A Foot in Philanthropy, a Foot in Hospitality – and Wearing Many Hats
Published Monday, March 24, 2025
Meet Connor Remus, Events Officer at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
Connor Remus is no stranger to healthcare. With a family legacy of medical professionals – his grandfather and great-grandfather both practicing in Thunder Bay, and his sister, Dr. Abby Remus, working as a chiropractor at Balance Chiropractic – one might have expected him to follow a similar path. Instead, Connor carved out his own journey, blending his passion for community, hospitality, and philanthropy into one exciting career.
With over 15 years in the food and beverage industry, Connor has worked at some of Thunder Bay's most beloved spots including Giorg, Lot 66, and Bight, and even served as General Manager at Jack Astor's Dundas Square in Toronto. While in Toronto, he also pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography at Toronto Metropolitan University. After moving home in 2022, he took on a role as a sales representative with Tbaytel, but his heart was pulling him toward something different.
That "something" was philanthropy.
Connor is someone who wears many hats – literally and figuratively. In addition to his role at the Foundation, he runs his own photography company capturing everything from portraits to events and commercial projects. He also sits on two non-profit boards, serving as a Director for both the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Children's Centre Foundation Thunder Bay.
Despite his busy schedule, he thrives on giving back to the community.
“For me, fundraising is thrilling because, at its core, you're promoting something good,” Connor said. “I've done philanthropy work on my own, and I absolutely loved it. It gives me a sense of purpose and a reason to get up in the morning.”
In the past two years, Connor organized the Take It In Stride run/walk event, raising over $100,000 for local mental health initiatives. His event planning expertise, energetic personality, and deep community connections make him a perfect fit for the Foundation's Events team.
Connor sees his role as more than just organizing events. He wants to reignite a passion for community involvement in Thunder Bay, especially post-COVID.
“During COVID, engagement took a hit,” he said. “I want to show people what it takes to fund world-class healthcare and the impact we can make when we come together. Raising money for cutting-edge equipment, expanding cardiovascular surgery – these are huge goals, but absolutely possible with community support.”
Connor understands that change doesn't happen without funding, and funding doesn't exist without community support. But that doesn't mean fundraising can't be fun.
“My mission is to work with this team to create legendary events – the kind of events people genuinely look forward to each year,” he said with a grin. “I love bringing people together, and I love hosting, so I know this role is going to be a perfect fit.”
Outside of work, Connor is an avid runner, skier, golfer, and dog dad! He also still keeps a foot in the hospitality world. He owns Pocket Change, an upscale urban cocktail and snack bar in the Waterfront District, which recently celebrated its first anniversary.
“This summer, when we get our patio, it's going to be a blast,” he said. "I'm all about making an impact, having a blast, and shaking things up. Life's too short to play it safe – let's make some noise!"
Connor would love for you to join him bring in the energy and in making a difference! Learn more about upcoming Health Sciences Foundation events, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/events