A sign greets blood donors at the entrance of the Prince George clinic thanking them for 17 years of support. Over the next month, dozens of donors will walk through those doors for the last time.
Inside, the mood was resigned Thursday as volunteers, staff and donors met for the first time since last week's announcement that Canadian Blood Services would close the clinic by the end of May.
Nicole Newton has worked as a phlebotomist at the clinic for the last 15 years, and said she loved the work.
"(It) was really emotional," said Newton of the first day back.
"I was in tears. I think the last day is going to be the hardest."
Behind her bright orange flowers sat on a desk as a thank you to staff like Newton, who has worked at the clinic for 15 years.
There's been a lot of that, said clinic coordinator Holly Broderick, a lot of kind words, flowers and gifts.
"There's been lots of tears on the donor's part, on the staff part," Broderick said. "Everyone's kind of grieving together with this loss. Yeah, still pretty devastated and I think for the next month it's just going to go on."
The clinic is open for the rest of the month on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with the last day set for May 28. It was closed alongside two other permanent clinics and 16 mobile clinics to save the non-profit organization about $2.9 million.
Some don't realize the clinic's still open, or are expressing their anger by not coming out, said Jane Girard, who has been working at the clinic for 10 years and is often the first person donors see.
"We had 28 no-shows (Wednesday)," said Girard, almost half of that day's 63 bookings.
That's unusual for Prince George, which she said time and again answered the call for donations.
"Prince George is known to step up to the plate," said Girard, adding she will remember "how the community comes together when there's a plea. That's touching."
Ruth Seemann, who has volunteered since the clinic opened its doors 17 years ago, had few words.
"I will miss it, really" said Seemann, who is retired. "I enjoyed coming."
Added, fellow volunteer Marie Carter, "It is sad, very sad. I think people are upset but what can you do?"
Carter said most people were shocked and upset they'll have to give up on donor milestones. They come religiously, almost every 56 days, and many conversations around the cookie table are about getting to that 50, 75 or 100 giving mark.
"They can't achieve their goal, so I think there are a lot of people who are disappointed," Carter said.
David Peel was chasing after his grandfather, who has more than 100 blood bags to his name.
"It seems like I'm not going to be giving blood anymore," said Peel, adding he rarely leaves the city.
Peel, like others, had heard the national restructuring was in response to a dropping demand for blood and high transportation costs specific to this city.
"I can understand it," he said. "It's disappointing that they blindsided so many people though. The sudden information without any prelude was almost a little uncalled for."
Canadian Blood Services said Prince George's annual operating budget is about $1-million and it costs about $1,000 each clinic day to fly the blood south.
Broderick said she's not sure what that number includes.
"We're quite close with Air Canada cargo and they said for a shipment of blood, the actual fly cost is $350."
Canadian Blood Services spokesman David Patterson said it considered many factors, including units collected, labour and transportation costs, and the distance to the nearest production site.
The important thing, Patterson said, is that the clinic closure won't have any impact on patient care or blood supply to Prince George.
"We have to focus our efforts on the most productive sites and on recruitment efforts to continue to meet patient needs from those clinics," said Patterson, pointing to the 36 permanent and 909 mobile clinics still operating across Canada.
While staff learn about their severance package next week, Newton doesn't know what's next for her as a trained phlebotomist.
"It's a specific skill that CBS trained us to do, so it's not something that's portable that I can go to the hospital and do and work."
Newton said she'll miss seeing her friends and had a tough time picking out favourite memories.
"There've been so many," said Newton, but one image that sticks out is the clinic after 9/11.
"We were so packed. They were lined out the door."
Then there are the donors she's watched age and mature over the last 15 years, including the baby boy who's now a healthy - and hungry - nine-year-old.
"He loves coming in for the cookies," said Newton with a laugh.
"We see people raising their kids here," added Girard. "Pictures of their kid's weddings. It's such a pleasant environment that everybody's so happy."
Broderick wanted to thank staff and donors for their dedication, a sentiment Girard echoed:
"We will miss them."
