PROCLAMATION
BeADonor MONTH

WHEREAS, “BeADonor Month” supports organ and tissue donor registration; and

WHEREAS, almost 1,600 people in Ontario are on the waitlist and every three days someone dies waiting for a live-saving organ transplant; and

WHEREAS research shows the majority of Ontarians support organ and tissue donation yet just 35% of eligible Ontarians have registered their consent to donate; and

WHEREAS, families almost always consent to donation when there is evidence a loved one registered their decision to donate, but in the absence of a registered donation decision, families consent only half of the time; and

WHEREAS, everyone is a potential organ and tissue donor, regardless of age, medical condition or sexual orientation; one organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 more through the gift of tissue; and

WHEREAS on April 7, 2018, a young Canadian named Logan Boulet became an organ donor in the aftermath of the tragic Humboldt Bronco bus crash and saved the lives of six others; and

WHEREAS: the Canadian Transplant Association and the family of Logan Boulet will carry on Logan’s legacy by recognizing April 7th as Green Shirt Day to raise awareness of the need for registered organ and tissue donors so that access to life saving and life transforming transplants can be improved;

NOW THEREFORE I, Shawn Pankow, Mayor of the Town of Smiths Falls do hereby proclaim the month of April as BeADonor Month and encourage all citizens to learn more about the organ and tissue donation and transplantation,

AND THAT residents are asked to consider pledging their support to “BeADonor Month” by registering as a donor at beadonor.ca .