Dozens of people are donating blood on a day to remember. Canadian Blood Services set up a clinic at the Winnipeg Convention Centre outside of the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2013.
“It adds a little bit more to the symbolism, I guess, of Remembrance Day just by giving a little bit extra,” said Cpl. Emil Edwards.
The clinic set up where people gathered to pay tribute to Canada’s veterans. “We thought it would be a great day to have a blood donor clinic in their honour at the site where the biggest ceremony is,” said Darrin Desmedt of Canadian Blood Services.
Dozens like Graham Konrad did not hesitate to step up and sit down. “Consider it a donation-in-kind, that perhaps one day, when I do need it, those people will be there for me as well,” he said.
Clinics like this have a special connection to the Second World War. Nearly 900,000 donations of blood were collected in Canada for military hospitals during the last year of the war. That was the beginning of Canada's voluntary blood system.
“Military and blood donation partnered to ensure that the soldiers or those overseas got the blood and the products they required,” said Desmedt.
“I think it's something everybody should learn and be proud of the fact that they're Canadian and how many of us gave,” said Wendy Gillespie.
Cpl. Edwards hopes more people learn about this historical connection. “I believe that would be a good motivator for anybody who is, you know, reserved about donating,” he said.
Canadian Blood Services said more than 5,600 donations are needed in Manitoba this month to maintain its current supply level. Canadian Blood Services says blood collected from Canadian donors may also be used for our soldiers in military hospitals.
- With a report by Jeff Keele
