The University of Lethbridge is following the lead of the courageous Boulet family and working to turn tragedy into life-saving support for generations to come.
Marking the three-year anniversary of Logan Boulet’s death in the Humboldt Broncos bus accident, April 7, Green Shirt Day, has become synonymous with raising awareness for organ and tissue donation across Canada. Only five weeks prior to the crash, Logan had signed up to be an organ donor, inspired by the passing of his family friend and trainer Ric Suggit, who was also the Pronghorns Women’s Rugby coach. Logan was able to save six lives, and affect so many more across Canada. Within a month of his passing, Canadian Blood Services reported that just shy of 100,000 people had signed up to be organ donors. The Logan Boulet Effect was born.
Boulet’s parents, Bernadine (BEd ’98) and Toby (BEd ’89, MEd ’04), and sister, Mariko (BSc ’17), continue to triumph the message of organ and tissue donation, as well as blood and plasma. Today, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mike Mahon is joining the effort as an ambassador for Canadian Blood Services’ new Lethbridge Plasma Donor Centre.
“We have all been touched by this tragedy and the selflessness of Logan and how many people he was able to positively impact,” says Mahon. “For us at the University of Lethbridge, this was particularly jarring as it hit so close to home. As a community, we came together to support the Boulet family and through this initiative, we look to continue that legacy of support and provide hope to other families in need.”
Canadian Blood Services opened the doors of the Lethbridge Plasma Donor Centre in December 2020. Plasma is the protein-rich liquid in our blood that can be used to make specialized medicines and therapies. Collecting more plasma will help the thousands of Canadian patients who depend on these therapies to survive, including those right here in Lethbridge.
“We are grateful for the generosity that local residents, businesses and organizations, including the University of Lethbridge, have shown at our plasma donor centre,” says U of L alumna Brenna Scott (BA ’16), business development manager, Canadian Blood Services’ Lethbridge plasma donor centre. “We have welcomed members of the Boulet family to donate plasma several times. It’s truly a testament to the spirit and memory of Logan and we are thankful to the University for their support of Green Shirt Day.”
The University is also running an internal campaign to spur plasma donations. Throughout the next few months, University groups are challenging their members and other units across campus to book appointments at the local plasma clinic — and, of course, wear their green shirts.
“The need for blood, tissue, organs and plasma never subsides, and for very little effort, our actions can positively affect so many people,” says Mahon. “I encourage everyone to find a way to support the efforts of the Lethbridge Plasma Donor Centre and those in our community who are in need of their lifesaving services.”
To book an appointment, please visit blood.ca/Lethbridge.