About
Help raise awareness year round
Canadian Blood Services works with the Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) community to improve national system performance. We do this through the development of leading practices, professional education, public awareness and data analysis and reporting. We also manage clinical programs that support interprovincial sharing of organs. Through national collaboration involving organ donation organizations and transplantation programs across Canada we are working to increase organ and tissue donation, increase access to transplants and improve patient outcomes.
Interested in learning more about living organ donation?
Find out more about how to become a living donor here
Why it matters
Approximately 4,400 Canadians await a lifesaving organ transplant. Each year hundreds of Canadians die waiting.
90 per cent of Canadians say they support organ donation, yet only 32 per cent have actually registered their decision.
Take two minutes... You can become and organ and tissue donor and make a difference in someone's life.
Three simple ways to help:
Register your decision
Every province has its own registry or method for indicating one's intent to donate organs and tissues.
Talk to your family about your decision
In addition to registering or indicating your intent, don't forget to tell your family about your organ and tissue donation wishes.
Encourage others to register
Here’s a simple message to get you started: “Register and talk to your family about organ and tissue donation, make sure they know your wishes.”
Quick Facts
Approximately 4,400 Canadians await a lifesaving organ transplant.
Each year, more than 250 Canadians die waiting.
One donor can save 8 lives through organ donation and provide tissue for up to 75 patients.
According to public opinion polls, more than 90 percent of Canadians support organ and tissue donation but only 32 percent have registered their decision.
You are six times more likely to need a transplant than to become an organ donor.
Age doesn’t matter: Canada’s oldest organ donor was over 90.
Donation will only be considered after every effort has been made to save your life.
It takes 2 minutes to register your decision on organ donation
Only 1–2% of people who die can be considered for organ donation. Most people can be considered for tissue donation.
The surgery to remove organs and tissues is done with the same care as any other surgery.
Nearly all religious groups support organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Talk to your spiritual provider if you have questions.