Toby Boulet speaks to a crowd at Exhibition Park on Tuesday, June 25 (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Logan Boulet Effect

Boulet family to serve as honorary parade Marshalls at Whoop-Up Days

Jun 25, 2019 | 11:36 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Whoop-Up Days is feeling the Logan Boulet Effect.

At Exhibition Park on Tuesday morning, it was announced that Logan Boulet’s family will serve as honorary Whoop-Up Days parade Marshalls.

Boulet, of Lethbridge, was one of 16 people who died in the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash in April 2018. Since his passing, organ donation numbers have risen, sparking what’s been referred to as the “Logan Boulet Effect”.

“This is a story that has been told time and time again, but really hits home with everyone in this community,” said Mike Warkentin, Exhibition Park’s Chief Operating Officer.

“I think everyone in Lethbridge has some connection with not just the Boulet family, but with what happened last April. For the community to be able to continue coming together and for Exhibition (Park) to do their part was extremely important to us. As soon as the idea came up, it was a no-brainer to do.”

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: September 20, 2024

Sep 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: August 30, 2024

Aug 30, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: August 23, 2024

Aug 23, 2024

Warkentin said the theme of the 2019 Whoop-Up Days parade is family, and through discussions it was decided that there is no better family from Lethbridge to represent the community coming together was the Boulet family.

GREEN SHIRTS

For the August 20 parade, Warkentin said they’re asking attendees to wear green, as an extension of sorts to Green Shirt Day.

Green Shirt Day was held earlier this year on April 7 to honour Logan’s memory and raise awareness on organ donation.

Exhibition Park’s COO Mike Warkentin sporting one of the Green Shirt Day t-shirts at Tuesday’s event (Lethbridge News Now)

“We really do encourage the community to come out in their green shirts, to purchase new shirts to support the (Logan Boulet) fund and really make the entire parade route as green as we possibly can,” he said. T-shirts can be purchased at greenshirtday.ca.

“I think the community coming together and that image of the community coming together will truly be something special in August.”

All proceeds from the parade will support the KidSport Logan Boulet Fund, which helps underprivileged kids play organized sports.

FAMILY RESPONSE

Logan’s father Toby spoke at Exhibition Park Tuesday morning, noting that Whoop-Up Days is an annual tradition for the family.

“We were Whoop-Up Days fanatics, we’d just go every year,” he said.

“It’s an exceptional honour.”

Boulet said he was pleasantly taken aback by the initiative to wear green during the parade, saying he just found out about that Tuesday morning.

“Green represents growth, it’s renewal, it’s agricultural so it ties right in, it’s a natural tie-in and we’re excited about that,” he said.

Boulet said he and wife continue to be amazed that people want to talk about Logan, because his son was a very “behind-the-scenes kind of guy” that didn’t help others for credit, he simply helped others because he “just wanted to help.”

“The community of Lethbridge is an excellent community and we’re so proud to be a part of it and so proud that people want us to continue to be a part of the community. We want to continue to give back,” he said.

Warkentin said having the Boulet family involved and implementing the green shirt initiative helps reinforce what Whoop-Up Days does to bring the community together.

“It’s the culmination of summer for a lot of southern Alberta families, and to have that special connection to what Whoop-Up Days is and can be to people was truly remarkable to hear,” he said, referencing the Boulet family’s prevalence at past Whoop-Up Days festivities.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

In addition to the parade, 2019 Whoop-Up Days will feature musical performances from acts like Walk Off The Earth, Arkells and Taber’s Corb Lund.

Warkentin revealed on Tuesday that Moonlight Madness will be returning to the festivities on Thursday, August 22. Attendees can get their fill of midway games, rides and food, with a discounted ride pass for $40, which also includes general admission to Walk Off The Earth’s performance on the Gas King Stage.

The Whoop-Up Days SuperTicket is now available for purchase. For $45, it includes general admission to Whoop-Up Days, StagEX (musical performances) and Western events.

Attendees that purchase before August 19 will get $15 off on-park pricing.

Western events will kick-off on Thursday, August 22 with the all-new Team Penning jackpot. Bucking and Barrels will return on August 23 and 24.

All Western events take place on the infield of the grandstand at 6:30 p.m.

The Unique Marketplace includes new hours for 2019:

· Tuesday, August 20 – 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

· Wednesday, August 21 – 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

· Thursday, August 22 to Saturday, August 24 – 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Whoop-Up Days 2019 is on from Tuesday, August 20 and Saturday, August 24 at Exhibition Park. For more details, visit exhibitionpark.ca.