A record number of Albertans are donating organs or tissues — a milestone that has saved hundreds of lives, advocates and doctors say.
Give Life Alberta reported that 317 people who died in 2024 donated organs or tissues. That’s up from 273 donors in 2023, and 248 in 2022. It comes as medical teams work to increase awareness.
Heather Zirk lost her husband Harry seven years ago and based on his wishes, made the decision to donate his corneas, bones and other tissues.
She remembers him as a gregarious people person who was always giving back. Now, she is an advocate for organ donation to all those around her — encouraging people to have conversations with family about their wishes.
“There’s so much more relief knowing that I did it because that’s what he wanted — than if all of the sudden I have to make this decision,” Zirk said.
“And it just helped my kids to be able to talk about it more openly with with people as well.”
Dr. Dennis Djogovic, medical director of Give Life Alberta North, said it’s been gratifying to see the incremental increase but it’s hard to pinpoint a single reason driving the trend.
“What we’re hoping is that awareness is what’s driving these numbers, recognizing that organ donation in these situations come from mortalities,” Djogovic said.
He credits the increase to a few factors coming together.
In 2023, provincial mandatory referral legislation came into effect requiring a doctor to offer patients the opportunity to donate when circumstances are right.
Since then, a consolidation of health-care teams also formed Give Life Alberta — creating a dedicated provincial office and launching a public awareness campaign.
These allow for medical teams to ensure they don’t miss opportunities for donation, Djogovic said.
Alberta Health Services is recording a steady increase in organ and tissue donations as it works to build awareness and a stronger culture of donation — alongside legislative changes. CBC spoke with Albertans about the choice to donate.
Decisions like those are making a difference in the lives of people such as 10-year-old Cecily Kalyn.
The young girl needed a heart transplant at 10 weeks old. Her mother Candice Kalyn remembers getting the call and hearing that someone said “yes” to a donation.
“It was kind of unbelievable and exciting and scary all at the same time,” Candice Kalyn said.
She said the family thinks of their donor family all the time.
“Somebody had to lose their baby in order for mine to survive — and that’s something we’ll always be grateful for.”
The news that more Albertans are donating is a comfort to her, as there’s a possibility that Cecily will one day need a second heart replacement.
“Cecily has brightened our life in so many ways … it’s going to be ongoing for the rest of our lives with her that someone gave the ultimate sacrifice and a family said yes in their darkest grieving hour.”
She said that it is essential that Albertans inform family of their wishes, because in the end they get the final call — regardless of registration.
Djogovic said family consent rates are still lower than they would hope — in the realm of 50 to 60 per cent.
“We’d like to make sure that we support the public enough that they feel that this is something that is right for them. There’s no correct answer.”
One organ donor can save up to eight lives, he said. In Alberta more than 500 people are currently waiting for life-saving transplants, according to Alberta Health Services.
