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Dec 12, 2025 | Mental Health, Leadership, Community and Partnerships, Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

As 2025 comes to a close, we find ourselves taking a moment to pause and appreciate just how much has happened at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare this year. From expanding urgent mental health and addictions services to opening new spaces for healing, this year was defined by meaningful progress, powerful partnerships, and moments of impact that will carry us into 2026 with renewed purpose. While there are many achievements to capture in a single reflection, here are just a few of the highlights that shaped our year and strengthened our mission.

Expanding Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Care Clinic (MHAUCC) to 24/7 Care

A major achievement this year was transitioning the Mental Health and Addictions Urgent Care Clinic (MHAUCC) to be open and available for people to walk-in for service 24/7. This expansion ensures individuals, experiencing mental health or substance use challenges can access immediate, compassionate support at any time of day or night. In addition to this expansion, the MHAUCC welcomes policing and EMS partners to transition voluntary individuals in crisis to subject matter experts, freeing up time to respond to priority incidents and reducing emergency department wait times.

Transforming Mental Health Care for Children

A groundbreaking milestone in 2025 was the introduction of Assertive Community Treatment Team for Children (ACT-C), the first of its kind in Canada. Modeled after the ACT Team for adults, ACT-C is a community-based, recovery-focused model designed to meet the complex needs of children ages 6–12 struggling with severe mental health challenges.

Using a transdisciplinary, family-centred approach, the team collaborates with community partners like the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society (WECAS) to provide children and their families with a well-rounded network of support. Designed for flexibility, the ACT-C approach removes barriers and meets families where they are—at home and in the community.

This bold new model is transforming how early mental health care is delivered. In its first year, ACT-C has already begun making a meaningful difference for families in Windsor-Essex.

Opening the HDGH Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus and Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre

One of the most exciting milestones of 2025 was the opening of the HDGH Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus and the Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre.

The Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus was designed specifically to support residents of Tecumseh, Lakeshore, and rural Essex County who previously faced transportation barriers and struggled to access outpatient care. This campus helps change that. Now, individuals can receive outpatient rehabilitation, cardiac wellness support, and geriatric services much closer to where they live.

The new Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre feels different from the previous outpatient rehab space from the moment you enter. Surrounded by natural light, the environment feels warm and modern, and every detail has been thoughtfully designed to support the patient’s rehabilitation journey. Most importantly, it brings together a team of compassionate professionals who help patients rebuild strength, confidence, and independence, one step at a time.

Together, these two new centres reflect our commitment to equity, accessibility, and compassionate care.

Crisis Response Team Receives Continued Support Through Grant

This year, the Windsor Police Service and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) through their collaborative Crisis Response Team (CRT) received a grant from the Ontario Government’s Community Safety and Policing Grant program, ensuring that this critical service will remain operational.

The CRT pairs crisis intervention-trained (CIT) police officers with CIT-trained social workers from HDGH and responds to dispatched calls to individuals presenting with symptoms of mental illness, substance use, behavioural disorders, or people in acute crises. This funding reflects confidence in CRT’s impact and how they de-escalate crisis situations, provide immediate mental health supports, and connect individuals with appropriate ongoing services or community supports.

Sharing Our Story Through the More than Medicine Film

A proud highlight of 2025 was the premiere of HDGH’s impact film, More than Medicine —a powerful project created to share real stories of recovery, resilience, and the human impact of the care delivered within our walls.

The film brought together patients, clients, families, and staff to capture what happens when healthcare extends beyond treatment plans and into connection, dignity, and hope. Hearing their voices was deeply powerful and a reminder of why we do this work.

Launching the HART Hub

Co-led by HDGH, the House of Sophrosyne, and Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC), the Windsor-Essex Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is a testament to what we can accomplish when people come together with a shared purpose. It is a collaborative initiative that provides low-barrier, integrated care for individuals aged 16 and older who are experiencing homelessness and are seeking support for their addiction and mental health concerns, while addressing their housing needs. It’s a place built on dignity, compassion, and belief in recovery.

Celebrating Partnerships and Looking Ahead

These moments represent only a handful of the many accomplishments, partnerships, and acts of compassion that defined 2025 at HDGH. If there’s one theme that carried through everything we achieved this year, it’s partnership.

About Bill Marra

Bill Marra is the President and CEO at HDGH and brings his 36 years of honourable leadership experience in health, public affairs, and community service to the HDGH executive team. Since joining HDGH in 2011, Bill has been steadfast in his goal to make HDGH the safest hospital in Ontario. He created an in-house security team to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers. Bill took on the role of President and CEO in January 2022 and in just one year, he led a person-centered model of care change in the Complex Medical Care and Palliative Units, introduced Personal Support Workers to the healthcare unit, established a HDGH Wellness Committee, and formed an EDII Alliance.

Sep 15, 2025 | Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

As we celebrate National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, we are excited to share a significant milestone for our Outpatient Rehab Department: the eventual relocation to our new home at the Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre within Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH). I am thrilled to be a part of this project. After years of planning, preparation and working behind the scenes, we are proud to present a space not only designed with accessibility, comfort and healing in mind, but with the invaluable input of our dedicated staff.

Our goal has always been to provide compassionate, high-quality care and this new facility offers a modern and welcoming environment for us to provide services to our patients. Whether it’s Outpatient Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology or our Specialized Hand and Upper Extremity Clinic, our priority is to help our patients regain independence and achieve their goals.

What makes this new space truly special is how our team contributed to the design of this space to reflect our deep commitment to person-centered care. We know the setting in which rehabilitation takes place matters– it can lift spirits, motivate progress and create a sense of hope. Every design choice, from the flow of the rooms to the views out the windows, was made with the patient experience at heart.

Our clerical staff, Ashley Pinsonneault, Raghad Susa and Kayla DiMaggio, expressed it best: “We have the privilege of being the first point of contact for our patients. We have witnessed firsthand the challenges our patients face and with the unwavering support of our team. We celebrate every step they take toward overcoming those obstacles. Now, we are proud to offer our patients a space that reflects the care and dedication that our rehabilitation team brings to every appointment. Every patient who walks through our doors will feel valued, cared for and never alone on their journey to recovery.”

This relocation marks an important step to our commitment in improving accessibility and enhancing the Outpatient Rehab experience for our patients. Our new location will offer:

• Improved accessibility from parking and public transit, making it easier for all patients to reach us, no matter their mobility needs
• Specialized rehabilitation equipment to support the diverse needs of our patients
• Spacious and more functional treatment areas, designed for comfort, efficiency and collaboration
• Abundant natural light, creating a bright, uplifting atmosphere that supports both physical and emotional well-being
• Streamlined check-in and scheduling, making every patient visit as convenient, efficient and as smooth as possible
• An overall welcoming environment where patients feel supported and inspired from the moment they arrive

This new space represents the result of many years of dedication, collaboration and a shared belief that our patients deserve the very best. While our location within HDGH will be changing, our goal remains the same: providing compassionate, high-quality care that helps our patients reach their rehabilitation goals. So, as we open our doors to this new space, we do so with excitement and gratitude to everyone involved with making this project possible, including our sponsors and donors and a renewed passion for the work we do every day.

We very much look forward in welcoming you into our new space!

Members of the Outpatient Rehab Team in August 2024 at the start of the construction of the Toldo Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre.

About the Author

With over 24 years of dedicated service in both acute and subacute care, Rosie Pipitone-Middleton began her career as a front-line staff member, working as a Kinesiologist across diverse hospital settings, including General Medicine, the Burn Unit, Oncology, Acute and Post- acute Orthopedics, Hydrotherapy, the Acute Injury Rehab and Evaluation Clinic and the Cardiac Wellness Program. Throughout Rosie’s career she has been a strong advocate of using movement as medicine, supporting recovery, mobility and helping our patients regain functional independence. Rosie is currently the Manager of Ambulatory Care, where she oversees a broad range of outpatient programs and services including the Specialized Neurologic and Complex Rehab Clinics, the Rehab Outreach Team and the Acquired Brain Injury Program. Throughout her career, Rosie is very proud to work alongside a dedicated team of experienced therapists and support staff who have been recognized for collaborative teamwork, innovative problem-solving and unwavering dedication to helping patients reach their fullest potential – whether in hospital, at home or within the community.

Jun 16, 2025 | Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

It started as a dream; hope for our community and passion for access to exceptional patient care. The Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus stands as a testament to the hard work, partnerships and collaborative efforts of the team at HDGH; the HDGH Foundation; the Probert Family, the Town of Tecumseh and to the community spirit, honouring the legacy of Bob Probert. As the VP and Chief Nursing Executive (CNE), I have had the privilege of watching this long-awaited program cross the finish line and open for its first patients on March 3, 2025. Acknowledging and honouring the work of the team who diligently persevered to get this done is my pleasure.

From Idea to Impact: Driving Care Forward

Spearheaded by Sarah Picco, Director of Restorative Care and Patient Transitions, she was relentless in her commitment to establishing this service for the community of Tecumseh, and counties to the East. She, along with her team, worked tirelessly to establish care close to home for the community.

Rosie Pipitone-Middleton, Operations Manager, recalls the early days working with Jason Petro who founded the Cardiac Wellness Program in 2001, and with his family, fundraised and organized events, like the Heart Breaker Challenge, ultimately leading to The Petro Family Exercise Centre. The original intent was to have a second satellite site for the Cardiac Wellness Centre in the Town of Tecumseh. The idea immediately expanded to include other ambulatory clinics with a promise of “designated space”, in Tecumseh, in order to simply bring care closer to where several of our patient’s reside. The data clearly showed the need for services in the east end of Windsor/Essex County.

The expansion of the cardiac wellness clinic to include multidisciplary teams have already made a significant impact, with over 700 visits two months into the opening. Thanks to our team of interprofessional care providers who have made it outstanding for our patients.

Carly Bell, Operations Manger, shares the patient experience, “Staff and patients are raving about the accessibility of services, patients are more willing to attend sessions and love the sunny, friendly environment where they get to now attend their therapies. The family members that are responsible for driving the participants to these appointments are thankful of the proximity to their home and less time commitment it created”.

Jenniffer Clifford, Operations & Clinical Practice Manager, reflects, as Tecumseh’s population continues to age, the Town is embracing the opportunity to support seniors in new and meaningful ways and we are proud to highlight the inclusion of specialized geriatric services as part of the vision for the Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus. With HDGH’s expertise in specialized care, this initiative is perfectly aligned to meet the evolving needs of the community. Our commitment to creating a space where older adults feel seen, supported, and at the heart of community wellness is paramount for our population.

Patient Spotlight

Mr. René Bedard, a patient who started attending our outpatient Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology services at this new campus after having a stroke, is thrilled with the care he is receiving. When asked about his care, he said “I think it’s great. It’s only about 8 minutes to come here. The people that work with me are very friendly. I love the comradery”. With his wife Melba, by his side she reiterates to Ms. Pipitone-Middleton “It’s bright. Everyone is warm and friendly. The therapists are great. Everything is here. They can treat any condition, stroke, heart attack. We love the staff”. When discussing her husband’s progress in therapy so far, she said “I now have the confidence that he will get better”.

Meeting Patients Where They Are

Today we’re seeing an increase in patient volumes at the Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus while volumes remain steady at our main campus on Prince Road. The volumes speak for themselves and the patients and families are telling us that more patients are getting the care they need because they now have easier access to the services. For many patients recovering from a cardiac event or a traumatic diagnosis, traveling long distances for regular rehab appointments can be a barrier to recovery.

By offering comprehensive services right in the heart of Tecumseh, the clinic removes that obstacle. Patients can access expert care, the most technologically up-to-date equipment, personalized rehabilitation and support systems without leaving their own community. This local access not only reduces stress and transportation challenges for both patients and their families, especially for our elderly population, but also encourages consistent participation in programs that are proven to improve outcomes and prevent future adverse health events.

As my many years in healthcare bring a passion for highest quality of patient care; my role as CNE makes me reflect on my goal to ensure all patients and families have access to their care, closer to home and maintain the best outcomes for their lives.

About Shannon Landry

Shannon Landry is the Vice President of Clinical Services, Restorative Care, and Chief Nursing Executive at HDGH. With over 35 years of healthcare experience, Shannon has a wealth of knowledge gained from working in both academic and rural hospital settings across Ontario, most recently at Bluewater Health in Sarnia. She plays a key role in guiding the strategic direction and providing operational leadership in nursing and clinical practice, all in support of delivering compassionate, high-quality care to patients and their families.

When she's not working, Shannon enjoys visiting her daughter and grandsons in Ottawa and spending time outdoors gardening and relaxing with her husband and their labradoodle.

Patient's Family Letter

Hello Rosie

I was thinking further about my thoughts on the Hôtel Dieu-Grace HealthCare Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus.

For me as the Wife/Caregiver of the patient, it has opened up opportunities for me also.

I can drop René off a few minutes prior to his session start and then have a chance to speak with his therapist(s} if I need to regarding appointment changes or an update on his progress.

With confidence that his needs will be met, I can leave and use the two and half hours to do a few things that I might need to do or even to meet with a friend for a coffee at Tim's. We live in Lakeshore and the Tecumseh area and East Side of Windsor is where I do most of my shopping and appointments. This Campus is very convenient and provides a bit of a respite for me because at this point, I still do not leave René alone for any longer than 30 minutes max. Although we would definitely have gone to the Prince Road Campus for René's Rehab, this new venue is definitely a blessing to both of us.

Our sincere thanks to the Probert Family and other organizations who worked diligently for the past 10 years to open this facility. It is an amazing Rehab Centre that provides outstanding care from the warm, caring and extremely qualified therapists who are always open to any and all questions/concerns. The state of the art equipment is amazing!

There is no doubt that this second Campus is greatly needed and appreciated by us.

Warmly Melba Bedard

May 16, 2023 | Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

May is National Physiotherapy Month and a time to celebrate all that our physiotherapists do for the health of our community. Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare has a long history of physiotherapists working in our hospital. The rehabilitation centre at HDGH has been providing care to patients since 1972. Back then it was part of Windsor Western Hospital’s 36-bed Regional Rehabilitation Centre, and has since undergone significant changes. It’s more than 50 years later and what hasn’t changed is our commitment to patient care.

From the archives

We came across a Windsor Star news article from 1982 that celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Rehab Centre. The physiotherapist featured in the article is Sheila Anzolin (nee Scott) who currently works in Geriatric Rehabilitation at HDGH. We recently caught up with Shelia where she shared with us some history of physiotherapists at that time and her career over the years.

Sheila immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1981 and was hired along with several UK physiotherapists to work at the Regional Rehabilitation Centre. She was trained at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, one of the oldest functioning acute hospitals in the UK that opened in 1794.

After Sheila’s first time working at Windsor Western Hospital, she went on to work at a variety of other places, including in home care, part-time contract services to General Motors Transmission Plant, and teaching the Physiotherapy Assistant program at Trios College. She also worked in long term care and retirement homes from Windsor to Sarnia.

She eventually returned to the hospital setting and joined Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in May 2012, working as a casual employee at HDGH and part-time at Windsor Regional Hospital (MET campus) before taking a full-time position at HDGH in geriatric rehabilitation to finish her career. Her return to the rehabilitation centre at HDGH is a testament to the organization's reputation for providing excellent patient care and a supportive work environment.

Physiotherapists are vital to our health

Sheila’s story is just one example of the many dedicated professionals who have worked at HDGH over the years, making a difference in the lives of countless individuals and helping them overcome their physical challenges and regain their independence. At HDGH, our physiotherapists focus on both rehabilitation and prevention through movement, exercise and education.

Thank you to all of the hard working physiotherapists who are committed to improving the lives of people in our community and helping us to live our best lives! 

Nov 28, 2022 | Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

Physical activity has been long-touted as a pillar of healthy living. Exercise can help regulate factors such as weight loss, glucose control and blood pressure. It can improve cardiovascular conditioning and increase bone density, but did you know it can also have a meaningful and positive impact on your immune system? As we approach another cold and flu season, here are a few ways daily movement can help keep you healthy.

Exercise stimulates circulation and the movement of white blood cells.

Jun 7, 2022 | Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care

June is Brain Injury Awareness Month and according to the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF), concussion is one of the most common brain injuries experienced by people of all ages.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that results from a blow to the head or mechanical force to the brain from a fall, assault, exposure to an explosion, or a sudden stop in a high-speed collision. This injury usually results in functional changes to how the brain operates (software) rather than structural changes to the brain (hardware).

After a concussion, people might experience physical symptoms (headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sleep problems, tinnitus, noise & light sensitivity & poor balance), cognitive symptoms (slowed thinking, poor concentration, memory problems, impulsivity & word-finding difficulties), or emotional symptoms (irritability, anger outbursts, anxiety, & depression). Everyone’s experience of concussion is different and not everyone will experience the same symptoms. These symptoms are normal after a concussion and not a sign of worsening brain damage. The good news is that these symptoms will gradually resolve over a few days to a few weeks, especially with symptoms management strategies. 

What to Do After a Concussion

At one time, healthcare providers recommended that people rest until their symptoms resolved. Yikes! Turns out that the research shows that this advice was wrong and we now know that after a concussion, rest is only needed for 1-2 days. People benefit from gradually resuming their normal activities and by alternating periods of activity with periods of rest (i.e., pacing). As long as symptoms do not get worse, it is O.K. to increase the length of time and the intensity of an activity every few days over several weeks and gradually decrease the rest periods. Staying connected with others and doing things you enjoy is important to your physical and mental health so text your friends, watch some T.V., and go for a walk, but start off with brief manageable bits of these activities that do not make your symptoms worse.
Persisting Symptoms After a Concussion
 
The ONF reports that about 10-30% of people with concussion continue to experience persistent symptoms for several months. Again, the symptoms are not a sign of a worsening brain injury but rather that your brain functioning has “gotten stuck” or other factors may be prolonging your symptoms. These symptoms do not only occur after concussion but can also result from other conditions that affect how the brain functions (i.e., pain, sleep disturbance, substance use, and the stress of having persisting symptoms).
 
If you continue to have symptoms after 4 weeks, it may be time to get some specialized help. A recent review by researchers (Mollica et al, 2022), recommended prioritizing treatment of dizziness and balance problems, posttraumatic headache, sleep problems, depression and anxiety as these symptoms may contribute to other persistent symptoms.
 
So how can healthcare providers help you with these persisting symptoms? Your family physician or nurse practitioner can review your pain medication use and determine how to best manage your headache pain as well as refer you to other health care providers. Physiotherapists can treat balance problems and vertigo (as well as a neck injury that can contribute to headaches) and also coach you through graded exercise programs. Occupational therapists can help with pacing and prioritizing activities to find that “sweet spot” of activity that does not make symptoms worse and offer strategies to help get things done easier. A psychologist or social worker can provide psychotherapy to deal with sleep problems, depression, and anxiety s well as by changing unhelpful illness beliefs and reducing avoidance behaviour.
 
It can be discouraging to deal with persisting symptoms but individuals can continue with their recovery by finding the “sweet spot” of activity level that does not make the symptoms worse; by gradually returning to activities and exercise; and, by targeting problematic symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbance and depressed mood.
 

For more information, check out these resources & references:
https://concussionsontario.org/
https://www.uhn.ca/Krembil/Canadian-Concussion-Centre/Education
Mollica et al. (2022). Neuropsychiatric treatment for mild traumatic brain injury: Nonpharmacological approaches. Seminars in Neurology.
CogSmart – Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Patients. VA San Diego Healthcare System.
 

About the Author

Dr. Anne McLachlan is a clinical neuropsychologist at HDGH who has provided psychological services to the rehabilitation programs for over 25 years. Always open to different perspectives, she has a passion for learning from her patients, students, and colleagues. Outside of work, she is a community volunteer, amateur cook, and weekend gardener.

Apr 1, 2022 | Mental Health, Leadership, Research and Innovation, Community and Partnerships, Patient Stories, Faces of HDGH, Road to Recovery – Restorative Rehabilitative Care, Palliative Care, Spirituality, Heritage

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Welcome Readers. Our HDGH Team has always loved sharing stories with our community. Our Blog is just one of the many creative ways to do that with you. It has become a popular corner of our website where everyone is welcome to not only learn ABOUT our hospital, but also FROM the talented healthcare experts and professional voices we are proud to call our HDGH People. Our blog will be home to sharing expertise through varying healthcare-related topics from interviews, experience, patient stories, daily topics on how to stay healthy, and more.

You may have also noticed a new name to the HDGH Blog. “Maison Dieu Health” is a nod to our HDGH Heritage, honouring our French-Canadian five founding sisters of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph’s (RHSJ) who with love, perseverance, faith and persistence travelled from Montreal over 135 years ago to establish Windsor’s first hospital – Hôtel-Dieu of St. Joseph.

You can think of Maison Dieu Health as your refuge for wellness-related resources, all accessible “under one roof” through the many voices of our HDGH staff and community.

With that, welcome to Maison Dieu Health.