Boulet family hoping to continue to inspire on Green Shirt Day

Sunday is Green Shirt Day across Canada.

The special day was started by the family of Logan Boulet after he was one of 16 people who died as a result of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018.

Five weeks before passing away, Boulet signed his organ donor card. When word got out about his story, it helped inspire more than 150,000 Canadians to register to become organ donors.

Because Boulet had signed his organ donor card, he was able to help save the lives of six other people.

His father Toby says Logan decided to become an organ donor after the loss of his trainer, Ric Suggitt, in 2017.

“He told me on our back deck that summer after his fitness trainer Ric Suggitt passed that Ric had donated his organs,” Toby said on the CKOM Morning Show with Shack earlier this week. “I looked at him and said, ‘You’ll be 85 and nobody will want your organs,’ and he looked at me and said, ‘No, Dad. If Ric can save six lives, then so can I.’ ”

When it comes to becoming an organ donor, Toby says having the conversation about doing it is just as important as actually signing up to become one.

“I say this because in Nova Scotia, it’s presumed consent. Nobody knows what to do,” said Toby. “You need to talk to your family like Logan did.”

Logan’s mother Bernadine was on The Evan Bray Show earlier this week and said they’re happy they can continue to talk about their son and his legacy in such a positive way.

“Sometimes it’s a little bit emotional and something hits you and you fall apart and then other times it’s just the joy to say his name and share stories about him,” she explained. “One of the greatest things about Green Shirt Day for our family is that we get to talk about Logan and people want to hear stories about him and learn more about Logan the person.”

It’s not known exactly how many lives the Logan Boulet Effect has touched directly, but Toby is proud of what his son stood for.

This year’s goal for the campaign is to inspire another 100,000 people to become organ donors. The family suggests that if 100,000 people sign up to become an organ donor, then that will lead to 400,000 crucial conversations.

Reaction to planned Broncos memorial

Families who lost their loved ones in the crash six years ago were happy to see plans of a permanent memorial revealed by the City of Humboldt and Humboldt Broncos Memorials Committee on Thursday.

The committee announced it plans to build a park area with a pond and some other structures to remember the 16 people who were lost and the 13 survivors who had their lives changed forever.

Scott Thomas lost his son Evan in the crash and suggests building this memorial will give the area a much-needed spruce up.

“If you go there now, it’s almost like you step into a vortex,” Thomas said. “It’s so silent and there’s just a sadness that permeates the air there. This space is going to be very peaceful and be very visually impressive too.

“We’ve been on the inside of this whole process and this committee has done a really good job of keeping us updated with the plans they were developing,” Thomas added. “I think it’s lovely and fantastic what they’re putting together there. I know it took the Swift Current Broncos almost 20 years to get something done there. The fact we’re coming up on the sixth anniversary there, I’m just so impressed with the work everyone has put into this.”

Four members of the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos died after their bus went off the road in December of 1986.

Carol Brons lost her daughter Dayna in the Humboldt Broncos crash and is a member of the memorial committee.

According to Carol, the committee has been working closely with SaskPower, the Ministry of Highways, CN Rail and engineering firms to get the improvements made.

She elaborated on some of the details people will be able to see when the memorial eventually gets built.

“We hope to make the (area) as natural as possible,” she said. “We hope to have the pond as part of it. Right now, there is a water area there which is sort of larger and more shallow than it is on the picture. We hope to make it more of a feature as opposed to a natural runoff area.

“Trees haven’t been part of the plan yet because of the sight line. The pond and the crash site is in the sight line of the highway, so we can’t really put anything too high there for safety reasons.”

A final cost isn’t known for the project, but the committee says it’s still looking for money through fundraising.

It’s hoped construction can start within the next month. Individuals and companies interested in contributing to the project financially are asked to contact the city.

Anyone who’s interested in providing construction services for Phase I can contact Kurt Leicht at kleicht17@me.com.