Our Hearts are Almost Home – and It's About Time
Published Tuesday, February 17, 2026
February is Heart Month, a time to reflect on past successes and start working towards future ones. We're closer than ever to full cardiovascular services. But the fact that in 2026, about 300 patients are still flown to Toronto for cardiac surgery every year underlines that there is still more to be done.
“I see the new Cardiovascular Surgery (CVS) Program rising from the Hospital parking lot, and I think, ‘Well, it's about time,'” said Glenn Craig, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation.
Bringing full cardiovascular surgery services to the region is the last major piece in Northwestern Ontario's healthcare puzzle. And yes, it's about time! Travelling for healthcare is difficult any time, but cardiac emergencies take on special urgency. The more services we have here, the less patients will need to travel for care.
Imagine being told you have to fly a thousand kilometres for surgery. Travel tears you away from everyone you love – at a time when you need them most. Plus, it puts pressure on the whole family. There's arranging plane tickets and accommodations for caregivers. Getting time off work. Making sure the rest of the family is looked after for the time you're away. And a million other things that patients and families shouldn't have to worry about during health emergencies.
There's also the expense. The Northern Travel Grant covers some costs, but it can never cover all the costs. With the rising hotel prices in places like Toronto, families get put under more financial pressure than ever.
But the worst part? In a life-or-death way, cardiac surgery really is about time.
“If we'd had cardiac surgery here… they would have found the blockage right away and potentially been able to save a good portion of my left ventricle,” said Frank Rizzuto, one of many patients who had no choice but to travel for cardiac surgery.
Time is muscle when it comes to heart attacks. The longer it takes to get into surgery, the worse the outcomes. Travelling to southern Ontario for cardiac care directly impacts health and quality of life for patients across Northwestern Ontario. Having a full cardiovascular surgery program here in Thunder Bay means patients will get their surgeries sooner for better outcomes.
“It's heartbreaking,” Craig said. “Frank Rizzuto had to fly down several times after his widowmaker heart attack. You have to think that travelling for care might have weakened his heart more.”
Our Hearts at Home Campaign for Cardiovascular Care is on the Journey to the Finish Line. This February, the structural frame of the new Cardiovascular Surgery (CVS) Program should be complete. The next step is to finish the exterior of the building before moving to the interior. If all goes to schedule, the CVS Program will begin accepting its first patients in early 2028.
That's just two years away. Right now, we're racing to raise funds for all the equipment that will be needed for the new and specialized surgical program. Technology is changing faster than ever. We want to make sure that patients here have access to the world-class cardiovascular surgery that they deserve, right here at home.
We're on the Journey to the Finish Line – and we're hoping you'll join us on this final stretch. Please help us bring the best equipment to Thunder Bay by making your donation online at: www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/cardiac. You can also visit our Donation Centre in the Main Atrium of the Hospital (next to Robin's Donuts) or call 807-345-4673. Thank you!
Article By: Graham Strong