What started as a Canada-wide day to show support for the victims and families affected by the tragic Humboldt bus crash has turned into a worldwide movement.
Created by a group of hockey moms from Langley, BC, “Jersey Day” began so Canadians could come together and wear a sports jersey in honour of the lives lost in the bus crash last Friday in rural Saskatchewan, which has now claimed the lives of 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team.
“We want to show our support to the families of Humboldt Broncos. They are currently going through a tragedy that no family or community should experience. As hockey families we are here for you!” reads the Facebook page created for the event.
“On Thursday, April 12, 2018, we will wear our jerseys to show our support and send our love.”
The symbolic gesture has picked up steam and now people from around the world are sharing photos of their jerseys on social media under the hashtag #jerseysforhumboldt.
Here in Canada, these are some of the touching Jersey Day tributes online showing support for all who were touched by last week’s crash.
Coach Gallant wore a VGK @HumboldtBroncos jersey for his press conference today
We’re with you 💛💚#JerseysForHumbolt pic.twitter.com/aBzDTvmmjB
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 12, 2018
My sons and I supporting the @HumboldtBroncos on #JerseyDay. @CanadiensMTL @StLouisBlues @Canucks @NYRangers @TSN690 #TSN690 @NHL #Humboldt #humboldtsrong @trevormomesso @Modangles27 pic.twitter.com/TPg1Q0dQFI
— Sergio Momesso (@SergioMomesso36) April 12, 2018
Today, Principal Radmanovich is honouring the life of his Godson, Jaxon Joseph, and his @sjhlbroncos Jaxon will be sorely missed by Mr. Radmanovich, his wife, Rhonda and two daughters, Kristin and Katie. #UncleBry #ProudToWearYourJersey #HugsForHumboldt #JerseysForHumboldt 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/gS00KfHxKj
— Vimy Ridge Academy (@VimyAcademy) April 12, 2018
A moving moment at our Upper School assembly today. Crescent students in all grades are wearing #JerseysForHumboldt and raising money to help the players and families affected by last Friday’s tragic crash. pic.twitter.com/6155dTgOTA
— Crescent School (@Crescent_School) April 12, 2018
Today, we join with heartbroken Canadians in wearing hockey jerseys as a show of support for the Humboldt Broncos’ families, friends and communities. #JerseysForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/gNOpxOifZn
— CIBC (@cibc) April 12, 2018
We are with you #HumboltBroncos. #JerseyDay #humboldtsrong #JerseysForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/LayMiDyLep
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) April 12, 2018
We may be 3,000 km away, but today we stand with the victims, families, communities and first responders impacted by the #HumboldtBroncos tragedy. #JerseysForHumboldt #JerseyDay. pic.twitter.com/EABqXm0kdL
— York Regional Police (@YRP) April 12, 2018
Mrs. Robinson, a.k.a. my Mum, wanted to participate and send her #PrayersForHumboldt on #JerseyDay #JerseysForHumboldt #HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/0pEWXzc7Od
— Paul Robinson (@JostensPaul) April 12, 2018
My thoughts are with the players and families of the Humboldt Broncos. #JerseysForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/cl7Ubl24wT
— Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) April 12, 2018
Wearing our #JerseysForHumboldt in the Ontario legislature today in memory of the 16 tragically lost, and in support of their families and the entire #HumboldtBroncos community. #HumboldtStrong 🏒 ♥ pic.twitter.com/ePGk1lRCec
— Andrea Horwath (@AndreaHorwath) April 12, 2018
Today the community of St. Stephen C.S.S. in Bowmanville, Ontario is wearing jerseys and green and gold to show support for the Humboldt Broncos and their families. You are in our hearts and in our prayers. #jerseysforhumboldt @PVNCCDSB pic.twitter.com/Jc7bVUdIeb
— St. Stephen C.S.S. (@StStephenRoyal) April 12, 2018
It doesn’t matter who you cheer for or what jersey you grew up wearing, we’re all apart of the hockey family. #JerseysForHumboldt #HumboldtStrong 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/oBvxe21j1L
— GONGSHOW® (@GongshowGear) April 12, 2018
Today, we had many LPS employees wear jerseys for #JerseyDay showing their support for the Humboldt Broncos and the Humboldt Community. Thank you to everyone who wore a #JerseyForHumboldt today. #HumboltdStrong #PrayersForHumbolt #jerseysforhumboldt #ldnont #sticksforhumboldt pic.twitter.com/WjlymrnSlG
— London Police ON (@lpsmediaoffice) April 12, 2018
Today our 💚💛’s are in #saskatchewan. #JerseysForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/TiWq2GhTvB
— Scott McGillivray (@smcgillivray) April 12, 2018
Some #TTC head office staff, yours truly included, are honouring all those touched by the tragedy in Humboldt today. Many operators and frontline employees are also wearing #jerseysforhumboldt. pic.twitter.com/4RqPcKjXqs
— Brad Ross (@bradTTC) April 12, 2018
We may be wearing different jerseys, but we’re all supporting the same team. #JerseysforHumboldt #HumboldtStrong 💛 pic.twitter.com/VuPR4bl38d
— CSE 🍁 (@cse_cst) April 12, 2018
Chief @marksaunderstps pays tribute today to the memory of those lost in the tragic bus crash #jerseysforhumboldt @HumboldtBroncos 💛💚💛💚 pic.twitter.com/ieLAFMJCRn
— SSgt Darla Tannahill (@TannahillTPS) April 12, 2018
Today, we wear a #JerseyForHumboldt to show support and honour the Humboldt Broncos.
To the families, the community, and all those affected, you are not alone. My statement offering our love & support on #JerseyDay: https://t.co/Y4z7V3UsLM pic.twitter.com/w1BaoXXfmo
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) April 12, 2018
MEI is flooded with jerseys today. We support you, stand with you, and are praying for you! #prayersforhumboldt #humboldt #saskatchewan pic.twitter.com/YBmXl3P4PG
— Vijay Manuel (@headofschools) April 12, 2018
Over in the US…
#JerseysForHumboldt today all across the world we wear our jerseys for Humboldt. We are with you and we pray for you #PrayForHumboldt pic.twitter.com/VT3I2zEsLU
— Austin Huizenga (@AustinHuizenga) April 12, 2018
A sixteen who barely made it for the sixteen who didn’t. #jerseysforhumboldt pic.twitter.com/Mw6YKRkhEO
— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) April 12, 2018
Chief Templeman and Everett Police offer our deepest sympathies & show support for @HumboldtBroncos, their families, and the hockey community. #JerseysForHumboldt #HumboldtStrong #LoveFromTheUS pic.twitter.com/7JLwbXnove
— Everett Police (@EverettPolice) April 12, 2018
With love from Rochester, NY#JerseysForHumboldt#HumboldtStrong pic.twitter.com/UqgFIUhIeR
— Knighthawks Lacrosse (@RocKnighthawks) April 12, 2018
#JerseyDay at Breakaway Academy, thinking of the @HumboldtBroncos #JerseysForHumboldt #humboldtsrong 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WUaOqfUXwT
— Breakaway Academy (@BrkwyAcademy) April 12, 2018
Wearing our jerseys for our hockey family #JerseysForHumboldt 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/EKS0XcTtzy
— Syracuse Ice Hockey (@CuseIce) April 12, 2018
Kenlin heard about #JerseysForHumboldt and wanted to wear her @TexasStars sweater to school. Thinking of our Canadian 🇨🇦 friends today pic.twitter.com/uE2XG5BUJw
— Mike McKenna (@MikeMcKenna56) April 12, 2018
Our staff is wearing #JerseysForHumboldt today 💚💛
You can help support #HumboldtStrong through this special auction: https://t.co/YNXAOXPXoK pic.twitter.com/RTyzQOxv75
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) April 12, 2018
To love the game of hockey is to know the depths of this tragedy. To the Humboldt community and all those in our hockey family impacted, we are behind you. #jerseysforhumboldt #humboldtstrong pic.twitter.com/CMfuFHtU9y
— Tufts Hockey (@TuftsMensHockey) April 12, 2018
#HumboldtStrong: Today the @SSUVikings men’s and women’s hockey teams unite to wear #JerseysforHumboldt in honor of the victims of the @HumboldtBroncos tragedy 🏒 pic.twitter.com/Vuzi9NJNbx
— Salem State (@SalemState) April 12, 2018
Tributes came in even as far as China.
From Shenzhen, China, we are sending our thoughts and prayers to the Humboldt Broncos, their families and the entire community through this tragic time. #SupportForHumbolt #jerseysforhumboldt #PrayersForHumboldt #GoISNS pic.twitter.com/ucfxQJ3Ggc
— Jasen Awalt (@JasenAwalt_PYP) April 12, 2018
And even Singapore.
The High Commission of Canada in Singapore is proud to support the families, friends and community of the Humboldt Broncos 🇨🇦 🇸🇬💛💚 #JerseyDay #jerseysforhumboldt #putyoursticksout #humboltstrong pic.twitter.com/BiKdClW17L
— Canada in Singapore (@CanHCSingapore) April 12, 2018
If you weren’t able to participate in Jersey Day but still want to show your support for those affected by the Humboldt crash, a GoFundMe page for the victims and families impacted by the crash was started.
By Thursday morning, more than $9.6 million had been donated by over 115,000 people in just five days, making it one of the largest GoFundMe campaigns in the world.
Globally, the largest GoFundMe campaign to date is the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, which has raised $21.5 million.
Following that is the campaign for the Las Vegas Victims Fund, which raised $11.8 million, and the Stoneman Douglas Victims’ Fund, which raised $6.7 million.