Brantford, Ont., butcher carves out community kindness through anonymous liver donation 

A Brantford butcher is doing more than carving meat these days. He's now giving back in a different way - through organ donation. CTV's Karis Mapp reports.

A butcher from Brantford, Ont., is carving out community kindness by donating a portion of his liver.

Zac Baker has worked as a butcher for roughly 15 years after getting his start at Carl’s Choice Meats more than two decades ago. Every Saturday, he and his team bring their product to the Cambridge Farmers’ Market, where he has built long-standing relationships with customers and fellow vendors.

“I’ve been at the Cambridge Farmers’ Market now since 2010, on and off. There’s been people that I’ve been serving every week since then,” Baker told CTV News on Saturday.

Customers and vendors describe Baker as well-known for his infectious positivity, kind spirit and knowledge of the craft.

Amber Lynn Peplow, owner of BXB Blends, a sugar-free seasoning vendor at the market, said Baker was quick to support her when she joined in September 2024.

“He was the first person to bring me under his wing,” Peplow said. “I think it was the first week, maybe the second week, [when] he jumped into my spices and instantly took my Greek spice and put it into his pre-made pork chops.”

While Baker has supported many through his work, he is now giving back in a different way.

In December, he decided to donate part of his liver to a close friend who had been ill for decades.

“The need was there and the ask went out because he was on the list of recipients in need, and they needed a match,” Baker explained.

After submitting medical paperwork and undergoing extensive bloodwork and scans at Toronto General Hospital, Baker was identified as a match and a surgery date was set for March 2.

Before the procedure could take place, his friend passed away. Baker said they were able to spend time together and share news of the match shortly before his death.

“About a week before he passed away, him and I were able to spend some time together. His family knew that I was going through testing for compatibility, and we were able to spend some time together and share that information,” Baker recalled.

With all the preparations completed, and a date booked, Baker chose to continue with the process by opting for an anonymous donation instead.

“I’ve heard the stats thrown around that about 25 per cent of people on the recipient list pass away before there’s ever a matched organ for them,” Baker said.

Experts say the need for liver donors is greater than ever, with hundreds of Canadians awaiting liver transplantation.

“Unfortunately, the supply of organs is simply not there to meet the demand as it stands now,” said Brae Delaney-Smith of Liver Canada. “That demand is actually expected to increase over the years as the prevalence of liver disease rises.”

For Baker, he said the decision was a no-brainer.

“The opportunity was very much in line with the style of ways I would love to help people. Even as far back as signing organ donor cards and things like that,” he said.

Members of the market community have now stepped up to support him during his recovery.

“I am donating 50 per cent of all of my proceeds from every single Greek blend that is sold between now and when he returns to the market,” Peplow said.

A customer-started GoFundMe was also launched to help his family during the lengthy recovery period.

“Post-op, it’s about a week in hospital. But then following that, there is at least five to six weeks of pretty much nothing,” Baker explained. “I assumed that you can live with part of your liver, but no, it fully grows back, and quite quickly.”

“I think that it’s an incredibly courageous and selfless act for someone to donate a liver to anybody, but especially a person that they don’t know,” Delaney-Smith said.

Peplow said watching someone she knows go through the process has been emotional.

“My uncle did it a long time ago. I was very young and he passed away, but he donated quite a few part of his body, and I know that there’s people that are still benefiting from that,” she said. “Knowing someone else now firsthand and watching them go through this journey, it brings up a lot of emotions.”