Canadian Forces personnel show their support this Remembrance Day

Canadian Forces personnel show their support this Remembrance Day by donating blood in honour of their colleagues and Canada’s Veterans. On November 10, 2006, twenty members of the Canadian Forces attended our Remembrance Day clinic to donate blood in honour of this special day. All donors were treated to brunch while they completed an “In Honour” card to be sent directly to Canadian Forces personnel. Any citizen can visit our clinic to send a special message to our troops during the month of November.

The 4^th Annual "Investing in Life" Financial Institution Blood Donor Campaign officially kicks off on March 17, 2008.

The following financial institutions in the Atlantic Region have all signed on to save lives and "win" the honour of having the most participation amongst employees, family and friends:

• BMO Bank of Montreal
• Scotiabank
• Atlantic Credit Unions
• TD Canada Trust
• RBC Royal Bank

In 2007 participating financial institutions helped Canadian Blood Services collect 477 units of blood. With each unit saving or improving three lives, this campaign helped over 1,400 hospital patients!

This year's campaign will run from March 17 to May 17, 2008, at all permanent and mobile blood donor clinics across the Atlantic Region. The goal is to collect 500 units. Don't forget to sign-in at the blood donor clinic to make your donation count. We will be relying once again on the generosity of bank and credit union employees, their families and friends to meet our target and save lives while they're doing it.

For information or to book an appointment at a clinic near you, please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

A representative from the financial institution with the highest participation rate will be invited to attend the local annual Honouring Our Lifeblood event held in late spring to receive a certificate of appreciation.

Every Buddy Saves a Life - Plasma Donor Referral Campaign

From January 14th to February 22nd, 2008, Canadian Blood Services in St. John's, Halifax, Saint John, and Charlottetown is asking current plasma donors to recruit new donors to the program. The Every Buddy Saves a Life! Campaign is an initiative to increase the number of plasma donors. The marketing program gives a current donor the opportunity to recruit a new donor for the program and receive a Canadian Blood Services toque as a "reward" for enhancing the plasma program. The program is open to all registered donors who meet all basic requirements for donating plasma and who have recruited a potential donor to the plasma program.

Current donors wishing to participate must fill out a registration form and hand it in at the appointment desk. Forms are available in the hospitality area of the permanent clinics and at the appointment desk.

Canadian Blood Services is seeing an increasing demand for apheresis plasma in addition to a need to increase the current donor base. Current donors, who can speak from personal experience, are being asked to volunteer to actively recruit new donor "buddies" for the plasma program.

Newfoundland Power is one of the founding members of the Partners for Life program in Newfoundland and Labrador and has shown a strong commitment to saving lives. As of April 30th, 2007, Newfoundland Power employees have made over 500 donations since becoming a Partner for Life.

They have partnered with Canadian Blood Services to raise awareness of the need for blood within its corporate offices, allowed employees to donate during work time, which significantly increases donor attendance, and further extended their support of the blood program by hosting and sponsoring blood donor clinics.

This past year not only did Newfoundland Power employees continue to donate regularly but they demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community and the blood program on September 13, 2006 when Hurricane Florence threatened Newfoundland and Labrador. Heavy rain and wind resulted in power outages early in the morning and conditions were forecast to worsen during the day,a clinic scheduled for Newfoundland Power's offices, but the space was required for Newfoundland Power’s Storm Centre communications. Even as Newfoundland Power was responding to their customer needs and preparing for worsening conditions they contacted Canadian Blood Services to make alternate arrangements for the clinic that day. The decision was made to move the Newfoundland Power blood donor clinic to Canadian Blood Services in St. John's at 7 Wicklow Street location and transport available employees here to donate. Despite the Hurricane Florence’s impact on Newfoundland Power’s systems, call centre, outside and emergency service staff, an astounding seventy percent of donors booked for that day travelled to Wicklow Street and made their scheduled donation resulting in a safe an adequate blood supply despite a large number of donors being unable to attend other clinics scheduled that day across the province.

Newfoundland Power’s generous support has helped meet the growing demand for blood in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada. As a member of our Partner for Life program Newfoundland Power has demonstrated a willingness and desire to help people in need and provided an opportunity for their employees to help others and save lives.