Connors became a staunch advocate for a safe blood system in Canada and is credited with pushing officials to investigate the country’s tainted blood scandal. Conners, 66, died Saturday morning at her home in Tarbotvale, NS. She was surrounded by her family. Her death has sparked tributes from across the country from those who say she left an indelible mark on Canadian history. She contracted HIV through her husband, Randy, who was infected through contaminated blood transfusions in the late 1980s. Janet and Randy Conners were instrumental in pushing for an investigation into Canada’s tainted blood scandal. They testified about their diagnoses and spoke openly about the challenges they faced. Randy died in 1994. (CBC) “Janet was really one of the first women to go public with her HIV status,” said Kat Lanteigne, executive director of Blood Watch, an organization that advocates for a safe blood system in Canada. Lanteigne was also a family friend. “There was such a stigma about this virus. What Janet did was really put a human face and normalize what people living with the virus look like.” The Connors pushed Nova Scotia to become the first province to settle with those affected by the tainted blood scandal, prompting other provinces to follow suit. Randy Conners died in 1994, but that didn’t stop his wife’s efforts. “Janet’s advocacy and activism cannot be overstated,” Lanteinge said. “He did it with such passion and sincerity.”
Nova Scotia compensates victims for contaminated blood
Thanks to lobbying by Janet and Randy Conners, Nova Scotia is the first province to compensate residents. As federal finance minister, Allan Rock says he met countless supporters on the job. Few, he says, stood out like Janet Connors. “Janet was really outstanding,” he said. “In my first meeting with her, I was struck by the sheer power she brought to the table.” Rock says it was nearly impossible to make a decision against her wishes because her arguments always made sense. “He always had a firm view of what he wanted to accomplish and what we needed to accomplish as a country to make sure something like this never happened again,” Rock said. “Her moral voice was impossible to ignore. She had a big impact in Ottawa.” She says she used her personal tragedy to build a platform that ultimately helped all Canadians. “We have a great blood system in this country today, and I think one of the people we have to thank for that is Janet Conners.” MORE TOP STORIES
