Unite for Life: Sixth Annual Green Shirt Day Commemorating the Legacy of Logan Boulet and the Humboldt Broncos
April 3, 2024 (LETHBRIDGE, AB) — Six years ago on April 6, the tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash tore a hole in the fabric of one community that rippled across the country. The crash took the lives of 16 people, including defenceman Logan Boulet, and 13 more live with the burden of physical and emotional scars from that terrible event.
Nothing can make up for those devastating losses. But, determined to honor Logan’s wishes his parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet donated his organs on April 7, so that six strangers could live on. In honour of Logan’s legacy, this day was established as Green Shirt Day so that people across Canada could remember the victims and families of that fatal crash and create awareness about organ and tissue donation.
“In our hearts we know that Logan would be immensely proud and thankful that we honoured his wish to become an organ donor. Of course, no one thought that Logan would pass at 21, but his legacy of kindness, humility and giving continues to inspire our global community.” Toby Boulet
The sixth annual Green Shirt Day is on Sunday, April 7. The campaign is led by the Boulet family and the Canadian Transplant Association in partnership with many others within Canada’s organ and tissue donation community such as Canadian Blood Services and the Kidney Foundation of Canada. The promoters would also like to acknowledge the generous support of IA Financial Group.
Logan’s legacy reminds us how important it is for Canadians to talk with their friends and family about their organ donation wishes. We are asking every person who registers their intent to donate to speak with four others about organ donation. That means that 100,000 new registrants would spark 400,000 conversations, bringing the #LoganBouletEffect to a whole new level. In those conversations we hope that you will encourage others to register or confirm that they are registered.
“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,” says Dr. Graham Sher, CEO of Canadian Blood Services. “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.”
A new Green Shirt Day design for the sixth anniversary
The 2024 Green Shirt Day design proudly showcases the exclusive design crafted by the esteemed Indigenous artist, Dr. Heavy Shield, also known as Nato’yi’kina’soyi (Holy Light that Shines Bright). Hailing from the Blood Tribe (Kainai) in southern Alberta, Dr. Heavy Shield is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and educator.
“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,” says Dr. Heavy Shield.
Ways to show your support on Green Shirt Day
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:
- 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.
About Green Shirt Day
The Canada-wide Green Shirt Day was created to remember the victims and families of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan in 2018, and to continue Logan Boulet’s legacy by inspiring Canadians to register as organ donors and to talk to their families about their wishes.
On April 7, learning that he would not recover, Bernadine and Toby Boulet offered to donate their son, Logan Boulet’s organs. They did so because Logan had registered as an organ donor and had spoken to his parents about his wishes. His generous final act inspired almost 150,000 donor registrations across Canada shortly thereafter, which became known as the Logan Boulet Effect.
Green Shirt Day is led by the Boulet Family and Canadian Transplant Association, in partnership with Canada’s Organ and Tissue Donation Community, including key partners Canadian Blood Services and The Kidney Foundation of Canada. Green Shirt Day organizers are also grateful for the support of IA Financial Group.
National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week: April 21-27, 2024
On the heels of Green Shirt Day is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (NOTDAW) and a great opportunity to keep the conversation going. During this week we recognize those who have donated to save others and celebrate those who have received lifesaving transplants.
There are more than 4,000 Canadians waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant and every year approximately 270 people die waiting for an organ transplant. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and tissues can save or improve up to 75 lives.
Sadly, many donation opportunities are missed each year because families don’t know whether their loved one wanted to be an organ donor. Make it easy for them. Talk about it today.
Media contacts
Green Shirt Day
For a media interview with the Boulet Family please contact via:
Toby Boulet
tobyboulet@shaw.ca
Canadian Blood Services Media Line
1-877-709-7773 | media@blood.ca
Brenda Brown, President
Canadian Transplant Association
604-807-8282
Michelle Hofer, Manager, Communications and Community Development
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta Branch
(587) 333-4349
michelle.hofer@kidney.ca
