National Honouring Canada's Lifeline

Honouring Canada's Lifeline is an annual ceremony held in honour of all milestone donors, community leaders and volunteers. Local events are hosted across Canada and a national celebration is held each September in Ottawa.

Brad Norris

Peer Recruiter

"People assume blood will be there when they need it, but only four per cent of eligible Canadians are actively donating. It’s an astoundingly low number for something that should be a priority for all of us." When Brad isn’t putting out fires, he’s putting out the word about blood donation — and has consequently inspired hundreds of his colleagues to join Canada’s Lifeline.

Clay Corney

Peer Recruiter

"My message to donors is this: you might not see the change you’re making, but you’re allowing someone else’s life to continue. You’re contributing to a patient seeing another birthday." Over the last decade, Clay has both benefited from and become a strong advocate for Canada’s national blood system. From age 15 to 18, Clay experienced four collapsed lungs. As a result, he needed seven surgeries — all of which required having blood products on hand.

Jennifer McNalley

Peer Recruiter

"I still smile about the impact that event for Charles had in terms of blood collections. That by far was the proudest moment of my life." In July 2017, Jennifer’s coworker, Charles, was in a serious farming accident. As a paramedic and knowing he would need many transfusions, Jennifer reached out to Canadian Blood Services looking for a way she could help.

Karanvir Gill

Peer Recruiter

"If it excites and scares you at the same time, it probably means you should do it.” Karanvir’s favourite quote could very well apply to recruiting blood donors — which can be exciting, but also intimidating when dealing with new people!" Karanvir is the co-founder and president of Lifestream BC, a non-profit organization run completely by university and high school students, with an aim to raise awareness and funds for childhood diseases

Rebecca Schofield | Posthumous

Peer Recruiter

"We have had many messages from people who now live a better life because of Becca’s example — even some who have, like Becca, faced their own mortality with grace and dignity,” says Anne. “To know that my child has done that for others makes me very proud." Becca’s story inspired millions worldwide when, after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in 2016, the teenager began encouraging acts of kindness.

Lethbridge College

Partner

"The work of Canadian Blood Services aligns with our call to ‘Be Ready,’ as we are a community of more than 4,000 students and nearly 1,000 employees committed to one another." For over a decade, Lethbridge College has been a proud partner in saving lives and has generously contributed nearly 3,000 units of blood in that time.

Newfoundland & Labrador Beard & Moustache Club

Partner

"One of our organization’s proudest moments in supporting Canadian Blood Services is when we’ve heard people tell us that the reason they started donating regularly was because of the promotion we’ve done as a club. That’s beautiful, because giving blood is such a simple, but kind, gesture that is often easily overlooked." Mermen aren’t just mythical creatures: they’re real, they attend donation events (on land) and they save as many lives as they can.

Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ)

Partner

The Church of Christ is inspired to give blood through the INCGiving Project and Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, Inc. — both of which encourage members worldwide to do acts of kindness supporting the well-being of others. With locations spread across Ontario as well as the country, the Church of Christ is one of Canadian Blood Services’ largest group donation partners.

Global Okanagan (part of Corus Entertainment)

Partner

"It is now so much easier and faster to give blood than ever before — and we wanted to demonstrate that. Shelby had never given blood before, so we showed her going through the whole streamlined process. It was credible and informative." As a long-time partner of Canadian Blood Services, the Global Okanagan television team plays a valued role in Canada’s Lifeline.

Toyota Canada and Its Dealers

National Partner

"In proud partnership with our dealers, Toyota Canada is pleased to support Canadian Blood Services’ good work both financially and by sharing best practices from the Toyota Production System." Based on the philosophies of its world-renowned Toyota Production System, Toyota has helped hundreds of organizations improve their own productivity, maximize available resources, and further improve quality and safety.

Abdelsalam Abugharara

Volunteer

"What I do matters because I cannot donate blood every week, so I need to find a way to do something for those in need of blood more often. By volunteering, I can chat with donors, thank them and feel that I provided help somehow." When you’re doing a PhD in oil and gas engineering (in a different language than your own) and you have a wife, two young children and another on the way, you may think there’s little room left in your life to volunteer.

Edward Byers

Volunteer

"The Mennonite community’s values rekindled my spirit. In their words, if you can help, it is a sin if you don’t — and help they have, along with all the other incredible people who give." For almost five decades, Ed has been involved in saving lives. A 30-year veteran paramedic for the County of Renfrew and a blood donor for 45 years, Ed first became a volunteer for Canadian Blood Services in 2000 as a member of the local Rotary Club.

Jennifer Seo

Volunteer

"What I do matters because it helps save lives. I know that somewhere, my efforts are helping someone." Eight years, and hundreds of hours graciously given: Jennifer has continuously been a dedicated and passionate volunteer with Canada’s Lifeline. She first began volunteering in high school, organizing donation events and shuttles to bring in blood donors.

Nina Graham

Volunteer

"It’s too easy to sit back and say, ‘I’m old, so I’ll just sit back.’ I don’t want to do that. That’s not for me. I think it’s important to support Canada’s Lifeline because most of us at some time require blood, and it is free to receive." Being alive nine decades has not slowed Nina down — not one bit! For almost 40 years, Nina has been a volunteer for Canada’s Lifeline, touching countless lives along the way.

John Cunningham

Donor

"The VON clinic in Halifax is in the same building complex as the Canadian Blood Services donor centre. My two favourite health-care agencies are practically side-by-side. It doesn’t get better than that!" John, a long-time, committed plasma donor, started out donating whole blood as a student back in 1979. Despite having a terrible fear of needles and “shaking like a leaf,” he overcame his anxiety with help from the “very convincing” staff.

Kaitlyn Paltzat

Donor

"Without the help of Canadian Blood Services, my dad’s treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma would not have been possible." Student. Fundraiser. Volunteer. Tutor. Organizer. Not to mention, a blood donor. Indeed, Kaitlyn has spent much of her young life giving her time to others. In leading a team of peers to promote blood donation, Kaitlyn not only helped Cochrane High School earn its rank in 2018 as Canada’s top school for giving the most blood donations — it also scored second place for the most new blood donors!

Richard Gerow

Donor

"What I do matters because someone out there is depending on my donation. It’s that simple." Richard became a blood donor in his early 20s. “A girl said she would go out with me if I went to the blood donor centre to donate with her,” he recalls. “I did that, but she left before I finished donating and I never saw her again. However, the cookies were delicious!” Thankfully, Richard kept returning to donate — again and again.

Ilan Shapiro

Donor

"I believe giving life is the greatest form of charity I can give to others. People in our community need blood regularly and others could need it in emergency situations. It’s important to support Canada’s Lifeline because I feel it’s our duty to assist all who need blood and blood products."

Brady Griffin Hefford

Stem Cell Donor

"Canadian Blood Services helped me realize that everybody should try and give something to someone. It may be a small gesture or a big gesture, but everyone has something to give. The experience was just as rewarding for me as it was for the person I was giving to." Imagine being told your stem cells could save someone’s life — and then learning they actually did!

Kyle Rostad

Stem Cell Donor

"Canadian Blood Services helped me realize that I can provide someone with a chance. I believe it’s important to support Canada’s Lifeline because it provides hope and a chance of continued life." When Kyle found out he was a match for a patient in need of stem cells in 2017, he had a lot on his plate: he had just started a new job ... and had recently become a new dad!

Samantha Leung

Stem Cell Donor

"I usually tell people about how smooth my experience was, how professional Canadian Blood Services is and how well they take care of you during the entire process. And if they’re hesitant because they’re afraid of needles, I tell them that I am too!" A fear of needles couldn’t stop Samantha from saving a stranger’s life.

Cara Michelle Siu

Cord Blood Donor

"There’s this remarkable sense of giving without expectation of reciprocation. It’s about giving for generosity; not for security nor admiration nor duty. I find this viewpoint refreshing and somehow freeing." From recipient to donor to media spokesperson for cord blood, Cara has both benefited from and contributed to Canada’s Lifeline.

Nicole Lagioia

Cord Blood Donor

"The donor parents I have been given the privilege to work with have shown so much generosity and excitement toward the program, which is extremely rewarding to see." Not only is Nicole a proud two-time donor of her children’s cord blood; she also works at one of Canada’s four cord blood collection hospitals.

Susan Cebulak

Living Organ Donor

"I have three best memories: when I learned we had a match, giving us hope; when I was wheeled in for surgery, excited because my husband was receiving a kidney; and when I knew his surgery had been successful. It was just such joy, knowing his life was about to improve." Fred had been living for years with kidney disease when his wife Susan learned about the Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) program.

Deb Chalmers

National Employee Award of Distinction

"I love my job; what more can I say. Working with the Partners for Life Champions is just the best. Every day is different and some days — don’t tell my boss! — I could do this for free. The Winnipeg, Regina and Saskatoon donor relations teams are great to work with, and I accept this award for all of us.”

Boulet family

The Schilly Award

The parents of Logan Boulet are proof positive that a conversation can significantly transform lives. When Logan tragically died on April 7, 2018, one day following the Humboldt bus crash, his parents Bernadine and Toby offered to donate their son’s organs so that others could live on. Their decision was based on a discussion with Logan not long before his death.

Hockey Gives Blood (Stu and Amy Middleton)

The Schilly Award

Founded on the belief that every team, league and player can make a positive and lasting difference, Hockey Gives Blood (HGB) has made an incredible impact in little more than a year. Co-founder Stu Middleton was inspired by two events to create Hockey Gives Blood (HGB). In 2000, his father Tom died in a car accident as he travelled to watch Stu play hockey. In the wake of that tragedy, Stu received an outpouring of support from his local hockey community.

Dr. Donna Wall, MD, CCPE

Lifetime Achievement Award

With a medical career spanning almost 40 years, Dr. Wall has made significant contributions to the evolution of blood and marrow transplantation across North America. After completing paediatric and paediatric hematology/oncology training in the U.S., Dr. Wall went on to establish blood and marrow transplantation and public cord blood programs in cities including St. Louis and San Antonio.

Dr. Harold Atkins

Lifetime Achievement Award

In addition to his work as a physician at the Ottawa Hospital Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Dr. Atkins is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa, a scientist in the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research and the medical director of the Regenerative Medicine Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Kate Potts

Recipient Speaker

"One important thing I’ve learned is that many people don’t donate because they’ve never been asked to — so I typically just ask people to give blood. I believe most Canadians are unaware of the ongoing need for blood, or they don’t feel they can make a difference with their one donation. My experience shows them otherwise."

National Honouring Canada's Lifeline

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