A Caring Heart Comes Home
Published Monday, August 25, 2025
Monica Shaver, Bookkeeper at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation (centre), with her daughter Victoria and son Tynon.
Meet Monica Shaver, Bookkeeper at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
After decades away, Monica Shaver is back home – sort of. Born in Hearst, Monica's family moved to Kelowna, BC when she was 10 years old, where she grew up and had a family of her own. But three years ago, Monica, her husband, and their 17-year-old son moved to Thunder Bay to be closer to family and for a slower pace.
Monica joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation as its bookkeeper about four months ago.
“I love fundraising and I love helping people, so when I saw this position come up, I thought it was the perfect fit,” Monica said.
Fundraising is part of her nature. Back in Kelowna, she helped her daughter and son's school fundraise including for an annual Dry Grad – a tradition that encourages grads to party without drinking. The school would raise up to $30,000 for an all-night party with food and non-alcoholic refreshments, a bouncy castle, an oxygen bar, and prizes.
“I was fundraising and bookkeeping for the committee because I felt the event was so important. It shows kids that you don't have to drink to have a good time,” she said. “I wanted to do fundraising again. Now, I have an opportunity to help fundraise in the medical field.”
What Monica likes most about the Foundation is the community involvement the organization fosters.
“With things like community events, you're fundraising but you're also helping promote the businesses who are supporting the Foundation. It's all hand in hand. We're all helping each other.”
As bookkeeper, Monica has a unique perspective on the impact donors have on local healthcare.
“I didn't realize the full impact of community support on the Hospital when I got here,” she said. “From CT scanners and Cath Labs to Family CARE Grants – it's the generosity of our donors that allows us to have these things.”
Coming from away also gives Monica a different perspective.
“It's eye-opening to see how generous this region is and how it comes together to raise funds for healthcare. When I first got here, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, you don't even know what you're doing for your community.' It's an incredible place.
“The team here is amazing, too – I really, really love the team. It's a great group of people who all work together.”
Outside of work, Monica volunteers for the Caring Hearts Cat Rescue and Sanctuary as a foster home for abandoned cats. She also found her own blueberry patch already, somewhere along the Armstrong highway. Getting out there this summer was a little more difficult though – as she returned to Kelowna for the first time since moving back for her daughter's wedding. The trip out West was great but reinforced that coming to Thunder Bay was the right move.
“We love it here,” Monica said.