Canada’s Jewish Immigrant Aid Services has been supporting refugees to this country for a remarkable 100 years, an anniversary marked this week here at the Zoomerplex.

June 20th is World Refugee Day and this year it carries more significance as beleaguered Ukrainian refugees crossed their nation's border to various destinations including Canada. Ukraine has the fastest growing refugee crisis since the second world war and the numbers are growing. Whether it’s this crisis or others, JIAS has welcomed newcomers forced to flee their homeland. Elise Herzig, herself the daughter of an immigrant, is executive director Jewish Immigrant Aid Services, Toronto.

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There’s an urgent call for more blood donors as demand is back amid the smallest donor base in a decade. And officials warn it’s not sustainable. In fact, Canadian Blood Services needs to find another 100-thousand donors over the next year. That number is more than double that which currently donate on a regular basis. Rachel Solomon is development manager for the Toronto area