Tbaytel, Title Sponsor of the Luncheon of Hope, More than a “Good Neighbour” to Local Healthcare!
Published Friday, October 30, 2026
Some of the 1.5 Million Reasons to Celebrate Our Decades-long Partnership
It's a title sponsorship so natural, it's hard to imagine the event without the name: the Tbaytel Luncheon of Hope. Tbaytel officially became Title Sponsor in 2004, but the story behind one of the longest running sponsorships in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation history goes back a decade before that – and actually pre-dates the current Foundation itself.
Kaitlin Gaspar, Public Relations Communication Coordinator at Tbaytel, said it's a seamless partnership, which may be why the title seems like such a natural fit.
“We want to contribute to the health and well-being of the communities we live and work in,” Gaspar said. Like the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Tbaytel provides services across Northwestern Ontario. “We're proud to be part of the communities we serve.”
To date, Tbaytel Luncheon of Hope has raised $664,289 since it launched in 1993. Tbaytel alone contributed a large portion of that amount since it became Title Sponsor in 2004. Tbaytel reserves a table every year, and a Tbaytel representative speaks on behalf of the corporation.
“We look forward to this event every year. So many people within our community have unfortunately been affected by breast cancer either directly or indirectly through a loved one. It makes this event extra special,” Gaspar said.
Tbaytel is a unique municipal corporation that will mark its 125th anniversary next year. Thunder Bay Telephone originally launched in 1902, symbolized by that first phone call between the mayors of Fort William and Port Arthur. It became a City of Thunder Bay department in 1970 with amalgamation, and Tbaytel provides the city a dividend annually. Not only is Tbaytel Northwestern Ontario's largest provider of telecommunications, it is a company with a mandate to “take care of our neighbourhood”.
Supporting local healthcare is just one part of that mandate, Gaspar said. Tbaytel gave its first gift to the Northern Cancer Research Foundation (NCRF) in August of 1995. That partnership grew over the years, and the corporation became Title Sponsor for several events including the Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad. It has supported many initiatives as well including the Tbaytel Tamarack House in 2005. Tbaytel is also a matching gift partner to the Employee Giving Program, doubling the impact staff at our Hospital makes up to $7,500 every year.
Gaspar said there have been a lot of changes to local healthcare since the partnership first began.
“Seeing the advancements in healthcare – it's a great feeling to know we were a part of that,” she said.
Gaspar said that where Tbaytel has really been able to help over the years is with the big ticket items including the Angioplasty program and most recently a $500,000 contribution to the Our Hearts at Home Campaign for Cardiovascular Surgery. All of these commitments bring the giving total to over $1,517,040 since that first gift in 1995.
“The spirit and dedication that the Foundation shows every year to improve local and regional healthcare reinforces our commitment to continue this essential partnership,” Gaspar said.
This year's Tbaytel Luncheon of Hope Presented by Alterna Savings was another wildly successful event. It wouldn't have been possible without Tbaytel's ongoing support.
“I want to personally thank Tbaytel for their dedication and commitment to local healthcare over the last 31 years,” said Glenn Craig, CEO of the Health Sciences Foundation. “Tbaytel has been an incredible partner to the Foundation and our community – a true neighbour in every sense. They ensure that the work we do together has meaningful impact. One small commitment can grow into something powerful! We hope that other businesses in our region can see this impact and want to be a part of it as well.”
Jamie Hays Vice President, Operations and Outside Plant Engineering for Tbaytel speaking at the 2026 Tbaytel Motorcycle Ride for Dad in June. Funds raised at this event support prostate cancer care through the Northern Cancer Fund.
Article by Graham Strong