Protesters said they were out for blood and plasma as they rallied in hopes of ensuring the only donation clinic in Thunder Bay stays.
More than 100 protesters stood their ground at the site of the Barton Street plasma centre. Canadian Blood Service planned to close the only centre dedicated solely on plasma donations in the country on Thursday because of what officials said was a lack of demand for its services.
Kelly Borchardt, who worked at the centre, learned about the closure of the facility when she was in the middle of her vacation.
She drove back to Thunder Bay to protest the closing of the facility that she worked at for the past 14 years.
She attended the protest as well and said she was there for blood and plasma to stay in Thunder Bay.
“(The news) definitely ruined a well-earned vacation and it was quiet devastating,” Borchardt said.
“It’s deception all the way down. With them saying that they get plasma from Winnipeg is true but all the plasma that comes to Winnipeg is from Thunder Bay.”
She said there was no warning that Canadian Blood Services planned to close the facility. Last year the clinic met 98 per cent of their target. She said since they didn’t make their target they tried harder to accomplish that goal this year. With a week before the clinic was to close, the staff accomplished that goal.
She said CBS set them up to fail.
Ian Thompson received two plaques for blood he has donated to the plasma clinic. He had both in hand at the rally because he intended to give them back.
He said he didn’t want recognition from an organization that doesn’t recognize the importance of having a plasma clinic in Thunder Bay.
“If they don’t feel it’s necessary to run the Thunder Bay operations and honour me with these plaques then I don’t see any reason to honour them,” Thompson said.
“Nothing is going to happen. This discussion I would suspect was made a year ago. This is not new. They came into town and destroyed the whole operation.”
Sean Allen, chair Canadian Blood Services and Diagnostics for Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said he’s heard the reason for closing the clinic was because it was over collecting.
But that wasn’t what an annual CBS report said before when it stated the clinic needed to increase plasma collection.
“We’re kind of scratching our heads trying to find an immediate last minute decision,” Allen said.
“It contradicts all the reports and the feedback that we’re getting from the organization itself internally. Collection targets are higher than they are letting on when we have a shortage. It appears no one is quite clear on what Canadian Blood Services is saying.”
Local politicians also appeared at the rally and spoke about the need for the clinic. Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs said he’s thankful for the hard work the employees have done and added they should take their concerns to the Prime Minister.
