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Town of Vegreville Commemorates Green Shirt Day
Town of Vegreville Commemorates Green Shirt Day
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
Vegreville’s world famous pysanka was illuminated in a brilliant green colour during the evening hours on April 5, 6 and 7 to commemorate Green Shirt Day on April 7 and to honour and recognize the victims and families of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash that happened on April 6, 2018.
Green Shirt Day also pays tribute to former Broncos player Logan Boulet who succumbed to his injuries the following day (April 7, 2018). Logan’s parents Bernadine and Toby Boulet offered to donate his organs so that six lives could live on. They did so because Logan had told his parents previous that he was registering as an organ donor and that he was inspired by his coach and mentor Ric Suggitt, who passed away on June 27, 2107. Suggitt was also an organ donor and save six lives.
The pysanka light up was initiated by Vegreville town council. Town Councillor Tina Warawa said she will never forget the moment she heard about the Humboldt bus crash as she was driving to the rink for a fun skate as her son’s team had won league championship the week prior to the tragedy.
“A week after the Humboldt tragedy, we actually had our year-end party and the boys took a picture on a set of stairs with their coaches, the banner and a plaque that said, “Hockey is family. Humboldt Strong.”
She went on to say, “The Humboldt crash was an unbelievable tragedy, but we can honour those players by never forgetting, appreciating each day and by considering being an organ donor.”
Jamieson Brown, Community Engagement & Economic Development Manager with the Town of Vegreville said, “This initiative was discussed at the Mach 19th Legislative Committee meeting.
The decision to light the Pysanka Green was made because of a request by Jan Clemis, a retired teacher from Taber, Alberta who hoped to create awareness for Green Shirt Day – which this year fell on Sunday, April 7…Clemis, who had personally experienced the gift of organ donation, having received a kidney from her son in 2018, also hoped the green lighting would draw attention to the importance of organ donation.”
