Green Shirt Day is commemorated every April 7.
It’s the day for raising awareness for organ donor registration in honour of Logan Boulet and the Humboldt Broncos.
The Lethbridge native was one of 16 people killed in the Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018.
Logan passed away a day later on April 7.
On the seventh anniversary of his passing, Logan’s family spent the afternoon at his gravesite.
They spent much of that time building LEGO sets.
Logan loved building with LEGO, and his family knows it’s something he would appreciate.
“I like to do stuff, especially over these two days, things that mean something to me and mean something to Logan and our family. So, we donate plasma because that is our way of giving, I don’t know, a gift of life in a way, when we’re still living, breathing people here today,” said Logan’s sister, Mariko Boulet-Couture.
Before his death, Logan was inspired to become an organ donor by his coach, Ric Suggitt.
When Suggitt passed away, his organs helped save the lives of six people.
Logan’s parents offered for his organs to be donated, which were also used to save six people.
“Today is a day about letting Logan know that he’s loved. And we get to tell stories and share laughter and tears and yeah, so it’s not as hard as yesterday,” said Logan’s mother, Bernadine Boulet.
The story of Logan’s organ donation made national and international headlines.
In the days and weeks following his death, almost 150,000 people registered to become organ donors in what was called the Logan Boulet effect.
Seven years later, that impact is still being felt.
“We’ve actually seen direct impact … people coming forward, people wanting to donate as a result of hearing about Logan’s story. So it’s happened over and over again,” said Michelle Hofer, manager of communication and community development for the Kidney Foundation of Canada in southern Alberta.
Logan’s family is happy to see the effect he continues to have.
They hope more families will continue to talk about organ donation to keep the momentum going.
“That conversation sets the stage so that it’s almost like your last will and testament if you signed. If you’re interested in being an organ donor, why would I say no to you? Why would I stand there and say as a parent, ‘No, I don’t think I can do that?’ ... We want people to respect the wishes of who is in front of them, who is deceased,” said Logan’s father, Toby Boulet.
