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Green Shirt Day declared in Port Coquitlam, Port Moody as landmarks will light up to honour organ donors

On April 6, 2018, a bus crash killed 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team. The next day, six lives were saved and the "Logan Boulet Effect" began.
PortCoquitlamCityHallGreenShirtDayApril7collage
Port Coquitlam, as well as Port Moody, has proclaimed April 7 Green Shirt Day in honour of organ donors and the Logan Boulet Effect — a member of the Humboldt Broncos that saved six lives after succumbing to injuries in the tragic bus crash on April 6, 2018.

Logan Boulet is not only remembered as one of the Humboldt Broncos that succumbed to his injuries in a bus crash on April 6, 2018.

He's celebrated for his choice to be an organ donor, which his parents knew of and decided to follow his wishes, saving six other lives as a result.

His effect has transcended the need for more people to step forward in the effort to save lives, according to the Canadian Transplant Association (CTA).

Green Shirt Day was then created to honour Boulet's legacy and recognize the victims of the fatal tragedy, while raising awareness on the need for organ donations — and Tri-City communities are following suit.

Port Coquitlam and Port Moody recently declared tomorrow, April 7, as Green Shirt Day each year.

Their respective city halls will be one of several B.C. landmarks to add a splash of green at night as part of the campaign, which will also include the fountain at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam's Town Centre Park.

"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," explains Kathleen Fleming, a Port Coquitlam resident and BC provincial director for the CTA, in a statement to the Tri-City News.

"To date, this is the largest number of Canadians registering to become organ donors in Canadian History due to one event – one person."

The campaign also has a personal connection to Fleming in knowing family members that have been given life thanks to organ donors.

"I have a brother and niece who received double lung transplants, a niece who received a kidney transplant and another who donated a kidney. I've donated bone marrow to a sister with leukemia."

In addition to the lights, a free one-hour public skate is set to take place at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m.

Kwikwetlem First Nations Chief Ed Hall, PoCo Mayor Brad West and several city councillors will make an appearance (and potentially lace up their own skates).

No registration is required.

Meanwhile, Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Rick Glumac is set to speak in the B.C. Legislature tomorrow and proclaim Green Shirt Day across the province.

For more information on Green Shirt Day and how to become an organ donor, you're encouraged to visit the CTA's website.