Boulet family celebrating Sask. online organ donation registry

Toby Boulet is looking towards Saskatchewan with a new sense of pride.

On Thursday, the province launched its online organ and tissue donation registry after years of planning.

Boulet’s son, Logan, was 21 years old when he died after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018.

Just weeks before his death, Logan Boulet signed his organ donor card after being inspired by his former fitness instructor who donated his organs after his death a year earlier.

Boulet saved six lives when his organs were donated. News of his donation quickly spread across the country and inspired thousands of others to become organ donors in a phenomenon now referred to as The Logan Boulet Effect.

“It’s surreal what happened,” Toby Boulet said.

“I guess I pinch myself that Logan is behind some of this, and certainly behind some of the decision by the Saskatchewan government to move forward with their online registry.”

Health Minister Jim Reiter acknowledged Logan’s legacy as an influence to bring public attention to organ donation and the formation of the online registry.

“I want to acknowledge that young, but very mature and selfless people like Logan have influenced many others to make the same important decision,” Reiter said.

“I encourage all Saskatchewan residents to join me in registering their intent to donate and potentially one day save lives.”

Canadian Blood Services estimates more than 300,000 people have registered to become organ donors since Logan’s death.

Toby Boulet has become an advocate for organ donation in his home province of Alberta. That advocacy led to the formation of Green Shirt Day held each year on April 7 to raise awareness for organ donation.

“Other families had been asking the Saskatchewan government for (an organ donation registry) to happen, but it wasn’t really on their priority list. Then, Scott Moe came up to me and said, ‘We’re going to get it done,’ ” Boulet said.

“I’m so happy for the Saskatchewan government to make this decision. It makes my wife and I, and our daughter, so happy.”

Knowing that his child’s legacy had something to do with a program that could potentially save thousands of lives is a source of great pride for Boulet.

“It’s big news to me, and it’s big news to Saskatchewan. There’s a million people that need to embrace this and register online,” Boulet said.