Thunder Bay, Ont., long-term care home, staff member face criminal charges in resident's 2025 death
CBC
A city-operated long-term care (LTC) facility in Thunder Bay, Ont., and a staff member face criminal charges following the death a year ago of an 86-year-old resident.
An elder abuse investigation began Feb. 11, 2025, after the Crimes Against Seniors’ Division received a report about an incident 12 days earlier, according to the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS).
The resident of Pioneer Ridge Long Term Care Home sustained injuries while in the care of a staff member, the TBPS said in a news release Monday.
“Additional unrelated and unreported injuries were later confirmed. No documentation of the injuries was located by officers.”
Police didn't release the name of the resident, who died March 6, 2025.
According to police, the facility "failed to take the reasonable steps to prevent any serious bodily harm or death to residents, and attempted to delay and obstruct a police investigation."
The staff member, a 52-year-old woman, was charged with criminal negligence causing death; the care home faces the same count and has also been charged with obstructing justice.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
CBC News reached out to the City of Thunder Bay for comment. In an emailed response Tuesday, spokesperson Michelle Williams said the city isn't able to comment as the matter is before the courts.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Long-Term Care provided a statement late Tuesday afternoon.
“We respond immediately to any reported information where there is serious harm, or risk of serious harm, to a resident or residents, by making inquiries and conducting onsite inspections,” the statement said.
“The ministry was informed of this incident and subsequently completed an inspection. Inspection findings are available on the ministry’s public reporting website.”
Ministry workers conduct inspections at every long-term care home in the province at least once a year to determine compliance with the Fixing Long Term Care Act, 2021, “which includes mandatory reporting requirements if it is suspected that abuse, neglect, improper treatment or unlawful conduct has occurred, or may occur.”
Pioneer Ridge is a 150-bed facility that receives financial support from the ministry. There's a wait list of 620 people aiming to become residents, according to the ministry’s website.
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