Poster for Green Shirt Day

By Gates Guarin

Honouring Humboldt Bronco Logan Boulet

Crescent Heights High School to celebrate Green Shirt Day

Apr 5, 2022 | 3:05 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – This year marks the fourth annual Green Shirt Day to honour the memory of Logan Boulet, one of the 16 people who died in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018. Boulet was in the process of registering to become an organ donor, and this annual event stems from his act.

Crescent Heights High School will host a Green Shirt Day event April 7 to spark conversations between students and their families about the importance of organ donation.

Heather McCaig, a senior student council advisor at the school, says people may not know who needs an organ transplant until they have that open conversation.

“As you share conversations about it, you’re amazed to find how many people are on kidney dialysis or how many people need transplants of different kinds and there’s always more people in need of transplants than there are organs available,” McCaig says. “Having that conversation with your friends and family and greater community is so vitally important.”

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McCaig adds that conversation can lead to discussing what a family member’s intentions may be when it comes to donating their organs.

“If you don’t have those conversations, you don’t necessarily know what your family’s wishes are,” McCaig says. “As teenagers and as young adults, it’s important that kids know their parents’ wishes and the parents know their kids’ wishes and they can have these open conversations.”

Student council organizers are planning games and giveaways to spread awareness and educate others about to process of donating. Students at Crescent Heights will have the opportunity to watch a video on Boulet and his effect on organ donation.

Green Shirt Day began in 2019, one year after the crash. More than 100,000 Canadians signed up to become organ donors after the inaugural event.

While donations have steadily increased over the last decade, new organ donors have slowed. About 90 per cent of Canadians recognize the importance of organ donation, but only around 32 per cent are actually registered. Organizers of Green Shirt Day hope this annual event continues to encourage individuals to donate their organs.

Mayor Linnsie Clark will proclaim April 7 Green Shirt Day, and the Saamis Tepee will be lit up in green to mark the event.