Logan Boulet inspired Green Shirt Day which raises awareness for organ donation. Photo: Green Shirt Day/Facebook
Provincial Director of the Canadian Transplant Association’s Nova Scotia chapter, Marc Maillet encourages people to wear a green shirt today to raise awareness of organ donation.
“At any given time [in the atlantic provinces] … there are about 200 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant,” explained Maillet. “With this increased awareness, we’re hoping that it’s going to shorten that list.”
The Green Shirt Day movement began after Humboldt Bronco defenseman Logan Boulet lost his life in 2018. The hockey team’s bus was struck by a transport truck causing 16 casualties and leaving 13 people injured — mentally and physically.
Boulet, who’d wanted to be an organ donor, died the following day from his injuries. His organs were donated and saved six lives.
When word of his generous donation got out, it inspired hundreds of thousands of Canadians to register as organ donors — the biggest wave of registrations in Canadian history attributed to one person or event.
“Because of that selfless act, he actually started this big movement afterwards. He created this huge awareness throughout Canada,” said Maillet.
It was coined the Logan Boulet effect.
The first annual Green Shirt Day took place in 2019, and continues to inspire conversations about organ donation. Maillet encourages those wanting to wear a green shirt to post a selfie on social media with that hashtag #LoganBouleteffect.
Nova Scotia is the first province to introduce presumed donor status. All Nova Scotian’s are presumed to be a donor unless otherwise specified when renewing their health card
Maillet says there has been talk of other provinces following suit.
But for now, he hopes green shirt day can raise awareness about organ donation and inspire more people to be donors.
