Canada Blood Services (CBS) describes blood and blood products as a critical part of medical care. This includes major surgeries, medical procedures and cancer treatment. They emphasize that donors form a vital link in our health care system in Canada. 

Northern Alberta wants to be a part of that system. 

Residents of the northern zones do not have the same access to Canada Blood Services donation centers that are currently available in the southern zones such as Calgary, where they only processing lab is located, and Edmonton. The only permanent sites in Alberta are located in Red Deer, Edmonton and Calgary, while operating more than 13000 donation events each year, and more than 4000 mobile donor clinics across Canada. 

We believe that Northern Alberta should be considered for that same mobile and community based donation model. 

Remember, this is not a question of whether or not the northern community is willing to donate. Residents of Grande Prairie haven't seen a donor event since 2011. We are officially asking for greater access to donor opportunities. 

Previous petitions have garnered support of over 1000 signatures. There is community interest, but that wasn't enough. We need to change that number to something bigger. Something to prove that we don't just want this opportunity, we NEED it. 

Northern AB is home to larger communities and a substantial regional population. Grande Prairie services as a major center for the Peace Region, while Fort McMurray serves a large northern population and surrounding communities. 

• The barrier we are experiencing is simply access. We are not asking CBS to immediately commit to constructing a permanent donor center. We are just asking for practical solutions such as:
• Establishing regular donor clinics in Northern Alberta, beginning with communities such as Grande Prairie.
• Evaluate the demand for recurring donation events.
• Work with local employers, municipalities, health-care organizations, indigenous communities, schools and community organizations to identify suitable collection locations and recruit donors 
• Measure participation and donor demand to assist with future decisions about permanent sites.
• Consider northern AB as part of the organization to broaden efforts to make blood donation accessible to Canadians across the country. 

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Canadian Blood Services states that all blood types are needed to meet the needs of patients.

Every donation represents an opportunity to help someone undergoing surgery, receiving cancer treatment, managing a medical condition, or facing an emergency.

Northern Albertans should not have to choose between contributing to Canada's blood supply and travelling several hours to another part of the province.

We recognize that Canadian Blood Services must make decisions based on donor demand, collection capacity, staffing, logistics and the overall needs of Canada's blood system.

That is precisely why we are asking for an opportunity to demonstrate the demand.

Give Northern Alberta the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and contribute.

Our Request

We respectfully ask Canadian Blood Services to bring regular blood donation opportunities back to Northern Alberta and to work with Northern communities to determine the most practical and sustainable model for doing so.

We believe that a regular mobile clinic or recurring community blood drive would be a reasonable first step.

If participation demonstrates sustained demand, Canadian Blood Services should then consider whether a permanent Northern Alberta donor centre is warranted.

Northern Alberta is ready to donate.

We are asking Canadian Blood Services to give us the opportunity.

We support this petition because:

• We believe Northern Albertans should have reasonable access to blood donation opportunities.
  We believe communities in Northern Alberta have willing donors who currently face significant travel barriers.
  We want to contribute to Canada's blood supply.
  We support the establishment of regular mobile blood donation clinics in Northern Alberta.
  We support Canadian Blood Services evaluating Northern Alberta for a permanent donor centre if sustained donor demand can be demonstrated.