On March 9, the SADD (Students Against Drinking and Driving) Chapter at CCS (Canora Composite School) hosted Niall Schofield, a guest speaker from Warman to emphasize the importance of Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week, observed March 9 to 13.
SADD Saskatchewan is a group of like-minded individuals committed to the prevention and elimination of impaired driving, said Shawna Leson, CCS SADD advisor. SADD maintains a clearly defined mission and purpose: Student Leaders Dedicated to Stopping Impaired Driving.
SADD鈥檚 purpose is to initiate, organize, encourage, and facilitate activities, events, and general behavior that will prevent impaired driving acts, both directly and indirectly, in the following ways:
1.听听听听听听听听听听听 promoting options to individuals who are impaired so that they will not drive impaired;
2.听听听听听听听听听听听 educating the public about the legal, social, health, and safety risks, associated with impaired driving;
3.听听听听听听听听听听听 influence/initiate legislation and public policy in areas related to impaired driving;
4.听听听听听听听听听听听 providing necessary training and education to volunteers who wish to facilitate the first three purpose;
Introduced by the SADD Chapter co-chairs, Schofield shared with the staff and entire student body how he lost his brother to a collision caused by an impaired driver, and how his loss has impacted his life in varying ways. In his message, he encouraged the students to always chose a safe ride, to acknowledge the impact the decisions they make have on others, and to support their SADD Chapter in their life-saving initiatives.
Leson said Schofield spoke highly of the CCS students.
鈥淗e commented on how welcoming they were,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e found it easy to speak to them as they showed compassion, interest and respect. He found the experience to be quite engaging and appreciated their attentiveness.鈥�
Each year, SADD Saskatchewan teams up with SGI and offers a fully sponsored presentation to ten schools within the province. With over 90 SADD Chapters across the province, each chapter is responsible for applying to host the presentation. At the beginning of March, Leson received notice that CCS had been selected to be one of the schools to receive a free presentation by Schofield.
鈥淗e was one of the presenters at the SADD Provincial Conference in October 2019 and therefore our delegates were familiar with his story and had the opportunity to chat with him in Saskatoon after his presentation,鈥� said Leson
Following the presentation, CCS SADD took the opportunity to announce the activities planned for the week which included: Co-op liquor bag awareness messages, ribbon sharing, a recruitment station, distribution of contracts for life, statistic and facts shared throughout the school and a smartie cookies (鈥淏e a Smart Cookie 鈥� Don鈥檛 Drink and Drive鈥�), Social Media Message Frenzy, and a planned white out day.
Unfortunately, due to the STF (Saskatchewan Teachers鈥� Federation) sanctions restricting extra-curricular activities, the remaining arranged awareness activities were cancelled.
鈥淐CS SADD would like to thank SADD Saskatchewan and SGI for the opportunity to host the speaker, Niall Schofield, and CCS SRC for donating the gift given to him, and all staff, students, parents and community members who continue to support SADD and the ongoing initiatives,鈥� concluded Leson.
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