Awarding of posthumous titles of Ambassador of Health and the titles of Great Samaritan, and tribute to the Organs and tissue Donors of Quebec

SHERBROOKE, QC, Oct. 25, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - At a dignified tribute ceremony held in Sherbrooke today, the Canadian Organ Donors Association awarded posthumous titles of Ambassador of Health and titles of Great Samaritan to Organ Donors from Quebec and Canada, in the presence of their families.

Over 1,500 people took part in this event—the only one of its kind in both the country and North America—which was held under the patronage of His Honour, the Honourable Pierre Duchesne, Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec. The Honourable Pierre Duchesne was accompanied by Mr. François Deschênes, Assistant Commissioner and Commanding Officer "C" Division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Mr. Gaétan Guimond, Assistant General Director, Sûreté du Québec and Mr. Marc Parent, Director, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal.

Today, in the presence of invited guests from the public and private sectors, 199 donors from Quebec, represented by a designated member of their family, received the posthumous title of Ambassador of Health. As part of the ceremony also, their names were unveiled on the Donors' Cenotaph.

"This event is the affirmation of a society that recognizes and wishes to publicly acknowledge those who have contributed to passing on the most precious legacy of all, that of HEALTH. It is my sincere hope that this tribute will help ease their families' pain and that this exceptional commitment toward our community will continue to grow," said Richard Tremblay, the association's president.

SOURCE: THE CANADIAN ORGAN DONORS ASSOCIATION

Source : Richard Tremblay, ACDO [phone]
Renseignements : Brigitte Junius
Transplant Québec [phone]