Manitoba has seen a surge in organ donor registrations, marking the highest number of enrollments since the launch of its online registry over a decade ago. Despite this milestone, only six percent of Manitobans are currently signed up, prompting calls from organ recipients and advocates for the province to explore new avenues to boost registrations and ultimately save more lives.
Dr. Owen Mooney, medical director at Transplant Manitoba, emphasized the pressing need for more donors, highlighting the critical impact of increased registrations on saving lives. He stressed the importance of individuals registering as donors, pointing out that the likelihood of needing an organ transplant is higher than becoming a donor.
One such recipient is Paul Meilleur, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, a debilitating condition that severely limited his daily activities. After receiving a double-lung transplant in early 2025, Paul’s life was transformed, underscoring the life-saving potential of organ donations. His brother, Adrian Meilleur, also benefitted from a lung transplant in 2015, stressing the significance of organ donations in changing lives.
Transplant Manitoba reported that approximately 75,000 Manitobans had registered as organ donors by the end of August, a number that has nearly doubled since 2018. Despite this progress, Dr. Mooney acknowledged that there is still a substantial gap to address in increasing donor registrations.
Greg Unger, executive director of the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Manitoba branch, emphasized the need for enhanced education and awareness campaigns to boost donor registrations. Unger highlighted the reliance on deceased donors in the current system and stressed the importance of every new registration in providing more individuals with the opportunity to receive life-saving transplants.
Efforts to streamline the donation process include initiatives like mandatory notification in intensive care units to facilitate discussions about organ donation with families. Dr. Mooney suggested expanding registration options beyond the online platform to reach individuals who may not have internet access.
While Manitoba continues its efforts to promote organ donation and increase registrations, advocates like Adrian Meilleur emphasize the transformative impact of transplants, urging for more visibility and accessibility in the organ donation process to offer others a second chance at life.
