Northern Alberta still lacks local blood donation sites.

Canadian Blood Services says winter storms cancelled drives and there is an urgent need for donations; many northern Alberta communities, including Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie, have not hosted local blood drives for years.

Canadian Blood Services has reported an urgent need for blood donations after winter storms led to cancelled blood drives nationwide. Many parts of northern Alberta have not hosted local blood drives for years, with Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie cited as examples. Officials say geographic remoteness and the need to ship donations quickly affect whether mobile clinics operate in those communities, and Dr. Rithesh Ram plans to raise the issue with Canadian Blood Services. What is known: - Canadian Blood Services announced an urgent need for donations after winter storms cancelled scheduled blood drives. - Fort McMurray has not hosted a blood drive since 2002 and Grande Prairie since 2011, and both are considered too remote for regular mobile clinics. - Canadian Blood Services said holding events in remote locations can affect the ability to ship blood within required timeframes to manufacturing sites. - Dr. Rithesh Ram, president of rural medicine for the Alberta Medical Association, has stated he will discuss the access gap with Canadian Blood Services, and MLA Tany Yao has also raised concerns. Summary: Urgent demand for blood coincides with limited local collection options in parts of northern Alberta, according to Canadian Blood Services. Dr. Rithesh Ram has said he will discuss the matter with Canadian Blood Services; further steps have not been announced.