Your Digest

Snapshots: CEO’s blog highlights June events

In Dr. Graham Sher’s latest blog, he acknowledges the significance of National Blood Donor Week and why we’re shining a light on our need for new donors this year. Graham also explores some of the steps we are taking to build a more inclusive blood system. "I recognize that when we thank all those who give, not everyone feels a part of that message,” he says. “Our hope is to broaden and grow our donor base in a way that allows everyone to participate in Canada’s Lifeline in the ways that are most meaningful to them.” Read the full blogpost on Connect.

From trauma to lasting love — and a lifelong commitment to blood donation

Today is World Blood Donor Day and we’re proud to #ShineALight on the many ways donors save and transform lives across Canada. Milestone donor, Ron Rupke, began his blood donation journey in June 1972 in northern Ontario while driving with a friend on a dark, unfamiliar road. The car veered off into a culvert, causing life threatening injuries to his friend, Margaret. She needed about five units of blood to survive. Now Margaret is his wife of nearly 50 years and Ron is forever grateful to the donors who helped save her life. Inspired by this tragic moment, Ron has donated 201 times and now his children and grandchildren are following his lead. Visit Connect to read Ron and Margaret’s story as well as other stories that highlight National Blood Donor Week (June 12-18). You can also see yesterday’s public news release here.

Open board meeting this Friday

Twice a year, Canadian Blood Services’ board of directors holds an open meeting, inviting employees, stakeholders and members of the public to observe. It’s a great opportunity to watch our leaders in action, put faces to names and gain a better understanding of the many facets of our operations. The next open board meeting is taking place this Friday, June 17, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET.  It will be conducted in a hybrid format with board members attending in person and all other invitees attending virtually. In addition to the chair’s report and the CEO year-end review, there will be a Q&A session followed by stakeholder presentations to the board on a variety of topics. You can refer to the agenda for more details.

Celebrating a new plasma donor centre in Brampton, Ont.

For Ranjit Singh Panesar, encouraging people from Ontario’s South Asian community to support Canada’s Lifeline has been an important part of his life for many years. A resident of Brampton, Ont. for more than 26 years, Ranjit supports Blood Donation by Sikh Nation, Canadian Blood Services’ largest contributor to the pledge-based Partners for Life program. For more than two decades, Sikh Nation has partnered with Canadian Blood Services for a series of annual blood donor events across the country. Now that Canadian Blood Services’ new plasma donor centre is open in Brampton, Ranjit is excited to deepen his commitment to patients and inspire others in his community to donate plasma. Read more at blood.ca/stories.

Question of the day

Now that Ontario has ended their mask mandate in hospitals, employees and donors are inquiring if there is an update on the mask requirements within Canadian Blood Services.

Ontario has further lifted mask requirements in some public indoor spaces, including health-care settings. The Ontario Ministry of Health is encouraging organizations to keep their own mask policies if they choose to. Several health-care and non-health-care organizations have indicated their intention to maintain mask requirements on their premises even though they are no longer required to do so. Canadian Blood Services is not a health-care setting, but we understand there may be some questions about our decision to maintain our mask policy.

We will continue to ask everyone who enters our sites to wear a mask at this time. Please know that we are actively assessing our current COVID-19 policies, including our mask policy, and will inform the organization when we make any changes. 

About Your Digest

This digest highlights the latest policy and employee support measures, resources to help you manage our new reality and original content to remind us that what we do matters. This information can be found on blood.ca/employees from any device, no login required.

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