The Sudbury Catholic District School Board in conjunction with the Trillium Gift of Life Network presented the “One Life…Many Gifts” educational program at Marymount Academy to Sudbury Catholic District School Board trustees, senior administration, elementary and secondary school principals, school chaplains and the entire Catholic Education Centre office staff.

The “One Life…Many Gifts” is a senior secondary school pilot curriculum program aimed at raising the level of understanding about organ and tissue donation in secondary school classrooms across the province.

Dr. Frank Markel, President and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network and Joan Green, Education Consultant and Program Advisor were the key presenters of the “One Life…Many Gifts” program. “It is vital to begin the conversation around organ and tissue donation with students in our high schools,” stated Markel regarding the donor program. “Our hope is that every student will start talking about the importance of organ and tissue donation and will talk to their loved ones about their wishes

The “One Life…Many Gifts” curriculum is being delivered in 240 schools made up of 20 school boards across Ontario in the 2008/09 academic year, including the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

Dr. Frank Markel, President and CEO of the Trillium Gift of Life Network donned a Sudbury Irish Heritage Club vest during a presentation at Marymount Academy regarding the “One Life …Many Gifts” program. In his address to the audience, Dr. Markel stated that it was impossible to talk about organ donation in Sudbury without mentioning the great work and efforts of the Sudbury Irish Heritage Club. “This group has been instrumental in raising awareness and funds around organ donation in Sudbury through their billboards, walkathons and golf tournaments,” stated Markel. Dr. Markel also noted that Canada as a country has one of lowest donor rates in the world at 14 donors per million people and if we are to make any progress in this area that it will come from our young people and students.

“The focus of the presentation is not the science of transplants, but how to help individuals become civically engaged enough to want to become their brother’s keeper,” said veteran educator Green.