Did you know that more than 200 people die every year in Canada waiting for the transplants that could have saved their lives?

Canadian Blood Services is inviting you to learn more and speak up to advance organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada by registering to participate in a public dialogue on this very important issue.

The topic may have personally touched your family or a friend’s life; it may be relevant to your work; your community group or service organization might be interested in this issue; or you may simply be a concerned citizen who wants to learn more and make a difference. Regardless of where you are coming from, your input and contributions are needed in this important conversation.

This public dialogue is part of a larger national stakeholder and public engagement initiative to educate, engage, and mobilize individual Canadians and organizations towards the development of a strategic plan to advance organ and tissue donation and transplantation (OTDT) in Canada. The initiative is being led by Canadian Blood Services, a not-for-profit, charitable organization whose mandate is to manage the blood supply for Canadians.

The public dialogue will be held: WHEN: Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm WHERE: Four Points by Sheraton – 6257 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON

Please register for the event. To see a full list of public dialogue dates across the country, please visit: www.blood.ca/speakup

You can also register by calling: Debbie White OTDT-PA Coordinator Canadian Blood Services 1800 Alta Vista Drive Ottawa, ON K1G 4J5 e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: (613) 739-2404 Fax: (613) 739-2400

Advance registration is required as we want to accommodate the needs of the participants and adequately prepare and plan for food and refreshments.

Don’t miss this opportunity to share your ideas and contribute to improving OTDT in Canada. Please do pass this invitation along to your family, friends and colleagues. We look forward to hearing from you.