The Humboldt Broncos tragedy has encouraged more Ontarians to register as organ and tissue donors than ever before.
The Trillium Gift of Life Network announced Tuesday that the number of registered donors hit four million in the days and weeks after the April 6th collision between the Broncos' team bus and semi-truck hauling peat moss, which killed 16 people and injured 13.
The government agency reported a 24% increase in new registrations in April 2018 over an average month last year.
Ontarians seemed especially moved by the story of 21-year-old Broncos defenceman Logan Boulet.
Boulet had signed his donor card just days before his death and through donation was able to save six lives.
While the Trillium Gift of Life Network's President and CEO is heartened by the outpouring of support, she doesn't think it should take a tragedy to "jolt people out of their complacency".
Ronnie Gavsie says someone on a waitlist dies every three days in Ontario because there isn't an organ ready for them. As of June 30th, 1,578 Ontarians were waiting from transplants.
For more information on organ donation in Ontario, click HERE
with files from the Canadian Press