Summer joy in Northern Ontario—and my top ten for summer

Summer is here! While we enjoy the many splendors of Northern Ontario this time of the year, I am also taking a moment to breathe and reflect.

As you may have heard by now, I will stay on with NOSM University until October 31, 2024, and then Dr. Michael Green will take over as the next President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO of NOSM University. I have known Mike for decades, and I can honestly say I am delighted by his appointment. He will do a terrific job of representing the North, NOSM University, and the community of higher education in academic medicine. I hope you will all welcome Mike in November with the same warmth and generosity that you gave to me five years ago.

I am having a blast living full time in Thunder Bay this summer. While I spent nearly half of my time in the city over the last five years, the pandemic, along with plenty of other community travel, did not give me much of a chance to fully experience the loveliness of this city and its environs. There is so much going on in Thunder Bay right now! In June, the city celebrated Pride Month with parades and activities. National Indigenous Peoples Day was another big celebration, and I could hear terrific music from my balcony from the park down the street. Of course, there was a lot to celebrate on Canada Day weekend at Fort William Historical Park and the waterfront, and there are many other events and activities planned in the months ahead. During my summers in Sudbury, I had the chance to experience similar events at beautiful Bell Park, Science North, and the many beaches and provincial parks in the Northeast. I love the North!

And, as I do every year, I give you my top ten for summer:

1. Summer reading list: I am going to sit back on my balcony or head off to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and read while I can. I am currently devouring The War We Won Apart by Nahlah Ayed; Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie; and Canadian fiction set in Muskoka, Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune.
2. Summer songs: for me, the all-time top summer songs are “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding, “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves, “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama, and “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys.
3. Summer barbeque: the best part of summer is cooking out. I love the aroma of barbeques sizzling, as the smell wafts into the park, the backyard, or the balcony. On top ribs and burgers, try fruit like strawberries, figs, or pineapple—everything goes better when charred a bit. I love a medley of fennel, cabbage, zucchini, sweet potato, and asparagus tossed with herbs and olive oil.
4. Summer foods: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Actually, I love gelato. I have to give a shout-out to Prime Gelato and to the old American Graffiti-style Merla-Mae soft ice cream in Thunder Bay. And you must check out Flurple’s in Sudbury!
5. Summer vacation: “road trip travel” is up on search engines, both for travel around Northern Ontario and to places around the country. I love a good road trip, especially with the sunroof open. Explore our great region and explore Canada!
6. Summer trends: These come and go, but to me, you cannot go wrong with sunny hues and the smile that comes with going barefoot in the grass or on the beach.
7. Summer health tips: protect yourself, children, and pets from the heat, beware of sunburn, and use precautions to protect against wildfire smoke, ticks, and dehydration. A great site for information on how to care for yourself and others is here. There is no doubt that a smoky summer is expected across most of Northern Ontario. The Government of Canada’s wildfires webpage includes information about programs, policies, and initiatives to keep Canadians informed about the wildfire situation.
8. Summer health care: remember that emergency rooms across Canada are still overwhelmed. Staff shortages and hospital overcrowding combined with poor access to high-quality team-based primary care are leaving hospital emergency departments woefully under-resourced for patients with influenza, COVID-19, or RSV at this time of year.
9. Summer kindness: be kind to new doctors and graduates from health programs. Many new graduates of health care, including new doctors, begin their roles in July. They are keen and passionate, yet also a bit new. These learners typically also graduate from residency in June and open their new practices in the summer. I encourage you to welcome these new doctors with open arms and welcome the ones who are starting practices in your community. We all need them.
10. Summer loving: do not forget to support NOSM University, founded on social accountability and the most successful health human resource strategy for Northern Ontario. Internationally renowned, our The Future will See You Now campaign has won numerous awards and has helped us raise the first $50 million towards student bursaries. But we need more help to move the needle on health equity for everyone in the North. Please donate today. If you wish to make a planned gift or a special endowment, please contact Cherie Kok and our Advancement team.

I’m proud to have established Distinguished Leadership Awards to recognize and celebrate outstanding leadership qualities among learners, staff, and faculty members at NOSM University. These awards honour individuals who have also contributed significantly to the university community and served as inspiring role models for others. Thank you to all those who have already given. If you are interested in donating to these awards, please visit our website.

Merci, miigwetch, and thank you to all of you. Have a great summer and I will see you in the fall.

Dr. Sarita Verma
President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO
NOSM University