Green Shirt Day was inspired by Logan Boulet, who was tragically killed in the Humbolt Broncos bus crash in 2018. Logan was a registered organ donor and because of that, his untimely death saved six lives which created a movement called the Logan Boulet effect. April 7 is the day Logan succumbed to his injuries and five years after the fact, Green Shirt Day lives on to recognize the impact of Logan’s selfless act and bring to the forefront the power of his and all organ donor’s actions.  

Green Shirt Day, the Logan Boulet Effect, and the efforts of front-line critical care professionals to bring living and deceased organ donation awareness to the public seems to be having an impact on organ transplants. 

Alberta Health Services is reporting a record number of organ transplants that have been performed in the past year. In 2022, 491 organ transplants were performed in Alberta, exceeding the previous record of 462 in 2017. Alberta’s deceased donation rate in 2022 was the highest ever in the province and among the highest in the country. Last year,107 liver transplants and 254 kidney transplants were performed in the province, both record numbers.  

Dr. Andreas Kramer, a critical care physician and organ donation specialist with AHS says, “We have worked hard to ensure the option of donation is a routine part of end-of-life care. By raising awareness and having those conversations about organ and tissue donation, we can empower families to consider the option.”  

Kramer believes the engagement and support of front-line critical care and emergency professionals have played a key role in improving donation rates. As well as the SEND (Specialist in End-of-Life Care Neuroprognostication and Donation) program established in 2021 has played an important role. The SEND team consists of 22 intensive care physicians across Alberta who provide education to healthcare teams to identify and care for potential organ donors.  

A single donor can save up to 8 lives and improve the lives of 75 others through tissue donation. To date, 844,000 Albertans have legally registered as organ and tissue donors through the province’s online organ and tissue donation registry which was started in 2014. The option to become a donor through driver’s license renewal also remains an option.