Dedicated partners help donors travel across land and sea to give

Like a true champion, the Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise has been a formidable and dependable partner for Canadian Blood Services. Since joining the Partners for Life program in September 2021, the organization has been a strong supporter of Canada’s Lifeline. 

In spring 2022, these Rotarians answered the call when Canadian Blood Services began its first rotation of blood donation events in the area. The donor relations team addressed the group with three specific requests: to help reach high school students, to secure volunteers for in-clinic events and to expand community outreach. 

The Club went above and beyond in fulfilling these requests. Not only did the Rotarians help us to secure partnerships with the high schools in their community, but they have also been fully staffing our events with volunteers, as well as engaging their network more widely. Most recently, they’ve secured a partnership with BC Ferries.  

Here’s how it happened. Canadian Blood Services provides donation services on some parts of Vancouver Island, but donors on the beautiful Sunshine Coast and islands near West Vancouver must come to the Lower Mainland to donate blood. As we began working with the Rotary Club to grow our donor base in West Vancouver, we discussed the transportation barrier for Sunshine Coast residents. Club members pointed out that the municipality of West Vancouver hosts a ferry terminal providing access to the Sunshine Coast and nearby islands. They reached out to BC Ferries and were able to secure complimentary ferry travel vouchers for distribution to Sunshine Coast donors. Our most recent event, in July 2023, was the first to benefit from BC Ferries support.  

Given this initial success, BC Ferries plans to continue its support by offering complimentary ferry vouchers, good for travel on the day of a donation event, for Sunshine Coast residents who make the effort to donate. The Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise will be responsible for distributing these vouchers.  

The Rotary Club of West Vancouver Sunrise is indeed living up to their motto: “Service Above Self.”