A community-led initiative is asking Canadian Blood Services to open a blood plasma centre in northern B.C., which does not have any blood donor centre.

The group, called Our Blood Counts, says blood products are urgently needed, and the North is the only part of the province without a donation site. The group is calling upon local residents to support the effort to bring a permanent centre to Prince George. Founder Mark Karjaluoto says the need for blood continues year-round, including during the holiday season, because emergencies, cancer treatments, and surgeries still happen.

The initiative has garnered support from more than 2,500 residents, two MLAs, 11 local governments, and the North Central Local Government Association. Founder Mark Karjaluoto says he wants to grow the movement even more in 2026. He shares that the group is working hard to show Canadian Blood Services how important it is to bring blood donation services back to northern B.C., and they plan to do even more in 2026 to make that message clear.

Karjaluoto is encouraging people from northern communities who are travelling to other parts of the province to visit a Canadian Blood Services donor centre. He says they can donate blood to help save lives and also speak with staff about how important it is for northern communities to have their own blood donation services.

Source: Alexander Vaz, Northern Sentinel