Saskatchewan is marking National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month (NOTDAM) with events and campaigns all April.
On April 7, the province also honoured Green Shirt Day (GSD), inspired by Logan Boulet, a Humboldt Broncos player who died in the 2018 bus crash and donated his organs. His organ donation inspired nearly 150,000 Canadians to register as donors.
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The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) saw a 75 per cent rise in deceased organ donors in 2023. Saskatchewan now leads the country with 28.9 donors per million people.
“This is a remarkable milestone, considering that in 2014, the rate was just 7.2 donors per million,” said health minister Jeremy Cockrill. “It is a testament to the growing awareness Saskatchewan residents have of organ and tissue donation.”
“Increased participation in events like Green Shirt Day and the illumination of landmarks in green reflect the province’s dedication,” he continued.
The province is investing in donor programs and kidney health. The 2025-26 provincial budget includes $319,000 more for the SHA’s organ and tissue donation and transplant program.
It also includes $4.3 million to expand dialysis care across Saskatchewan, which will help hire 30 new full-time staff.
New staff will work in Regina, Saskatoon and five rural locations. Dialysis services will grow in Meadow Lake, North Battleford and Fort Qu’Appelle.
Other centres in Saskatoon, Tisdale, Moose Jaw and Regina will see increased support.
These steps aim to improve access and care for kidney patients across the province.
“We honour the incredible work of our organ transplant and donation physicians,” said Cockrill. “Choosing to register as an organ and tissue donor, or as a living donor, is an act of great generosity. We urge everyone to have a conversation with their loved ones about their decision to become a donor.”
On April 7, members of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly wore green and posted online using #GreenShirtDay and #LoganBouletEffect.
The T.C. Douglas Building in Regina will shine green lights from April 7 to 11. Other landmarks across Canada will also glow green.
Saskatchewan is also part of the national Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign. It highlights local living donors, recipients and doctors.
Their stories appear at givelifesask.ca.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives. One tissue donor can help 75 people.
People aged 16 and over can register their decision at saskatchewan.ca.
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