6th Green Shirt Day honours victims of 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash

A junior hockey player’s legacy lives on after the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan.

It will be six years ago Saturday, April 6th when a semi-truck struck the team’s bus, killing sixteen people and injuring thirteen.

The parents of defenceman Logan Boulet who died in the crash, donated his organs the next day.

They also established Green Shirt Day , held on April 7th, to remember the victims and families and create awareness about organ and tissue donation.

The campaign is led by the Boulet family and the Canadian Transplant Association along with the others in the organ-and-tissue-donation community, such as Canadian Blood Services and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

They ask everyone who registers their intent to donate to speak with four others about organ donation.

That means 100,000 new registrants would spark 400,000 conversations “to bring the #LoganBouletEffect to a whole new level.”

The CEO of CBS, Dr. Graham Sher says, “I have had the privilege of meeting Bernadine and Toby Boulet, learning about their son Logan and collaborating on this powerful initiative over the years.”

Sher adds, “It is no surprise to me that the commitment shown by this family to creating hope from tragedy has inspired a national movement. It has been my great pleasure for Canadian Blood Services to support Green Shirt Day and to see the continued impact it has on driving organ donation.”

For the 6th Green Shirt Day, Indigenous artist, Dr. Heavy Shield from the Blood Tribe (Kainai) in southern Alberta has crafted an exclusive design.

The multidisciplinary artist and educator says, “I’ve chosen the star inspired by the star blanket gifted to the Boulet family by the Waywayseecappo First Nation in Manitoba. For Blackfoot people, star blankets represent comfort, healing and generosity, reflecting the impact of Logan’s story on the global community.”

Leading up to and on Green Shirt Day, people across Canada are encouraged to show their support and create awareness. Ways to get involved include:

There are many ways to show your support for Green Shirt Day:

• Register as an organ donor and tell your family your wishes.
• Wear GREEN on Green Shirt Day and tell Canadians why you’re registered to be an organ and/or tissue donor.
• Hold an event to recognize Green Shirt Day and encourage people to register to be an organ and/or tissue donor.
• Be a Green Shirt Day Ambassador 
• Post a selfie or video that you are a registered donor and have told your family.
• Use @greenshirtday #GreenShirtDay, #LoganBouletEffect to spread the word on social media.
• Organize an online/social media registration drive with family and friends.
• Light up your porch or your neighborhood green.
• Hang green shirts from your windows/balcony.
• Encourage others to register or confirm that they are registered.
• Order an official Green Shirt Day shirt or hockey jersey, bumper stickers, lawn signs, and flags: https://greenshirtday2024.ourproshop.ca/.
• Visit the following links learn more about organ and tissue donation and to find out how to register in your province.
  • • https://greenshirtday.ca/register/
    • blood.ca/organs-tissues
    • https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Be-an-Organ-Donor
    • https://www.canadiantransplant.com/
    • Learn.organtissuedonation.ca