Your Digest

Continuing the conversation around mental well-being

If you haven’t done so already, there’s still time to register for today’s employee-led session, Continuing the Conversation – Making All the Difference in Supporting our Mental Health All Year Long. The first session, Supporting Yourself, takes place today from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET. Colleagues Maisaloon Hammoud and Natasha Rickards will share their journeys of awareness, action and acceptance. If you can’t make it, the session will be recorded and available on Connect and shared in Friday’s edition of Your Digest. Let’s keep the conversation on mental health going. Follow the Employee Wellness group on Yammer, engage with fellow employees with #ContinuingTheConversation and register for more employee-led conversations taking place this year. 

Participate in our ongoing DEI journey this February  

Since early 2022, the DEI team has worked closely with the DEI council, employee resource groups and other internal and external stakeholders to develop the foundational elements of a DEI strategy and action plan for Canadian Blood Services. Now, the DEI team is inviting all leaders and employees to participate in engagement sessions to learn more about our collective DEI journey so far, ask questions and share feedback on our next steps. From Feb. 8–23, there will be 12 opportunities to participate in the Driving meaningful change, together sessions. DEI strategies are most effective when co-created and championed by employees and leaders across an organization. These sessions will help ensure that everyone at Canadian Blood Services understands our DEI journey so far — and where we’re going next. Register for one of the upcoming sessions and learn more about the DEI strategy and action plan on Connect.  

Reminder: Data privacy quiz — test your knowledge! 

Data Privacy Week is currently underway, highlighting the impact technology has on our privacy rights and the importance of valuing and protecting personal information. Data Privacy Day, on Jan. 28, reminds us of our responsibility to safeguard personal information, respect privacy and continue to build trust in the work we do to support Canada’s Lifeline. The most important tool we have to protect our data is ourselves: to identify, stop and report a privacy incident. Employees can test their knowledge of data privacy with this short quiz for a chance to win branded swag! Employees who wish to enter must complete the quiz by Jan. 28. The random draw will be on Jan. 30. Full contest rules can be found here. 

Question of the day

Why is Grifols setting up their new processing plant in Montreal when Canadian Blood Services does not operate in Quebec? 

In 2020, Grifols purchased an existing plasma manufacturing plant that was already based in Montreal. This acquisition occurred long before Canadian Blood Services began a rigorous competitive process for the purchase of immunoglobulins made from Canadian plasma. They’re now refurbishing the facility for their use, with the goal of it being fully operational in 2026.  

This is good news for patients in Canada because, until now, immunoglobulins have only been made in other countries. The plant brings manufacturing closer to patients here who depend on these medications and reduces risk of disruption that can happen when supply chains cross borders.  

While Canadian Blood Services and Grifols are working together to make immunoglobulins for patients in Canada, we continue to operate as separate organizations.