Those in Saskatchewan are far more likely to donate their organs than anywhere else in Canada.
According to the province, the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s Organ Donation Program has seen a 75 per cent increase in deceased organ donors in the 2023 calendar year compared to the year previous.
Saskatchewan is also home to the highest rate of deceased organ donors in the entire country – with 28.9 donors per million population. The province highlights the statistics to commemorate National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month (NOTDAM) and Green Shirt Day.
April 7 honours Logan Boulet, who died following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and whose legacy inspired nearly 150,000 Canadians to register as organ donors.
“This is a remarkable milestone, considering that in 2014, the rate was just 7.2 donors per million,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.
“It is a testament to the growing awareness Saskatchewan residents have of organ and tissue donation and their commitment to saving lives. Increased participation in events like Green Shirt Day and the illumination of landmarks in green reflect the province’s dedication to this vital cause.”
Elected members at the legislature will mark the occasion by wearing green and sharing photos using the #GreenShirtDay and #LoganBouletEffect hashtags to spread the word on social media.
Additionally, the T.C. Douglas Building in Regina will be illuminated with green lighting from April 7-11.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can help up to 75 people.
Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to register their decision to be an organ and tissue donor and request information about the process of becoming a living organ donor through the Saskatchewan Organ and Tissue Donor Registry, which can be accessed here.
Stories from living organ donors, recipients and physicians in the province can be found here.
