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April 7 marks Green Shirt Day in Saskatchewan.
It was created to pay tribute to Logan Boulet, who has inspired more than 150,000 Canadians to register to become organ donors after he lost his life in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018.
By becoming an organ donor, Boulet helped save the lives of six other people.
Toby Boulet, Logan’s dad, said his son has inspired many people.
“We met a lady about a month ago and she told us that it just gives her hope, and it gives hope to so many people on the transplant list who are just waiting,” he told Saskatchewan Afternoon.
“It provides hope because people are choosing to give back to society in record numbers, and register to become organ donors.”
Toby says Logan initially made the decision to become an organ donor after the loss of his trainer, Ric Suggitt, in 2017.
“The celebration of life was going to be in Edmonton because Ric was from the Edmonton area, not Lethbridge. Logan couldn’t go to the celebration of life because he was working,” Toby said.
“In August after the celebration of life, we’re sitting on the back deck, Logan and I, and he just turned to me and said ‘When I turn 21, I’m going to sign my donor card and be a registered donor, and donate my organs.’”
After Logan died and people heard of his decision to donate his organs, a surge of registrations became known as the Logan Boulet effect. His dad couldn’t be more proud.
“Maybe people think about that and have a conversation,” Toby said. “Then they go and take out their cellphone and they register online (as an organ donor) in their province. It’s pretty cool, and we’re very proud of our son.”
Since Green Shirt Day was introduced, the Saskatchewan government has provided $1.2 million in annual funding for the Organ and Tissue Donation Program.
Nearly 18,000 people in Saskatchewan have registered online to become donors.
Anyone 16 or older can register as an organ or tissue donor online. More information can be found on the government’s website.
-By Drew Stremick