A new financial donor recognition wall now frames the viewing window and entrance into our main lab. We cannot say thank you enough to these individuals and corporations who have been an integral part in the development of NorthernStar and ensuring its continued success and growth.
WORD FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Donor Human Milk
& Cannabis
October 17 th, 2018 it will be legal in Canada to purchase Cannabis for recreational use. The fact that it is legal may give the impression that it’s harmless. Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical substances many of which can transfer into breast milk and then to your baby. There is still a lot we don’t know about how cannabis affects a baby’s rapidly developing brain and there are few research studies.

Approximately 80% of the milk which our donor moms pump for the milk bank goes to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). The majority of the babies in the NICU are premature, fragile and/or ill. Unlike alcohol, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) stays in your system for a much longer period of time . The most recent research shows that THC is still present in human breast milk 6 days after it was last used. Because of this, if you smoke or ingest any form of cannabis – you would not be eligible to donate your milk to the milk bank.

If you have any questions on our cannabis policy, please feel free to contact us for more information.
NEWS & EVENTS
SHAW CHARITY CLASSIC
Birdies for Kids
The Shaw Charity Classic has been raising money and bringing awareness to kids charities since 1971. This year with the help of their Birdies for Kids Program, NorthernStar has received just over $30,000 to put towards our Charitable Care Program. We can't wait for next year!
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Throughout the summer and continuing into the fall, NMMB will be participating in various research projects. These projects revolve around machines that analyze breastmilk and an ongoing study lead by the University of Calgary. We are excited to be able to contribute and assist in advancing research that impacts our understanding of donor human milk.
STAFF UPDATES
After volunteering for a month, Kris joined the NMMB staff at the start of September. Kris is now working full time in the lab to pasteurize donor milk. With over 5 years experience in a lab setting she is a great addition to our team.
Dana has been a member of our staff for over a year working part time in the lab and as a donor liaison. With her classes starting up for her third year nursing at MRU, we said goodbye to Dana at the end of August. We wish her all the best this year with her studies!
Nicole is a 4th year nursing student at MRU who will be working at NMMB part-time while she completes her last year of school. She will be working closely with our donor moms answering any questions they might have and completing donor screenings.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
We always enjoy opportunities to participate in community events and conferences. Here are some events we will be attending this fall where you can learn more about the benefits of donor human milk.
Alberta Association of Midwives Conference
September 20-22, 2018
Grey Eagle Casino

NorthernStar is committed to increasing the awareness of donor human milk and it's benefits. We attended the Alberta Association of Midwives Conference to engage in conversations and meet some of the wonderful midwives practicing in Alberta.
October Breastfeeding Class
This class is free to first time moms who would like some help navigating the first few weeks with their newborn. Skills and strategies such as breastfeeding positions, proper latch, feeding frequency and troubleshooting are all areas that our lactation consultant will address.

Our October class date is flexible and can be based on the availability of a few participants.

Give us a call or email us at contact@northernstarmilkbank.ca if you are interested in attending.
THANK YOU'S
Canada Post Community Foundation

In August, NMMB was awarded a community grant from Canada Post that will be used to for two creative video projects.

The first video will be a training video explaining the important protocols and safety guidelines our staff and volunteers must follow in order to work in the lab pasteurizing donor human milk.

The second video will highlight the role donor human milk plays in the lives of both donors and recipients and the benefits it has on our fragile recipients.

We are very excited to begin this project
Calfrac 150 Putt Fore Charity

In their second annual "Calfrac 150 Putt Fore Charity" fundraiser, Calfrac Well Services raised over $170,000 for 16 local Calgary charities. NorthernStar received $7,500 from the event to put towards our Charitable Care Fund.

A heartfelt thank you to Calfrac for this donation that will make donor milk accessible to all babies in need.
IODE DONATION
The IODE have been long standing supporters of the Milk Bank, helping with various projects and creating community engagement opportunities for NMMB to increase awareness and support. This month they gifted the milk bank a $500.00 donation to purchase a research freezer. This freezer allows us to store milk that we are not able to dispense out to babies for various reasons, but permits us to use it in vital research projects to gain a better understanding of the benefits donor human milk offers to premature babies.