Memorials, tributes announced on 7th anniversary of Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy

Former Humboldt Bronco player Tyler Smith has been on a whirlwind journey since surviving the bus crash on April 6, 2018, that took the lives of 16 people and injured 13 others on the bus. 

Nevertheless, Smith says, the anniversary day will still be a tough one. 

"There's been a lot of growth and there's been a lot of change," he said. "I am now understanding my grief journey a little bit better." 

He said he plans to light his candles, as he does every year. 

"I think they would still want us to, you know, get out there and enjoy the day," Smith said. "I'll be heading to my brother's place to go side by side with one of the other guys as well."

It's still important to acknowledge the families who lost loved ones, so a simple text or message would go a long way, said Smith.

"If you know somebody that was impacted that day, I want you to send a text, I want you to make a phone call.… It still goes a long way, and I know it's appreciated."

Smith says he met an older woman who told him the biggest fear with loss is forgetting, which got him thinking. 

"It really hit home," he said. "But I think for hockey fans, Saskatchewan people and Canadians … I know we'll never forget."

Since the crash, Smith went on to become the winner of season 9 of The Amazing Race Canada in 2023.

He also now focuses on mental health awareness, and is a motivational speaker who shares his experiences and struggles with others. 

"I think it's difficult roads that lead to beautiful destinations," he said. "There were some difficult, difficult roads, and I think there still are. But I think it's been pretty interesting and unique, how it has led to the world of connection and the world of opportunity."

Memorial projects

Two memorial projects have been announced by a local committee to honour the 2017-18 Broncos team. 

The first entails securing a paving contract this spring to complete Phase 1 of a memorial to be located at the intersection of Highways 35 and 335 near Tisdale — about 125 kilometres as the crow flies northeast of Humboldt — where the fatal crash occurred. 

Phase 2 of that project will be a monument in honour of the 16 who were killed in the crash, and the 13 who survived. 

The second project is the Humboldt Tribute Centre, a place dedicated to honour the 2017-18 Broncos team. The facility will hold items and memorabilia gifted to the community in the weeks and months after the tragedy. 

This project is awaiting a construction grant, though the committee behind it hopes to engage the community of Humboldt on design and funding ideas. 

As well, Green Shirt Day is observed on April 7 to remember the victims and their families, and to continue Logan Boulet's legacy by inspiring Canadians to register as organ donors.  

Boulet, who died from his injuries in the crash, was a registered organ donor who had spoken previously about his wishes to donate his organs to others.

Boulet's story helped inspire more than 150,000 people across Canada to register as organ donors, and became known as the "Logan Boulet effect." 

A statement from the province said the Saskatchewan Health Authority's organ donation program saw "a remarkable 75 per cent increase in deceased organ donors" in 2023 over the previous year.

It also said that according to the latest report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Saskatchewan has, for the first time, the highest rate of deceased organ donors in Canada, with 28.9 donors per million.

"Logan's legacy reminds us how important it is for Canadians to talk with their family about their organ and tissue donation wishes. It will be up to families to give consent," Logan's parents said in a media release earlier this year.

"We would love that for every person who registers their intent to donate, then speak with four others about donation," said Logan's father, Toby Boulet.

"Keep the conversation going.… It's so important."