Daily COVID-19 digest

World Blood Donor Day: We want to thank all of you who joined us this week to donate blood, inspire friends and family and share incredible stories of generosity. On Sunday, June 14 our celebration comes to a close with World Blood Donor Day. We hope that you join us by sharing our online tools and stories to celebrate, give thanks and promote blood donation within your own networks. You can also support by re-posting content from our official Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts on your own social channels using the hashtags #NBDW2020 and #CanadasLifeline. What you do matters. Thank you for helping us continue to serve more patients and help save lives.

Stories from National Blood Donor Week: During National Blood Donor Week we are celebrating donors for their generosity and commitment and sharing the stories of the lives they have touched. Working on the frontlines with some of the most vulnerable patients, staff at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton understand the importance of blood donation. More than 20 of them, many of them first-time donors, came together to help patients during the pandemic. Jenn Brenneis, a registered nurse and first-time donor was moved to give by the children the hospital serves, as well as by the experience of a close friend. “Unfortunately, you don’t realize that you, or someone you love, will need blood until that need arises” said Jenn. “Generous donors helped to save the life of one of my closest friends, and I can never thank them for that gift.” Read more on blood.ca/stories.

How corporate Canada is helping our blood system during the pandemic: Every day, our corporate partners and financial donors help support patients across the country, strengthening our national blood supply system quietly in the background. When COVID-19 hit in Canada, many of them stepped up even further to help us overcome new and unexpected challenges so that we could continue to meet patient needs. Companies like Toyota Canada and CIBC have helped attract a significant influx of new blood donors. Read more on blood.ca.

Some words of thanks from our donors: Our essential staff are on the frontlines every day because lives depend on it. We receive hundreds of notes of gratitude each week from donors after they have interacted with frontline employees and we think it’s important that you know how much of an impact you have made on them. Before you head into your weekend, please pause to read a small selection of their appreciation:     

“The health and safety measures added for COVID-19 blew me away. I have someone at risk at home with me I felt the most comfortable outside of my house at the blood donor clinic than I have felt at all during this outbreak Everyone was expected to wear masks, I was confident that everything was wiped down, touching anything was kept to a minimum. I am so thankful that I feel comfortable to keep donating during this outbreak. Thanks so much!” (Kelowna)

“I was not sure what donating during COVID-19 would be like but I knew the need for blood was still there, so I put my mask on and walked in and the staff were so great! They had the pre-check station set up where they check your temperature and ask you the COVID questions, then inside they were as lovely as ever. Everyone is always so kind. I did not catch the name of the gentleman working in the recovery/snack area, but he was telling me about his son who is becoming a pilot and how he hoping to be the first one to fly with him. It is just a nice environment every time even now through masks everyone was still so cheery and amazing” (Halifax)

Question of the day: Do we currently have mandatory training in place to prevent implicit biases from hiring or promoting certain individuals? If not, what resources are available to raise awareness about diversity, equity and inclusion?

To date, we have not implemented organization-wide mandatory training except for LGBTQ+ awareness and accessibility training for all employees that are available on the LMS.  In the past, members of EMT, PCP and the talent acquisition team participated in bias awareness workshops.

As part of the diversity, equity and inclusion program, we will examine the most effective approaches to education around diversity, equity, inclusion and bias. This will be combined with an examination of our recruitment, onboarding and promotion processes as we do not believe that mandatory training alone can address potential barriers to Black, Indigenous or people of color or other members under-represented groups.   

In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the diversity, equity and inclusion resource page. There, you will find education and resources dealing with topics on diversity, equity and inclusion, to raise awareness, and improve cultural competence.

Andrew Pateman, VP, People Culture and Performance

About the daily digest

This daily digest will highlight the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content like articles and videos to remind us that what we do matters. Things are moving quickly, so you can expect to hear from us daily. No access to email? No problem — all this information and more can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.

Click here to read past editions of the daily digest.

Have questions? Check out blood.ca/employees or email us at communications@blood.ca.