N4 - Toby Boulet for Logan Boulet

Courtesy Toby Boulet.

"My son Logan Boulet was born in Lethbridge. His maternal grandparents are (Grandmother - Hungarian Canadian) and (Grandfather - Japanese Canadian). His paternal grandparents are both French Canadian. Logan is a recognizable minority through his Japanese Canadian genetics.

Logan was like many young Canadians as he went to chase his dream. Logan's dream was to become a professional hockey player, then someday return to Lethbridge an enroll at the University of Lethbridge to become a teacher.

On April 6, 2018, Canadians were heartbroken to hear the news of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Of the 29 passengers, sixteen lost their lives and thirteen will all bear physical and emotional scars for life.

On April 7, 2018, Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet succumbed to his injuries. His parents, Bernadine and Toby Boulet offered to donate his organs so that six lives could live on. They did so because Logan told his parents he was registering as an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor Ric Suggitt. Ric passed on June 27, 2017 and was also an organ donor and saved 6 lives.

What happened following this selfless act is nothing less than miraculous and became known across Canada as the “Logan Boulet Effect.”

As news spread of the organ donation by this young hockey player, it is estimated that almost 150,000 people registered to become organ donors in the days and weeks that followed. To date, this is the largest number of Canadians registering to become organ donors in Canadian History due to one event – one person.

Green Shirt Day was created to honour, remember, and recognize all the victims and families of that fatal crash and to continue Logan’s legacy by inspiring Canadians to talk to their families and register as organ donors.

The Logan Boulet Effect is leaving a lasting impression on Canadians. Since 2018, hundreds of thousands have taken the important step of talking with their families about their wish to become an organ and tissue donor, and many are confirming that decision by registering their intent to donate through their provincial organ donor registration system. While in 2018 it was estimated that almost 150,000 Canadians registered in the weeks following the Humboldt crash, the “Logan Boulet Effect” continues to inspire Canadians. In 2019, the first ever Green Shirt Day contributed to another hundred thousand registering their decisions about donation. Today the total of organ and tissue donor registrations are estimated to be over 400,000.

Logan was well known in Lethbridge as a kind and giving person. To honour Logan the community of Lethbridge created the Logan Boulet Fund within KidSport Lethbridge and Taber. Logan's fund donates $10,000 per year to help economically disadvantaged kids a chance to play! The fund has over $110,000 and continues to receive donations.

In addition, the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwest Alberta established the Logan Boulet Endowment Fund along with the Boulet Family. This fund supports organ and tissue donor awareness and transplantation research as well as youth sports, arts and other programming. This fund already exceeds $125,000 and continues to grow.

The community of Lethbridge continues to honour the legacy of Logan by permanently renaming the Adams Ice Center to the Logan Boulet Arena and creating the U16AAA Logan Boulet Memorial Ice Hockey Tournament for elite U16AAA from Canada and the USA.

Canadian Blood Services has created an annual National Award to be present at Honouring Canada's Lifeline in honour of Logan Boulet. Logan is also honoured by Angels Legacy Program with the annual presentation of Angels Legacy Program: Logan Boulet Humanitarian of the Year award.

Perhaps the award that the Boulet Family is most proud of is the Logan Boulet Inclusive Education Scholarship which is annually to an inclusive education student at both the Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge. Logan coached the Humboldt Special Olympics Adult Floor Hockey team for all three years he was in Humboldt. He also continually recognized the worth and contribution of inclusive education students during all of his K-12 schooling in Lethbridge. Michael Grant (pallbearer and best friend) has created this award with seed money from the Humboldt Bronco Memorial Golf Tournament. He is in the process of creating a Registered Canadian Charity and presented the first to awards this in March of 2021. Michael is committed to fundraising these annual awards in honour of Logan as he works to become a better person every day just as Logan strived to do the same."