Humboldt Broncos Memorial Committee, from left Laurie Warford, Kurt Leicht, Larry Jorgenson, Carol Brons, and chair Rob Muench, at the sod turning ceremony in Humboldt, SK on Oct. 5, 2024. (Maury Wrubleski/DiscoverHumboldt).

By CKOM News

Seven Years Later

Seventh anniversary of Broncos bus crash remembered with tributes

Apr 6, 2025 | 3:38 PM

People in Saskatchewan, Canada and the United States paid tribute on Sunday to the 16 players and staff who died in the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

The Broncos were on their way to an SJHL playoff game in Nipawin on April 6, 2018 when their bus was hit by a semi driven by trucker Jaskirat Singh Sidhu that had ran through a stop sign.

Among those speaking out on Sunday was Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said hockey has always brought Canadians together — but it’s how we show up for one another, in grief and in strength, that defines who we are.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted a tribute on social media, saying he was thinking of the families affected.

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The Humbolt Broncos posted a poignant video and a number of NHL, WHL, junior and minor hockey teams also posted tributes using the #HumboldtStrong hashtag.

The City of Humboldt was encouraged people to take a moment on Sunday at 4:50 pm, the approximate time of the tragedy, to reflect and honour the memory of those lost.

The concept plan includes a memorial pond surrounded by a path with benches, and two memorial sites. (Humboldt Broncos Memorial Committee)

Crash site memorial progressing

The crash happened on Highway 35, about 30 kilometres north of Tisdale, at the junction of Highway 335 and the site has become a common stopping point for hockey teams and members of the public passing through. A sod turning in 2024 marked the first step in creating a proper memorial site.

Phase 1 of the site memorial project is well underway with paths and seating areas built and the committee said this week it was working to secure a paving contract to enhance the site and ensure it remains a dignified space for reflection and remembrance.

Before the committee moves forward with design plans for phase 2 — which will focus on a monument in honour of those who lost their lives and the 13 others forever impacted — it has called for ideas for the project and people can submit them on the Humboldt Broncos Tribute Campaign website.

Work is still ongoing to develop a Humboldt Tribute Centre, intended to serve as a dedicated facility to honor the 2017-18 Broncos team and display many of the items that the community received from around the world in the weeks and months after the tragedy.

While the project was not successful in receiving a significant construction grant initially, the memorial committee said it is supporting a local initiative to engage the Humboldt community on ideas for designing, funding, and building a recreational facility that will “respectfully integrate an appropriate tribute space.”

Humboldt Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet. (Supplied)

Green Shirt Day is on Monday

Monday marks Green Shirt Day across the country to commemorate the legacy of Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet, who died from injuries sustained in the crash on April 7, 2018.

Boulet’s earlier decision to donate his organs, inspired by his coach who died the year before, saved the lives of six people and sparked a national movement.

Known as the “Logan Boulet Effect,” it saw over 100,000 Canadians register as organ donors in matter of days following his death.

People are encouraged to show their support for Green shirt Day by registering as an organ donor, posting a selfie or video on social media saying they are a registered donor and using @greenshirtday #GreenShirtDay, #LoganBouletEffect to spread the word.

— with files by CKOM News, paNOW and Discover Humboldt