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

SHERBROOKE, QC, Oct. 23 /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 1,000 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 and in the presence of Mr. Jean Charest , Premier of Quebec . The Honourable Pierre Duchesne and Mr. Jean Charest were accompanied by Mr. François Charpentier, Assistant Director General of the Sûreté du Québec, Mr. Gaétan Labbé, Director of the Sherbrooke Police Department and Mr. Serge Belisle , Director of the Quebec City Police Department.

Today, in the presence of invited guests from the public and private sectors, 201 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.

For further information: Richard Tremblay, [phone]