National Blood Donor Week Act (S.C. 2008, c. 4)

Preamble

WHEREAS the blood supply in Canada is managed by two not-for-profit organizations — Héma-Québec and Canadian Blood Services;

WHEREAS Canada has one of the safest blood systems in the world;

WHEREAS over half of Canadians will require blood or blood products for themselves or a family member during their lifetime;

WHEREAS less than four per cent of eligible Canadians donate blood every year;

WHEREAS more blood donors are needed in Canada to meet the demand for blood and blood products;

WHEREAS blood donation includes not only the gift of whole blood, but gifts of plasma, platelets and bone marrow as well;

WHEREAS every blood donation has the power to save the lives of up to three people;

WHEREAS a greater awareness of the importance of becoming a blood donor is required to engage more Canadians in helping their fellow citizens;

WHEREAS blood donors are volunteers who are not remunerated, and therefore the act of donating blood and blood products is a genuine act of altruism;

WHEREAS blood donors in Canada are the lifeblood of their communities, and their acts of kindness and generosity should be honoured with a national week of celebration;

WHEREAS the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared June 14 of every year as “World Blood Donor Day”, a day to honour those who give the gift of life;

AND WHEREAS, throughout the world, 192 WHO Member States, 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and 50 national voluntary blood donor organizations and blood transfusion specialists have agreed to support World Blood Donor Day each year;