Brant Community Healthcare System

BCHS is proud to announce that our President and CEO, Bonnie Camm, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. This prestigious honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to Ontario and Canada. Bonnie was nominated by Premier Doug Ford this award. We are grateful for Bonnie’s leadership here at BCHS, which continues to exemplify a deep commitment to community, compassion, and excellence. Congratulations, Bonnie!

🌿 What a Day of Wellness! 🌿 Yesterday, the BCHS Wellness Committee hosted its annual Wellness Fair— a vibrant day of discovery, connection, and fun! Staff, volunteers, and learners stopped by to explore wellness resources, enjoy interactive activities, and celebrate the many ways we can live and feel well together. A huge thank-you to our amazing vendors and partners for sharing their time, expertise, and passion for wellness. Their support helped make this event a celebration of health, community, and well-being — both within our organization and beyond!

Sylvie's Fight Against Breast Cancer: A Story of Strength and Survival When Brantford resident Sylvie Namisniak returned home from a trip to Europe, she booked her regular mammogram. "My husband was already planning our next adventure to Spain and Portugal," says Sylvie. But the test results revealed breast cancer — launching her into a complex, yet well-supported phase, surrounded by her family and dedicated caregivers at Brant Community Healthcare System. A rigorous treatment plan followed: a lumpectomy, eight chemotherapy sessions, 25 rounds of radiation, several infusions, and seven years of daily medication —thankfully reduced from ten. Through it all, Sylvie emerged strong, thanks to her grit and the exceptional care she received at BCHS. "My caregivers were remarkable — always smiling, always sincere. They made me feel like the only patient in the room. My husband attended every appointment, taking notes and sharing strength. Two people listening are always better than one." Sylvie's journey was marked by its share of ups and downs. Still, her decision to undergo regular mammograms helped her receive timely, high-quality care at BCHS. We're proud to have been part of what she calls a story of "Never Give Up. Never Give In." Learn more about breast cancer screening and prevention: https://lnkd.in/gkWVBpmH

Our Emergency Department team has been hard at work—not just in construction zones, but in recruitment and improvement zones too! 🏥🔨 Physical Improvements Zone 7 opened in August, providing a larger, refreshed space for ambulatory patients. Ongoing work includes the construction of new mental health treatment areas, new renovated extended stay area, and renovated waiting room and triage rooms. 🚑 Ambulance Offload Improving patient flow means EMS crews get back into the community faster. In the last year, offload times have improved from 140+ minutes, to approx. 36 minutes today. ✨ Recruitment & Growth This year, 20 new RNs and 7 new RPNs joined our ED team. Nurses have also been upskilled into leadership and acute care roles—including resuscitation, triage, and charge nurse positions. Every step forward reflects the dedication, collaboration, and compassion of this incredible team.👏

A big thank you to Brantford Fire for joining us this Fire Prevention Week. 🚒Together, we’re helping families learn fire safety in fun, meaningful ways. Because keeping our community safe takes teamwork.🙌🏥 Brantford Professional Fire Fighters Association #FireSafetyWeek #BCHSCommunity

It’s almost time for Family, Friends, Feasting and... Flu Protection! Getting your annual flu shot is a simple way to help you and those around you stay healthy during respiratory virus season – especially around the holidays. Learn more at www.bchu.org/flu or www.hnhu.org/flu Grand Erie Public Health Dale Kalina Samji, MD MBA FRCPC

📣 Last call for our community survey! A new hospital is coming to Brantford-Brant, and we need YOUR input to help decide where it should be located! The BCHS Site Identification Task Force is collecting feedback from the community on the criteria to identify the most suitable site for BCHS’ new hospital. ✅ Take our community survey: www.reimaginebchs.ca 📅 Deadline: October 3, 2025 “This is an important moment for our community,” said Don Shilton, Chair of the Site Identification Task Force. “The decision on where to locate a new hospital will shape health care in this region for many years. We want to hear from as many people as possible about what factors matter most when determining the best site. Every voice will help inform this process and strengthen the fairness and transparency of our work.” Be part of shaping the future of healthcare in Brantford-Brant!

Expecting and need a place to park? Say no more! As part of our commitment to quality care for patients and families, BCHS has introduced reserved parking spaces for expecting patients. 🚼 Look for the “Baby Bundle” signs near the entrance of Lot C at Brantford General Hospital. We kindly ask for your support in leaving these spaces available for those who need them most. 💜

Brant Community Healthcare System is seeking a visionary medical leader to help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, operational excellence, and strategic partnerships. As we move forward with our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, we’re working toward our bold vision of Leading Beyond Care—and we’re looking for someone ready to make a lasting impact. If you're a medical professional seeking a meaningful leadership opportunity in a mission-driven, collaborative environment, we want to hear from you. Visit www.bchsys.org/vp for more information.

BCHS is proud to introduce its first-ever Indigenous Health Strategy. This strategy spans 2025-2028 and aims to bridge traditional approaches to health and wellness and the technical practices of Western medicine, ensuring BCHS remains responsive to First Nation and Indigenous patient needs. The strategy builds on a broader set of initiatives that BCHS has undertaken in recent years, and is guided by seven major principles: 1. Creating a “Culture of Safety” at BCHS through Cultural Education and Awareness 2. Enhancing Traditional Indigenous Medicine at the Hospital 3. Optimizing Indigenous Patient Care 4. Coordinating Patient Activities and Holistic Wellness 5. Collaboratively Developing a Communication Strategy 6. Recruiting and Developing an Indigenous Workforce 7. Engaging with Communities and Circles of Care BCHS would like to thank the extended community for their contributions to the creation of this strategy – particularly the leadership and community members from Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Learn more about the strategy here: https://lnkd.in/eU3wF6zD. Art by Kristen Monture