As Canada celebrates National Blood Donor Week (June 8–16), Northern British Columbians are being asked to rally behind a grassroots campaign calling on Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to restore blood donation to the region.
Residents are invited to sign the petition in support of a new blood plasma donor centre in Prince George.
Earlier this year, CBS announced its goal to recruit a million new blood donors over five years. ‘Our Blood Counts’ is a community-led initiative that launched the petition for a new Northern BC plasma donor centre.
Our Blood Counts said the petition demonstrates how Northern BC residents want to make a difference for patients and families while supporting Canada’s blood plasma supply.
“We want CBS to succeed. This isn’t just about donating blood—it’s about Northerners stepping up for each other and Canadians,” said Mark Karjaluoto, founder of Our Blood Counts. “We’ve seen how blood and plasma can make a difference for the people we care about. We want to help, and we’re asking Canadian Blood Services to work with us to make that possible.”
Plasma is a key component in life-saving medications for patients with cancer, immune disorders, and chronic health conditions. Canada imports the majority of the plasma-based medications that patients rely on.
Even with new donor centres in Canada, CBS expects to reach only 50 percent self-sufficiency, requiring ongoing plasma imports from the United States.
Prince George hosted a CBS whole blood donor centre for 17 years. May 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of its closure, which left the entire region without a blood donation site.
Residents must now travel to southern BC or Alberta to make life-saving blood and plasma donations.
To date, more than 1,600 Northerners have signed the petition for the proposed plasma centre.