Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has posted its December 4, 2025 Board Chair report summarizing the open board meeting held December 3. The report highlights progress on the regional hospital’s Strategic Plan 2026 and the development and construction of a Cardiovascular Surgery Program designed to provide heart surgery closer to home for more than 250,000 people in Northwestern Ontario. Board Chair Patricia Lang highlighted investments, new physician hires and a significant grant from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation while noting progress on strategic priorities.
The new Cardiovascular Surgery Program is backed by the Ontario government’s $93-million investment and will add 14 inpatient cardiovascular surgery beds and expanded surgical suites across roughly 76,000 square feet of renovated and new space. TBRHSC is working with the University Health Network to train local surgeons, nurses and perfusionists under a “one-program-two-sites” model. Clinical operations are expected to begin in early 2028, which the hospital and provincial release say will reduce the need for many patients to travel long distances for procedures such as bypass operations and valve repairs, easing the burden on affected families.
The Board Chair report also assesses the hospital’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion and tracks progress on Indigenous health outcomes as part of the strategic plan. Senior leaders report that culturally safe care initiatives and partnerships with local Indigenous communities are advancing through enhanced staff training, targeted recruitment and community-led health programs. President and CEO Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott said these efforts are vital to improving the healthcare experience for patients, families and staff.
New masking requirements took effect December 4, 2025, updating policies for staff, professional staff, learners, volunteers, Essential Care Partners and patients in response to the 2025/26 respiratory season. Details on mask zones, exemptions and screening procedures are available on the hospital’s COVID-19 information page; the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control team said it will continue to monitor respiratory infection trends.
The full board meeting materials, including the open meeting agenda and meeting package, are available on the hospital’s website for public review. The hospital posts agendas and materials for open meetings online; check the Open Board Meetings page for scheduling and future board materials.
