The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists' Club was first established on January 26, 1933 as a chapter of the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. The club originally consisted of 32 members, with Colonel Lionel S. Dear as president. After holding several meetings in 1933 the club dissolved, primarily due to the effects of the Great Depression. The Field Naturalists restarted in 1937 with Claude E. Garton as president. By 1939 there were upwards of 50 active members. The Second World War brought most club activities to a halt, as many members were busy with the war effort. The club was once again revived in 1946 by Dr. Howard Quackenbush and Dr. Albert E. Allen, who was president from 1943-46 and from 1951-53. Since then, the club has gained steadily in membership and continues to be active in the Thunder Bay community.
The Thunder Bay Field Naturalists originally formed to promote the sharing of knowledge about natural history topics among its members. At first, the club concentrated on the specific interests of individual members on certain plants, birds, fish, rocks, etc, but as time progressed they began to focus more upon larger environmental issues. The current goals of the Field Naturalists are to: acquire, record, and disseminate knowledge of natural history; to promote the wise use of natural resources; to stimulate public interest in nature and its protection; and to promote the preservation of natural areas. Throughout their history the Field Naturalists have engaged in many activities to meet these goals. They have regularly held field trips to various parks in the region. Members have lectured on natural history topics. They have brought in guest speakers at their meetings from the Lakehead University Biology department, the Thunder Bay region, and other individuals from outside the region. The club has also actively supported conservation activities to protect wildlife, including supporting a ban on the harmful chemical DDT. They have participated in discussions on the management of provincial parks, Ontario Hydro projects, and other environmental concerns.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) was founded in 2004 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It acts as the major acute care hospital serving people in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario.
The TBRHSC is known for its cancer research and education practices. The hospital works closely with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. The TBRHSC is listed as one of the “Top 40 Research Hospitals in Canada."
In 1995, Thunder Bay’s McKellar General Hospital (founded in 1903) and Port Arthur General Hospital (founded in 1909) amalgamated to form the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital. This organization evolved into the TBRHSC with a new building, holding its grand opening in 2004. The new build design received awards, such as being rated sixth on the list of “the world's 30 most architecturally impressive hospitals.”
Website active as of 2025: https://tbrhsc.net/
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. A History of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. https://tbrhsc.net/tbrhsc/history/
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Research. https://tbrhsc.net/programs-services/regional-cancer-care/information-for-healthcare-providers/research/
Wikipedia.Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder_Bay_Regional_Health_Sciences_Centre
A university based in London, Ontario. Founded in 1878 as the Western University of London Ontario; renamed University of Western Ontario in 1923; rebranding as Western University took place 2012. As of 2025, the university has over 35,000 students.
Terry Watkinson was a musician and visual artist, best remembered as a member of the rock band Max Webster from 1974 to 1980. Watkinson played keyboards, wrote music for the band, and performed vocals on some tracks. In later years he was a medical illustrator and painter, as well as releasing several solo albums.
Watkinson was born and raised in Fort William. He moved to Toronto to attend the University of Toronto; after several years he left school in order to join Max Webster. The band toured heavily in Canada and the United States, and released six studio albums. Watkinson wrote and sang on "Let Go The Line," the band's highest-charting single.
After leaving the Max Webster, Watkinson returned to the University of Toronto, where he completed a degree in medical illustration. His work in that field included teaching and having many illustrations used in textbooks. He continued to create music, and became known also as a painter, known for cityscapes and Northern Ontario landscapes.