Transplant Manitoba-Gift of Life

02/20/2026

The Boulets arrived in Winnipeg to launch 2026 – a nation-wide initiative inspired by the legacy of Logan Boulet, the Humboldt Broncos defenceman whose decision to register as an organ and tissue donor was honoured by his parents after the tragic bus crash – but they also made the decision to connect in-person and online with the Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life teams to share their experience.

Before heading to the Manitoba Legislative Building for the media event, Toby and Bernie Boulet spoke with our teams to introduce Logan and the kind of young man he had grown up to be, and how at the end of his life, they knew without question their thoughtful, curious, athletic and artistic son wanted to help others through the gift of organ donation.

Many thanks to the Boulets for making time to engage with our staff and for their continued advocacy through their remarkable work with .

If organ and tissue donation is important to you, share your decision with those closest to you and register. In Manitoba, registering on www.signupforlife.ca takes two minutes and three pieces of information – name, birthdate and nine-digit Manitoba Health card number.

02/19/2026

Kicking off 2026 with so many people gathered in one place whose lives have been affected by organ donation and transplantation was truly an honour 💚

Thanks for hosting!

02/19/2026

2026 launched right here in Winnipeg and the event provided the perfect setting to reveal the made-in-Manitoba logo for this year and its creator, Candace.

Her design captures the spirit of movement and legacy by using several powerful symbols including a flying puck, crossed hockey sticks, the green ribbon for organ donation and Logan Boulet’s number 27. Together, these elements reflect hope, action, and the enduring ripple Logan’s decision continues to create.

Many thanks to Candace and her family for being part of this incredible gathering, and for sharing how organ donation and transplantation has affected your lives. For details about Candace’s living kidney donation journey, check out the official press release – https://greenshirtday.ca/news-and-events/honouring-logan-boulet-on-green-shirt-day/

02/18/2026

An incredible team assembled in Winnipeg, Manitoba today to officially drop the puck on 2026 and the energy was electric 🌩🏒💚

Hosted by the Hon. Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care and MC’d by the Hon. Mike Moyes, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Rotunda at the Manitoba Legislature was filled with donor families, living donors and transplant recipients all connected by a common bond – the generous act of organ donation.

Toby and Bernie Boulet spoke about the courage and compassion behind the decision to say yes to organ donation and how the continues to ripple out across the country years after the devastating Humboldt Broncos bus crash. The media event was also an opportunity to introduce Candace, a living kidney donor and the creator of the 2026 Green Shirt Day logo – which looked terrific on mascot Mick E. Moose!

Dr. Julie Ho, medical director, Transplant Manitoba and Dr. Owen Mooney, medical director, Gift of Life were also part of the program to share their experiences within organ donation and transplantation.

“For me, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is calling someone who has been waiting for a kidney transplant, often for many years, with the news that we have a match for them. To see them come off dialysis after transplant - there is nothing better,” explained Dr. Ho.

Dr. Mooney underscored the importance of talking with loved ones about donation decisions - like Logan did - so family are aware it is a gift you would want to offer someday. “As an intensive care physician, I am keenly aware of how just rare, difficult and beautiful the gift of organ donation is. I am also aware of how families can struggle when there is uncertainty regarding donation.”

If organ and tissue donation is important to you, Canadians can go to https://greenshirtday.ca/register/ to find information about their provincial registry.

02/17/2026

February is and this story of innovation and triumph will definitely warm yours ❤

Nobody had ever dared transplant an infant heart into a child with a different blood type. But Dr. Lori West believed her discovery could save babies’ lives.
Read more about Dr. West's research: https://bit.ly/4c1n11p.

02/13/2026

It truly takes a team to complete the act of giving a gift of life. Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life relies on many partners to work together to transport incredibly precious cargo so that it safely arrives at its destination and can give someone a second chance at life.

Our colleagues who work with Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services, Shared Health Emergency Response Services, stretcher services, charter flights and Air Canada are an integral part of the organ donation and transplantation journey, and we are grateful for their professionalism and expertise.

Our donor coordinators are in constant communication with these partners as arrangements are made to transport life-saving organs in or out of Winnipeg. These actions take place in the background, but they are essential to supporting Canada’s organ donation and transplantation system. Without these skilled professionals, organ donation just wouldn’t be possible.

This , we’d like to thank these unsung heroes who travel in all sorts of weather, 365 days a year to bring new beginnings to those living with a failing organ ❤

02/12/2026

Join our Kidney Foundation of Canada friends as they welcome award-winning executive chef Paul Natrall (aka Mr. Bannock) from the Squamish Nation in North Vancouver, BC, who will deliver a free kidney-friendly virtual cooking session using Indigenous cooking techniques.

Click for registration details for both Feb 25 & 26 sessions!

02/11/2026

In a demanding field like medicine, Dr. Armelle Villalobos’ best advice is to remain authentic and stay focused on your own unique path.

“True success isn't about competing with others; it’s about achieving excellence in a world already full of high achievers," she explains. “We truly can accomplish anything we set our minds to, because while so much of life is beyond our influence, we have total control over our own dedication and the heart we put into our goals.”

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is recognized on February 11 and the Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life teams celebrate all of the outstanding women in science who support our programs. The day provides an opportunity to highlight the contributions of women and girls in science and to promote full and equal access to, and participation in, science for women and girls.

As a transplant infectious diseases physician – currently the only specialist in this field in Manitoba – Dr. Villalobos uses her expertise to support kidney, lung and liver transplant patients at HSC_Winnipeg. Her research focuses on infections that affect immunocompromised patients, and she evaluates the effectiveness of current screening and identification protocols to better quantify infectious risks before they impact the recipient.

“As a transplant Infectious diseases specialist, I focus on protecting patients with weakened immune systems from infection. I work closely with patients before their transplant to ensure they are as safe as possible and continue to support their recovery by diagnosing and treating any infectious complications that arise,” she said.

Dr. Villalobos says she was drawn to the field of transplantation when she completed a rotation as an internal medicine resident. Her time on that transplant ward allowed her a glimpse of what could be possible if she pursued this challenging career.

“To me, transplantation sits at the intersection of cutting-edge medicine, ethics, and long-term patient relationships. Transplant infectious diseases offers the opportunity to care for patients at their most vulnerable, where clinical decisions have immediate and life-altering consequences. It requires close collaboration across disciplines and a deep understanding of complex biology, infection risk, and immunosuppression.”

The patients themselves also drive her motivation to support them as they claim a new life after transplant. “This field is especially rewarding because it allows me to follow patients over time and to witness firsthand the profound impact that a successful transplant can have on both survival and quality of life,” she explained. “Their bravery in the face of uncertainty humbles me and serves as a constant inspiration to provide the highest level of care possible.”

Inspired by her university professor parents, Dr. Villalobos says teaching is one of her true passions and she enjoys working with medical students and residents, as well as sharing her knowledge and expertise by serving on the Canadian Society of Transplantation’s Education and Transplant Infectious Diseases Committees.

With a very active professional life, Dr. Villalobos, an avid reader and lifelong music lover, finds balance in being happily married, keeping up with a demanding corgi and staying in touch with faraway family and friends through letter writing.

02/10/2026

To better understand how food insecurity affects transplant families across Canada, a University of Alberta team is conducting a survey to explore how household food access may influence diet quality, mental health, and quality of life in children who have undergone liver, kidney, or multi-organ transplant.

If you are a parent or caregiver to children and teens 18 and under and would like to participate in this anonymous, 10-minute survey, go to the study’s link - https://redcap.ualberta.ca/surveys/?s=PKDX8DHEEMFJN9XK

02/06/2026

Today we go back in time for a – all the way to March 2022 and our very first media event as we started emerging from the pandemic.

Team Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life and our volunteers joined Toby and Bernie Boulet, who were at City Hall to promote Green Shirt Day 2022 during a media event, to encourage Manitobans to have life-saving conversations about organ and tissue donation and to register intent to be a donor using Manitoba’s donor registry, www.signupforlife.ca.

During the event, Toby and Bernie were presented with the Key to The City for their work in raising awareness about giving the gift of life. Later on, the two headed off to a Winnipeg Jets game for an in-game interview on the scoreboard. Their dedication and energy is endless 💚

Team Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life is pleased to be the kick-off site for the national launch of Green Shirt Day 2026. We can’t wait!!

02/04/2026

National Burn Awareness Week takes place from Feb 1 – 7 and this year’s theme focuses on burns in the workplace. Burns can happen anywhere – from kitchens and laboratories to construction sites and offices – which makes an opportunity to share important information about prevention. It is also a chance to talk about how the gift of tissue from a donor helps promote health and healing for those who have suffered serious burns.

If you are a registered organ and tissue donor, there are six types of tissue you may be able to donate: corneas, sclera, heart valves, skin, bone, and tendons. People in need of tissue suffer from many different conditions – burns, cancer, orthopedic and sport injuries, vision loss, and more.

A donation of tissue offers them a chance to significantly improve their lives. Tissue can improve mobility, accelerate healing, improve heart function, and even restore sight. Amazing! Added bonus: unlike donated organs, donated tissue can be stored and saved for use later when the need arises.

Choose to leave well so others can live well. www.donateyourorgans.ca

02/02/2026

The Gift of Life flag is flying today at HSC_Winnipeg and St. Boniface Hospital. It only flies in honour of a donor, someone who has offered a life-saving gift to others in need either through living or deceased organ donation. This action is meant as a tribute to the courage, compassion and generosity of the donor and recognizes the decision to say yes to organ donation. Thank you.