Green Shirt Day parade spotlights organ donation, pays tribute to Humboldt crash victim Logan Boulet
'Logan’s legacy reminds us how important it is for Canadians to talk with their families about their organ and tissue donation wishes,' says mother
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It’s the kind of conversation most people avoid: what happens to your body if the unthinkable happens.
But it’s a conversation Bernadine and Toby Boulet did have with their son, Logan, before his death. The 21-year-old Humboldt Broncos hockey player was killed in the tragic April 6, 2018 bus crash that claimed 16 lives and injured many others.
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On April 7, doctors confirmed Logan would not recover from his injuries. The Boulets chose to honour their son’s wishes, as he had previously registered as an organ donor and spoken to them about his decision. His donated organs saved the lives of six Canadians waiting for organs, and inspired a national wave of registrations now known as the Logan Boulet Effect. It’s estimated nearly 150,000 people signed up as organ donors in the weeks that followed.
In the wake of the tragedy, Logan’s parents founded Green Shirt Day, a nationwide campaign to remember the victims of the crash and continue raising awareness about organ donation.
“Logan’s legacy reminds us how important it is for Canadians to talk with their families about their organ and tissue donation wishes,” said Logan’s mother, Bernadine Boulet, in a statement. “It will be up to families to give consent.”
On Sunday, dozens of Calgarians wearing green shirts gathered in the spring sunshine near Prince’s Island Park for a community parade ahead of the seventh annual Green Shirt Day, a movement that aims to raise awareness about the growing need for organ donors and celebrate Boulet’s legacy.
“The Logan Boulet effect has encouraged hundreds of thousands of Canadians to register as organ donors, proving how one choice can make the world of difference,” said Jill Goth, Manager of Programs and Public Policy with The Kidney foundation of Canada, Southern Alberta Branch, while addressing attendees at the parade starting point. The parade is organized by the Kidney Foundation in partnership with Green Shirt Day.
“It’s been our privilege to work with the Boulet family . . . to promote and educate about organ donation and continue to inspire others to step up and take action towards this cause,” Goth added. “And that is what we all need to do, take action and talk about it, because the more people we can get committed to this cause, the more lives are going to be saved. It’s just that simple.”
Organ donors needed in Canada
The small sea of green formed on the north side of the Bow River Pathway Bridge before embarking on a two-kilometer walk. Along the way, participants stopped to share signs and green bracelets with Calgarians while sharing stories about their connections to the cause.
“Every step we take today is a step towards saving lives and honoring the legacy of those who have given the gift of life,” Goth said.
The need for organ donors in Canada continues to far outweigh the supply. According to the Kidney Foundation, about 4,000 Canadians are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Roughly 71 per cent of them need a kidney. On average, 250 people die each year waiting for a life-saving organ.
Despite widespread support for the idea, organ donor registration remains low.
“Almost 90 per cent of Canadians say they support organ donation, but only around 30 per cent have actually registered,” Goth said.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives, and donated tissues can save or improve up to 75 lives, the foundation says.
Advocates emphasize the importance of having conversations with family about your wishes, if something tragic were ever to happen.
“Having these conversations ahead of time will allow your wishes to be honored, as (the Boulets) did for their son,” Goth said.
‘Everybody knows somebody’: Organ transplant nurse
The need for organ donors is growing, according to Sheri Forbes, a transplant nurse with the Southern Alberta Transplant Program. She said kidney disease is “on the rise” globally, with diabetes being the number one cause.
“Everybody knows somebody with kidney disease,” said Forbes.
There is no cure for kidney disease, and receiving a new kidney is the only way to get off dialysis, Forbes said.
“Some people wait upwards of five years to get a kidney transplant,” she said. “(That’s) five years on dialysis, three times a week, four hours a session.”
Jenn Jensen donated a kidney to her 11-year-old daughter, Katie, last fall. Katie was only 10 when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that “wiped out” her kidneys, her mom said.
“She went from having kidneys in a week to not having any function at all,” Jensen said, calling the ordeal “scary.”
Katie spent a year on dialysis before her transplant last October. On Sunday, her family attended the parade for the first time to help raise awareness about the need for organ donors, something that continues to be a concern for the family despite the successful transplant.
“Even though Katie has her kidney now … she’s going to need another kidney 20 to 30 years from now,” Jensen said.
Stuart Duff started attending similar events about 15 years ago after his wife was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. He said his wife didn’t know anyone else who had kidney disease at the time, and the events allowed her to connect with people who had similar experiences.
Duff donated a kidney to his wife in June 2016, and said she is still “doing great” nine years later.
“She needed a transplant and I fortunately happened to be a match,” he said. “She has three sisters and a brother, and none of them were the same blood type, but I was.”
Duff said events like the parade help bring awareness to the need for organ donors.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “Most people don’t have their licence signed for organ donation, (but) one person can save eight to 10 lives.”
‘It’s life-changing’
While it’s important to register your decision to become a donor, advocates say it’s even more important to make sure your family knows your wishes.
“It’s great to have those conversations up front,” said Forbes. “Nobody likes to think about when or how they’re gonna die . . . it’s uncomfortable.”
As a transplant nurse, Forbes sees firsthand the impact receiving an organ can have.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “You don’t realize all the things that your kidneys can do.
She described some symptoms of kidney disease — chronic exhaustion, brain fog, skin and digestion issues — but said “everything reverses” after someone gets their new kidney.
“Their quality of life . . . it’s totally different,” she said. “It’s life-changing.”
The Kidney Foundation of Canada is asking people to wear a green shirt on Monday, April 7 to mark Green Shirt Day 2025. The Calgary Tower is set to be lit in green on Monday evening to mark the occasion.
Visit the Kidney Foundation of Canada website to learn more about how to register to be an organ donor.
For more information about Green Shirt Day, visit greenshirtday.ca.
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