Canadian jazz vocalist Ranee Lee  met donors at the annual Côte Saint-Luc blood donor clinic, which took place on  April 27 at the municipal Gymnasium. 

Only three percent of Quebecers who are eligible to donate blood actually give this gift of life. That number is too low, especially as the need in hospitals is so great. There were 89 donors this year, not a bad figure considering the fact the gym is in the middle of a construction zone (for our new $18 million Aquatic and Community Centre) and on this day the Canadiens were facing the Boston Bruins in game seven of their opening playoff round.

I want to thank Ranee Lee (at the right with myself and a blood donor)  for accepting my invitation, event coordinators Regine Banon and Darryl Levine, the staff of the Parks and Recreation Department and all of the volunteers.  Everyone on hand was thrilled to meet the charming local jazz legend.  Lee won a Juno Award in 2010 for her album Ranee Lee Lives Upstairs. We hope to possibly have her perform at a Côte Saint-Luc event in the future.

For more information about giving blood go to the  Hema Quebec website.