Six years ago, Canadian communities were rocked by tragedy when the Humboldt Broncos were involved in a shocking vehicle collision that took the lives of 16 people near Armley, Saskatchewan. On June 15 of last year, Manitobans were shocked again when a collision near Carberry killed 17 people and injured many others.
The loss of life is unfathomable and heart breaking.
April marks National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness month. It's an important opportunity to recognize those who have donated to save others. Like Logan Boulet, a Broncos player whose decision to become an organ donor inspired many Canadians to register as organ and tissue donors themselves. Logan succumbed to his injuries but his decision saved six lives. This month, it's also important to pause and celebrate those who have received lifesaving treatments as a result of organ and tissue donation.
There are more than 4,000 Canadians on a waitlist for an organ and every year more than 200 people die waiting. One donor can save up to eight lives and improve up to 75 lives. Sadly, many donation opportunities are missed each year because families don't know whether their loved one wanted to be an organ donor.
As a public health nurse and an organ donor myself, I am a strong advocate of starting these difficult conversations. Together, we can save lives like Logan and so many others.
National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month, along with Green Shirt Day, which took place this past Sunday to honour the victims of the Humbolt Broncos crash and continue Logan's donor-inspiring legacy, is led by the Boulet family and the Canadian Transplant Association in partnership with many others within Canada's organ and tissue donation community such as Canadian Blood Services and the Kidney Foundation of Canada. It is estimated that almost 150,000 people registered to become organ donors in the days and weeks that followed the Broncos bus crash.
Fiona Shiells
School Trustee - West Ward
St. James-Assiniboia School Division
For more information on Trustee Shiells, visit her bio.
