New mental health van aims to support First Nations people in Thunder Bay, Ont. – CBC
Program aims to help people build connections, navigate city’s services
Jan 19, 2026
Thunder Bay, Ont., is a service hub for members of dozens of surrounding First Nations who travel hundreds of kilometres to access health and social services.
But for those coming from a small, remote community, navigating the northwestern Ontario city can be daunting.
That’s why the Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA) is launching a new service to help direct its members to the right resources.
IFNA represents five First Nations in the region: Pikangikum, Muskrat Dam, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Lac Seul and Whitesand. Of these, the first four are fly-in communities, which means they’re inaccessible by road.
“We are looking to offer services for community members from the IFNA communities through a variety of stops,” said Jessica Laesser, IFNA’s mental health and addictions manager.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/ifna-mobile-mental-outreach-van-9.7051820
