Winner of the 2026 Green Shirt Day Logo Design Contest: Candace Sernowsky from Manitoba
We’re thrilled to announce that Candace Sernowsky of Lorette West, Manitoba, is the winner of the 2026 Green Shirt Day Logo Design Contest! 🎉
This year’s contest invited designers from across Canada to create artwork inspired by organ donation, hockey, and the lasting legacy of Logan Boulet. Candace’s design stood out for its emotion, symbolism, and bold, dynamic style — beautifully capturing the heart, hope, and hockey spirit that continue to power the Green Shirt Day movement.
💚 A Personal Connection That Inspires
Candace’s connection to organ donation is deeply personal. On September 29, 2025, she donated her left kidney through the Kidney Paired Donation Program in Vancouver.
When she learned she couldn’t directly donate to her cousin because of an antibody mismatch, she chose to participate in the Paired Donation Program—a nationwide chain of donors and recipients, run by Canadian Blood Services, that makes multiple life-saving transplants possible.
“I started testing back in February 2024 and was finally able to help my cousin receive a kidney by donating to an unknown person. My hope is to inspire others to come forward and consider registering as organ donors. This process offers someone a better life — and knowing you can make that happen through organ donation makes it all worth it.” Candace Sernowsky
Her generosity and courage embody the true spirit of Green Shirt Day — the power of selfless giving and the ripple effect of hope that organ donors create.
The Inspiration Behind the Design
For Candace, both hockey and organ donation symbolize connection, teamwork, and resilience.
“My love for hockey, my enthusiasm to be an organ donor, and my wish to honour the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and Logan Boulet’s gift of life inspired my design. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all the families who lost their loved ones, and to the Boulets for Logan’s incredible legacy.” Candace Sernowsky
🎨 A Design Full of Meaning
Candace’s winning logo brings together powerful symbols:
- a flying puck,
- crossed hockey sticks,
- the green organ donation ribbon,
- and Logan’s iconic number 27.
The worn hockey texture and dynamic composition make the design visually striking and full of movement. It’s surrounded by phrases central to the Green Shirt Day story — including #LoganBouletEffect and Humboldt Strong — creating a logo that honours the past while inspiring action for the future.
This design will appear on the 2026 Green Shirt Day campaign materials and merchandise, proudly spreading the message of hope, awareness, and the life-changing power of organ donation.
💚 Please Join Us in Congratulating Candace!
We’re incredibly grateful for Candace’s creativity, her generosity, and her inspiring commitment to organ donation. Her story — and her design — remind us that every Canadian has the potential to save or improve a life.
💚 Register your wishes. Talk to your family. Be inspired.
📝Register as an Organ & Tissue Donor Today
You can register as an organ and tissue donor in Canada through your provincial transplant agency.
