank you to all staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers for working with such dedication and compassion over the past year. I am inspired and I admire your professionalism and your genuine care for patients and families during a time when we are seeing high patient volumes.
Last month, we unveiled in our lobby a permanent plaque honouring the ancestral lands of Fort William First Nation, the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 and the First Nation communities within this Treaty. Having this plaque at the Hospital is an enduring sign of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation. As identified in the Call to Action 10 (vii), which emphasizes the importance of respecting Treaty relationships, reconciliation begins with acknowledging the history and future of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. We remain committed to a collaborative future and creating an environment of inclusion, equity and compassion at our Hospital.
Other exciting news from this past month includes the announcement of $6.6M from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase essential equipment at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and regional hospitals. This includes $1.5M for Diagnostic Imaging to upgrade the 1.5T MRI, replace the Single Photon Emission Computer Tomography (SPECT) camera, and purchase a new Drager Fabius MRI-compatible anesthesia machine. These purchases are vital to maintain high-quality care close to home for patients who need access to diagnostic imaging. Thank you to the public for their incredible generosity through their donations, and to the Health Sciences Foundation for their dedication to helping us enhance care in our region.
To further enhance care, one of our goals within Strategic Plan 2026 is to build a Sustainable Future. As a part of this, we want to inspire the next generation to pursue a career in health care. To that end, our Hospital hosted two events – Take Our Kids to Work Day and Indigenous Career Experience. Take Our Kids to Work Day is an annual experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Ontario, where students tour various departments around the Hospital while learning about different health care fields and volunteer opportunities. Similarly, for the Indigenous Career Experience, students learned about the variety of careers within the Hospital and in health care while participating in hands-on activities. Our hope is that these events encourage students to find a passion for helping others and to envision themselves making a difference in the live of others by working in a health care field.
Finally, this month we celebrate International Volunteer Day (December 5). Volunteers play an integral role at our Hospital, lending their time and skills to support and improve lives of patients, families and staff across the organization. I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and give a heartfelt “thank you” to our dedicated volunteers.
As the year comes to an end, I hope you take the time to find holiday cheer with your family and friends over this festive season, and I wish you all the best in 2025.
Patricia Lang
Chair, TBRHSC Board of Directors
