Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement marking June 14, 2020, as World Blood Donor Day:

“On World Blood Donor Day, we celebrate those who have helped save lives, thanks to their selfless donation of blood and plasma.

“In British Columbia and across Canada, we are privileged in our access to a free and safe blood supply, which allows us to help patients needing treatments and those in emergency situations. There are still many countries where safe blood is not available to those in need, due to a lack of donations and testing equipment.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our routines, including reducing the number of life-saving blood donations. We thank all those who have answered the urgent call for blood donations during this challenging time. Your donation will help to ensure supply can keep up with demand and help people receiving cancer treatments, trauma victims and many more.

“Safety comes first, and precautions are in place to keep blood donors safe. Today and every day, we encourage all British Columbians who are able to donate blood or blood products to make the choice that can help save the life of a child, a senior, a friend or a loved one in your community. Your single donation can save up to three lives.

“With everyone’s help, we can continue to maintain a healthy blood supply in our province and across the country. Book an appointment, save a life.”

For a French translation: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020.06.14_STM_World_Blood_Donor_Day-FR.pdf

For a Punjabi translation: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020.06.14_STM_World_Blood_Donor_Day-Punjabi.pdf

For a Chinese (traditional) translation: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2020.06.14_STM_World_Blood_Donor_Day-TC.pdf