Cardiovascular Surgery Program Construction Milestones
Published Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Northwestern Ontario has the highest rates of cardiovascular disease in the province. Patients often have to travel long distances for specialized cardiac care, which can create logistical, financial, emotional and health challenges. To address this, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) prioritized bringing cardiovascular care closer to home for the people of Northwestern Ontario through a collaborative “Two Sites, One Program” model with University Health Network's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.
Starting in 2013, the organizations collaborated on a comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing patient care and advancing regional clinical outcomes in cardiovascular health. The first phase of the plan focused on the development and implementation of the vascular surgery program; the second phase consisted of developing a comprehensive Cardiovascular Surgery Program, expanding services significantly.
The project progressed through provincial planning, design, and approval stages over several years, reaching a major achievement in June 2024 with approval to tender construction. This timeline highlights construction milestones, and what started more than a decade ago as an exciting clinical vision for TBRHSC is becoming a reality, with construction well underway on 76,000 square feet of new and renovated clinical and support spaces for the new Cardiovascular Surgery Program.