Health Sciences Foundation Surpasses $109 Million in Support for Local Healthcare
Published Thursday, November 12, 2026
Pictured (left to right): Glenn Craig, Foundation CEO; Dr. Steve Adams, Board Chair; Jody Nesti, Capital Grants Committee Chair; Jordan Rochon, Chief Nursing Officer at Wilson Memorial General Hospital; and Rhonda Crocker-Ellacott, President and CEO of the TBRHSC, CEO TBRHRI.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is celebrating a monumental day for local healthcare, surpassing $109 million in contributions to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre since 2010.
Adding to today's celebration, the Foundation has once again broken its own funding record, with $27,210,028 approved through the Foundation's Capital Grants program, exceeding last year's historic $22.8 million announcement.
The record-breaking funding and historic milestone are a direct result of the incredible generosity of donors, event participants and charitable gaming supporters, whose contributions continue to make better healthcare possible close to home.
“To put it into perspective, I remember when we were approving around $2 million in Capital Grants. Today, we're approving more than 10 times that amount,” says Jody Nesti, Chair of the Capital Grants Committee and member of the Family CARE Grants Committee. “Having been involved with the Foundation for many years, it's incredible to see how far we've come. I'm so proud to be part of this moment.”
This year's Capital Grants funding supports essential equipment and technology across nearly every area of the Hospital, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $4.8 million.
An additional $150,000 has been approved through the Foundation's Family CARE Grants program, supporting staff-led projects that improve care for patients and their families.
Some of the largest grants approved this year include:
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$4.8 million over two years to replace and expand the Hospital's cardiac monitoring system.
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$2.28 million to replace an aging CT scanner.
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$2.16 million for new anesthesia machines in the Operating Room.
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$1.74 million to replace an aging Cardiac Catheterization Lab.
“Think about this. I remember more than a decade ago, it took a multi-year fundraising campaign to purchase a new Cardiac Catheterization Lab. Today, we're funding another one, and it's not even our largest equipment investment this year,” says Dr. Steve Adams, Chair of the Foundation's Board of Directors. “It's a remarkable reflection of just how much more we're now able to do for healthcare, and that's what makes today's announcement so significant.”
The new Cardiovascular Surgery Program is receiving an additional $720,734 in funding this year, bringing the Foundation's total commitment to more than $24 million.
Over $5 million has been set aside primarily to support research and innovation over the next five years. The funding will help foster a culture of research through new projects, collaboration between healthcare teams and partnerships that address regional health priorities. It will also support the Hospital and Research Institute as they work towards establishing a Research Chair Program.
The Foundation has also approved $230,473 in regional and external grants, continuing its support for healthcare beyond Thunder Bay. This includes $36,090 for Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon to purchase equipment supporting palliative and oncology care, including IV pumps, a bladder scanner and a vital signs monitor.
“Over the years, the Health Sciences Foundation has approved more than $312,000 in funding for Wilson Memorial General Hospital, helping us purchase everything from chemotherapy chairs and colonoscopy equipment to ventilators and infusion pumps,” says Jordan Rochon, Chief Nursing Officer at Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon and The McCausland Hospital in Terrace Bay. “For a smaller hospital like ours, that kind of ongoing support makes a tremendous difference. It means we can provide more of the care our patients need right here in our community.”
“I've had the privilege of watching this Foundation grow in ways I never could have imagined,” says Glenn Craig, CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation. “To stand here today, announcing another record year of funding and more than $109 million in contributions to our Hospital, is an incredibly proud moment. But what makes it so special is knowing how many people have played a part in getting us here. This achievement belongs to every one of them.”
“I am so thankful and appreciative of the donors who have made a difference at our hospital over the past 16 years through their support of the Foundation,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Community donations have helped replace aging equipment, embrace innovative technologies, and put the right tools in the hands of our highly skilled health care professionals. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity.”
Milestone $27 MILLION+ Announcement!
For a complete list of approved grants visit www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/impact