Large crowd braves chill weather to honour legacy of Logan Boulet

In very chill weather, Robin Harper, General Manager of Recreation and Culture for the City of Lethbridge, opened the ceremonies outside the arena by introducing Mayor Chris Spearman, as well as Councillors Blaine Hyggen, Mark Campbell and Jeff Carlson. Toby and Bernadine Boulet attended with members of their families, as well as some of the Humboldt Bronco family who travelled from Edmonton, St. Albert and Humbolt and other members of the hockey and ringette community.

During the ceremony, Mayor Spearman recognized the legacy of a “fine young man who set an example for everyone in Lethbridge, Alberta and across thee country.”

“We commend the legacy of Logan today – the renaming of the arena will be a constant reminder for generations to come, of the example of Logan Boulet. I hope that we can all keep up with the legacy, that we honour it and make sure that we make the lives of others better.”

Spearman also thanked the Boulet family for their ongoing example and carrying on Logan’s message.

Blaine Hyggen noted the impact that one young man had on the city which lead up to renaming the arena in his honour.

“Remarkable in his compassion and dedication to hockey, to his friends and family and wanting to make the world a better place. Because he made the decision to become an organ donor, six people would benefit from his selflessness, and would inspire more than 200,000 Canadians to register as organ donors in the weeks and months following the Humbolt crash.”

“The Logan Boulet effect, said Hyggen, “is now synonymous with the gift of life and Green Shirt day is a real source of both pride and importance for me personally and many people in our community and far beyond. It’s this sense of pride that I hope people remember when they step through the doors of this Logan Boulet arena. I hope that pride spreads through to the kids who rush into the locker rooms to get on their gear, lace up their skates and have fun on the ice, just as Logan did.”

After the outdoor ceremony, the Boulet’s took part in a ceremonial puck drop for a Midget AAA game against the Knights of Columbus Pats from Edmonton.

The Boulet’s also took time to speak with the media. Mother Bernadine choked back emotion as she spoke of her son.

“Logan was a great kid – well he’s not a kid anymore, he’s an adult but, he’s always going to be my little boy – he really worked hard all the time to make things better for other people, to make people be included. To make people’s lives better and with the organ donation, that’s what he was able to do. We’re very thankful of that and people have taken what he did to be an inspiration to become registered organ donors themselves.”

“We’re thankful that the city of Lethbridge and minor hockey have all recognized Logan and what he did and have honoured him in so many ways, so thank you.”

Logan’s father said is was a very special day for them (his family), to have the Logan Boulet arena named because it was Logan’s favourite arena growing up in Lethbridge – it has such character and history, the painting when you walk in the front door, this is where he started playing little-kids hockey, as a little guy this is where they had the mass practice here. It’s a really special day for us – we’ve had 18 months of not much fun and this … is a nice day.”

Bernadine chimed in that “We’re very honoured that the City of Lethbridge has chosen to rename the arena the Logan Boulet arena – it’s an honor to us that they feel our son is an important enough person to be able to do that and we’re very thankful for all the people that came today to support us.

The Boulet’s reminisced and related memories of time spent in the arena when Logan was very young and needed help getting off the bench and onto the ice. Bernadine said it was very hard to choose the items that would go into the display case in the arena. They chose items that told Logan’s story from when he was in minor hockey, items to honour the Humbolt Broncos and all the honours and recognition that Logan received in the 18-months since the bus tragedy.

One of the items in the display was just received last week. The Boulet’s met a Vancouver family with an eight-year old daughter who received a heart donation when she was three weeks old. The little girl, Addison, competed last summer in the World Transplant games and was awarded a medal, which she gave to the Boulet family. Bernadine says the medal reminds them of the impact Logan has had.

“Even on a child who is eight, who has a transplanted heart and understands the importance of that transplant and organ donation and what it’s done for her life.”

Mayor Spearman noted it is a tragedy that people have died while waiting for a donated organ. Only 15 per cent of Albertans have signed their donor cards and thousands of people die every year in this province while on waiting lists.

“If we were all as selfless as Logan and thinking of others,” said Spearman, “that would never happen.”

The name of the Logan Boulet arena was only hours old but, the Boulet’s have learned that young skaters are already referring to it by that name, or the “LB” arena, for short.

by Dori Modney and Photo-journalist Brandyn Montgomery

Large crowd braves chill weather to honour legacy of Logan Boulet

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