Canadian Blood Services in Corner Brook closing clinic in May

In less that two weeks, Canadian Blood Services in Corner Brook will close its doors for the final time.

On Thursday, the blood agency announced that the clinic was one of three permanent sites across the country to shut down.

Ten part-time employees and two casual workers will lose their jobs.

Gary Wiseman, who has donated blood almost 200 times, thought it was a mistake when he heard the news.

"It becomes part of a duty and a habit and you feel like helping," he said.

"Every one unit you donate apparently can be split down to three, and at one point when you hit the 150 mark, you start thinking, 'I could help 500 people.' I was hoping to get there."

Wiseman will not reach his milestone, leaving him, as well as 900 other donors with no place to go. 

"It surprised me, because this office did make its quotas … which is good," said Wiseman.

"People in Corner Brook and Bay of Islands all around were supporting this with their time and donations." 

A representative with Canadian Blood Services told CBC News they are closing the clinic, because the demand for blood is decreasing. 

The agency has projected a four per cent decline in demand for red blood cells this year. 

Once the clinic in Corner Brook closes, there are no plans to bring the mobile unit west of Grand Falls-Windsor.

"Now that Corner Brook is gone, I believe the only place to go is east to St. John's. That's a long way to go just to donate. Not going to happen," Wiseman said.

The other permanent clinics slated to close are located in Sydney, N.S., and in Prince George, B.C. 

The Corner Brook site on Herald Avenue closes on May 14.