Northwestern Ontario cervical screening campaign marks 10 years with new name and renewed push

THUNDER BAY — A regional cervical cancer screening campaign is returning for its 10th year with a new name and a renewed effort to get more people tested across Northwestern Ontario. The campaign, now called Cervical Screen-a-Thon, reflects changes to Ontario’s screening program and comes as health leaders warn that only about half of eligible people in the region are up to date with screening.

Cervical Screen-a-Thon runs through April across more than 40 clinics

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is leading the campaign in partnership with more than 40 clinics and health centres across Northwestern Ontario from April 1 to 30.
The initiative was previously known as Pap-A-Palooza, but organizers say the new name better reflects changes made in 2025 to the Ontario Cervical Screening Program. The province replaced the traditional Pap test with a cervical screening test that checks for certain types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, that can lead to cervical cancer.

“This 10th anniversary milestone reflects the strength of our community partnerships and a decade of commitment to cervical cancer screening across Northwestern Ontario,” said Tarja Heiskanen, manager of Prevention and Screening Clinical Services at TBRHSC. “Cervical Screen-a-Thon is about turning awareness into action and encouraging more people to take that important step for their health.”

Region still below screening targets

Health officials say screening participation in Northwestern Ontario remains below provincial targets, raising concern about delayed diagnosis and missed opportunities for early treatment.

“Only about half of eligible individuals in Northwestern Ontario are up to date with cervical screening,” said Dr. Naana Jumah, Ontario Health – Cancer Care Ontario regional colposcopy and cervical screening lead for the northwest region. “We continue to diagnose cervical cancer in people who were overdue for testing. Regular screening allows us to detect changes earlier and significantly improve outcomes.”

That message carries particular weight in Northwestern Ontario, where access to primary care and preventive screening can be more difficult in rural, remote and First Nations communities. Regional campaigns like this aim to close those gaps by encouraging people to book testing locally during a defined push.

Who should get screened

The Ontario Cervical Screening Program recommends screening for people who:
are at least 25 years old;
are a woman, Two-Spirit person, transmasculine person or non-binary person with a cervix;
have ever had sexual contact with another person;
do not currently have symptoms such as unusual bleeding or discharge; and
are due for screening under program guidelines.
People experiencing symptoms are advised to seek medical care rather than wait for routine screening.

Why the campaign matters locally

For Thunder Bay and the wider Northwest, the campaign is both a public health effort and a reminder that screening saves lives. Cervical cancer is one of the more preventable cancers when changes are found early, but that depends on people being tested on schedule.
By involving dozens of clinics and health centres, organizers are hoping the campaign will increase participation and make cervical screening more visible across the region.

Where to learn more

People looking for a participating clinic or more information about Cervical Screen-a-Thon can visit TBRHSC’s website at tbrhsc.net/screenathon.