Your Digest

Annual flu shot clinics on-site  

Flu season is here, and we want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for you to stay safe. We’re offering free on-site flu immunization clinics at select locations, based on the number of employees at each site. Not only does the shot protect you, but it also helps keep your loved ones, colleagues and community safe from serious illness. Read more on Connect or start booking an appointment here. As well, consider getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster when it is available to you. Reminder: As we are now in cold and flu season, please remember to take care of yourself and stay home if you are feeling unwell. 

Resources and workshops to advance disability inclusion year-round 

On Monday, Oct. 31, we’re marking the end of Disability Employment Awareness Month with a special workshop facilitated by Christine Selinger, an employee and consultant who specializes in disability-related education and training. Christine’s workshop will explore some of the barriers to disability inclusion that exist in the workplace and will provide participants with the knowledge, skills and resources to help foster a culture of inclusion and belonging for the disabled folks in our lives. Register for this workshop here. You can also check out some of the videos, resources and courses available through LinkedIn Learning to strengthen your understanding of inclusive workplaces and how you can be a strong ally to your colleagues with disabilities throughout the year. 

Send us your feedback on the latest town hall (recording now available)   

During yesterday’s town hall, our CEO, Dr. Graham Sher, and his guest panelists addressed important updates and provided responses to many employee questions on various topics, including our vision for hybrid work. In case you missed it, you can access the recording on our employee portal or listen to the podcast on Connect on the Go. To improve future live events with our CEO, we ask you to please take a moment to provide us with your views by completing this anonymous three-minute survey by Friday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. ET.  

Patient and national blood system advocate posthumously releases book 

Brian Fraser inspired thousands of blood and financial donations to Canadian Blood Services during his public battle with leukemia before his untimely passing to the disease in February 2021, when he was just 26 years old. His cancer journey and legacy as a patient advocate are now chronicled in a book titled, One Step at a Time, which his parents, Sheila and Rick, and co-author, Callum Fraser (no relation), are proud to be sharing with the world. Brian is an example of how one person can inspire a deep and lasting impact on others. Read more on Connect.  

Question of the day

There are several articles about paid plasma centres in the U.S. targeting poor communities. Will this be the case/strategy in Canada? 

Under the agreement, Canadian Blood Services will have the ability to reject Grifols’ proposed sites. Our goal will be to ensure their new collection centres will not directly compete with our own network of blood and plasma donor centres.  

You may be reassured to know that Grifols’ site selection criteria are similar to what we use to determine locations for our plasma donor centres. The criteria generally include factors such as population and donor base potential, proximity to shopping and post-secondary institutions and access to public transit.  We anticipate Grifols will seek to open centres in locations that have the best potential for a strong donor base and not intentionally target disadvantaged communities.