The fifth annual Green Shirt Day was celebrated at the Logan Boulet Arena in Lethbridge, AB on Friday, April 7, 2023. (Photo: S Jones | LNN)

By Sarah Jones

Celebrating five years of Green Shirt Day at the Logan Boulet Arena

Apr 7, 2023 | 5:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – On April 7, 2023, people across the country sported their green shirts to support the fifth annual Green Shirt Day.

It’s a day to honour, remember and recognize the victims and families of the fatal Humboldt Broncos bus crash, and to encourage discussions on organ donation.

On April 6, 2018, the Saskatchewan junior hockey team’s bus collided with a transport truck. 16 people lost their lives and 13 others were injured. Lethbridge’s Logan Boulet was one of the victims.

Prior to the collision, Logan informed his parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet, that he would be registering as an organ donor. He was inspired by his mentor, the late Ric Suggitt, who had also registered as an organ donor prior to his passing.

The Boulet family welcomed community members to a Green Shirt Day event at the Logan Boulet Arena on Friday, April 7, 2023. (Photo: S Jones | LNN)

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On April 7, 2018, when Logan had succumbed to his injuries from the collision, his decision to donate his organs helped save the lives of six people.

His decision to be an organ donor sparked what is now known as the ‘Logan Boulet Effect’. In the weeks that followed his passing, 150,000 Canadians registered to become organ donors, and the initiative known as Green Shirt Day was created.

While it’s not an easy day for the Boulet family, Bernadine described her son as a ray of sunshine amid something so tragic.

She said, “Logan is making a difference. He’s inspiring people and I think that’s what any of us want in our lives.”

Bernadine added, “We want to know that we have made a difference, that when we pass, it has inspired people, it’s giving hope to someone. So, we’re very thankful that Logan is able to do that.”

The Boulet family hosted a free skate at the Logan Boulet Arena on Green Shirt Day on Friday, April 7, 2023. (Photo: S Jones | LNN)

On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, the Boulet family was asked to join the Lethbridge Hurricanes to complete the puck drop for game four of their first round WHL playoff series against Moose Jaw, as they honored the Humboldt Broncos team at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge.

Bernadine recalled that after their time on the ice, a young girl came up to the Boulet family during the game to inform them that they had inspired her to let her own family know that she wanted to become an organ donor.

Bernadine said, “I don’t think we’ve ever gone to an event where [someone] hasn’t said that has inspired me, I’ve gone and registered,” Bernadine added.

On the fifth anniversary of Green Shirt Day on Friday, the Boulet family welcomed the community to participate in a free skate at the Logan Boulet Arena in Lethbridge.

This facility was formally known as the Adam Ice Centre, but the name changed to the Logan Boulet Arena in 2019. (Photo: S Jones | LNN)

Bernadine said, “We are thrilled that we actually get to have it here at the Logan Boulet Arena. We get to have people come see the showcase, that we’ve been able to put different kinds of memories and recognition that Logan has received for being so instrumental in increasing awareness of organ donation and registration.”

Bernadine thanked the community, the City of Lethbridge, Alberta and all of Canada for all the support they have received on behalf of Logan, along with all the friends and family members impacted by the Humboldt Broncos tragedy five years ago.

To learn more about Green Shirt Day, or organ donation, go to the Green Shirt Day website.

Read more: Green Shirt Day announced in Lethbridge ahead of fifth anniversary of Humboldt bus crash