News & updates

  • Could you be Jessie’s lifesaving match?

    Dr. Jessie Willis is a first-year internal medicine resident who was recently diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment for this type of cancer typically requires a stem cell transplant.

    Jessie is half Asian and half European. Unfortunately, less than 1.5% of the national stem cell registry is comprised of potential donors with mixed ethnicity. This makes it very difficult for patients like Jessie to find their ideal stem cell match. Aside from helping patients, Jessie loves to rock climb, play board games, and spend time with her two dogs.

    If you're between the ages of 17 and 35, you can join the stem cell registry. You just might be Jessie’s lifesaving stem cell match. Register online in less than 2 minutes.

  • What would you give to save a life this winter?

    Patients need you to donate blood or plasma

    Do something extraordinary to get out of the winter rut! Book a blood or plasma donation and join the committed donors making all the difference for patients across the country.

    No matter what the season, patient need is constant. Your support ensures that patients have access to essential blood products when and where they need them.

    Please help fill open donation appointment spots this winter. Patients need you now.

    Book your next blood or plasma donation today.

  • Dec. 4 change to eligibility criteria

    Dec. 4 change to eligibility criteria related to the ‘mad cow’ disease outbreak.

    If you’ve lived or spent time in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland or France between 1980s and 1990s, you may now be eligible to donate in Canada.

  • Help families like Adam’s make more memories

    Not one, but two stem cell transplants and countless blood products helped Adam overcome his leukemia. “[Specialists] told me my best treatment option for my acute lymphoblastic leukemia was aggressive chemotherapy, but the end point we were looking for was a stem cell transplant,” shares Adam.

    There are nearly 1,000 patients in Canada like Adam who are waiting for their lifesaving match right now. If you're between the ages of 17 and 35, you could be the rare stem cell match a patient has been waiting for.

    Register online in less than two minutes.

  • Announcing a plan to secure Canada’s plasma supply

    Did you know that some lifesaving medications are made from donated plasma? Of these medications, the most widely used are called immunoglobulins. Currently, there is a global shortage of immunoglobulins. Canadian Blood Services is taking action to further secure our country’s supply of these medications, in the shortest time possible. Working with experts, patients, and other stakeholders, we have established a plan to increase plasma collection and enable Canada’s first end-to-end supply chain for immunoglobulins. This means we are working to ensure patients in Canada continue to have access to the lifesaving medications they depend on.