Bachinski Family's Generous Christmas Gift Will Support Patient Care for Years to Come!
Published Monday, February 23, 2026
Pictured (L–R): Glenn Craig, Sam Bachinski, Marian Boxer, Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, and Dr. Steve Adams recognize a $507,840 gift made on behalf of the Bachinski family, bringing the family's total giving to more than $1 million in support of patient care.
Christmas has always had special significance for the Bachinski family. It's fitting then that siblings Marian Boxer, Linda Drindak (husband Paul), and Sam Bachinski (wife Margot Freitag and children Mitchell and Claudia) waited until Christmas week to announce their very special gift to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation of $507,840 for cancer care, cardiac care, and orthopaedic care.
This gift builds on the family's previous gift of $501,161 in 2019, and the combined total represents one of the largest family philanthropic commitments in the Foundation's history.
The siblings made the donation on behalf of the entire Bachinski family to honour their parents, Anne and Sam Bachinski, as well as Linda and Paul's daughter, Susan Jane Drindak, who passed away at the age of seven due to complications from arthritis.
During the announcement, Marian said that the whole family continues to be inspired by her parents and their incredible giving spirit.
“They very much lived by the philosophy, ‘Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you,'” Marian said. “We've tried to live by that.”
Marian said the family is forever grateful for the care their parents received at the Hospital. Their mother Anne Bachinski was one of the first patients treated at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Regional Cancer Care when the new Hospital opened in February 2004. Sadly, Anne succumbed to her cancer months later. Their father died of a heart attack at the Hospital that same year on Christmas Day.
Although losing a loved on at Christmas is never easy, the family sees that day in a different light.
“I like how Sam put it – that Dad was able to see us and Mum on Christmas,” Marian said.
That hopeful outlook and their overwhelming generosity will have a tremendous impact on local and regional healthcare, today and tomorrow. The Bachinski family's donation includes $100,000 towards renovations related to installing a third linac at Regional Cancer Care (in recognition of the care their mother received from Dr. Margaret Anthes), and $400,000 to the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Surgery Campaign.
“Someone told me once that this Hospital is a place for hope, and I agree,” Marian said. Research and education are part of that. Marian talked about the revolutionary Radialis diagnostic imaging technique developed here in Thunder Bay as an example. She envisioned a Dragon's Den-type program in the future for doctors to put forward ideas for other advancements, too. “I'm delighted that today we're here to support education, research, and patient care.”
The remaining $7,840 will provide funding for orthopaedic surgery to fund a project for Dr. Michael Riediger, who treated Sam recently.
“I haven't come here much as a patient,” Sam said, “but it's always reassuring to know though that we can get world-class care when we need it, right here in Thunder Bay.”
Foundation President and CEO Glenn Craig, Foundation Chair Dr. Steven Adams, and Health Sciences Centre President and CEO Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott were all on hand to thank the Bachinski family for their incredible gift.
“I want to sincerely thank the Bachinski family for their generosity,” Dr. Adams said. “We're incredibly grateful for their continued trust in the Foundation.”
“We are profoundly grateful to the Bachinski family for their generosity in recognition of the care provided to their family, and for their continued commitment to support others needing care in our Hospital,” said Dr. Crocker Ellacott.
Thank you to the entire Bachinski Family for their continued generosity, vision, and spirit! You are an inspiration to us all.
Article by: Graham Strong and Jennifer Schoffer