Thunder Bay District Health Unit

Thunder Bay District Health Unit is a business in Thunder Bay named in the obituary of Earlene Florence Tocheri.

In Anishinabek News

• April 2015: The agency employs Lyne Soramaki, who collaborates on community workshops regarding feast bundles.
• July 2016: The agency oversees health regulations that local food vendors like Jeanette Posine must follow.
• September 2016: The organization was recognized for its work in protecting future generations.
• April 2020: The agency reported 18 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region as of April 6, 2020. Its service area includes 23 First Nation communities, including seven within the Northern Superior Region. The unit identified four cases of the virus in Nipigon and one in Eabametoong First Nation.
• May 2020: The agency provided mandates and policies that Fort William First Nation followed to safely reopen retail businesses in May 2020. As of May 10, 2020, the health unit reported 78 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its service area. The organization covers about 230,000 square kilometres with about 146,000 residents in the Northern Superior Region and central part of Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
• May 2020: The agency recommended limiting non-essential trips, working from home, and avoiding visits to hospitals or care homes to flatten the curve. As of May 14, 2020, the unit had 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 74 cases resolved and one deceased person.
• June 2020: The agency partnered with Fort William First Nation and Superior North EMS to conduct a COVID-19 testing event in May 2020. Medical officials from the unit stated that the event provided community-level surveillance to help understand the spread of the virus.
• September 2020: The health unit partnered with the Indigenous Food Circle on the Understanding Our Food Systems project. The agency aims to reach out to First Nations to support their return to food sovereignty and self-determined food systems.
• September 2020: The agency co-organized a virtual gathering in 2020 to discuss Indigenous food sovereignty in the Thunder Bay region.
• October 2020: The agency reported 109 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region as of October 13, 2020. Peter Collins maintained regular dialogue with the health unit to stay informed about local situations.
• February 2021: The agency worked closely with Fort William First Nation to facilitate the local rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. It identified health care workers and residents of long-term care homes as other high-priority groups for early vaccination in Ontario.
• December 2021: The agency advised residents on December 2, 2021, to avoid non-essential travel to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan due to high infection rates. It reported that recent local COVID-19 cases were linked to travel in nearby states.
• January 2025: The agency co-authored and launched a cultural storybook in Thunder Bay on January 29, 2025. It has partnered with the Anishinabek Nation since 2010 to develop wellness resources and workshops. The health unit is metaphorically represented in a new book by a golden eagle character named Giniw.
• January 2025: The agency has collaborated with the Anishinabek Nation on FASD programming since 2010. It was responsible for printing the initial 1,000 copies of the book Migizi and Giniw's Important Journey: Niish Migizi Bimisewin.
• September 2025: The agency helped organize an event on August 27, 2025, focused on overdose awareness and community hope.
• November 2025: The agency organized a harm reduction conference held on November 13 at the Superior Inn. It provides access to the Parents Like Us: An Unofficial Guide to Caring for a Young Person Who Uses Substances handbook for community members.