From March 4 to 8, the SADD (Students Against Drinking and Driving) Chapter at CCS (Canora Composite School) hosted a number of events to emphasize the importance of Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week.
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’s 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:
- Promoting options to individuals who are impaired so that they will not drive impaired.
- Educating the public about the legal, social, health, and safety risks, associated with impaired driving.
- Influence/initiate legislation and public policy in areas related to impaired driving.
- Provides necessary training and education to volunteers who wish to facilitate the first three purposes.
“March 4 to 8 was declared Provincial Impaired Driving Awareness Week,” said Leson. “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.”
Leson said at the end of February, she had received notice that CCS had been selected to be one of the schools to receive a free presentation by Amy Kaufman. Amy was one of the presenters at the SADD Provincial Conference in October, 2018, and therefore CCS students were familiar with her story and had the opportunity to chat with her in Regina after her presentation at that time.
On March 5, CCS hosted Kaufman as she spoke to the staff and entire student body. She was introduced by the SADD Chapter co-chairs and shared her heartbreaking story. In her message, she encouraged the students to always chose a safe ride and to support their SADD Chapter members in their life saving initiatives.
Kaufmann said she was born and raised in Saskatchewan and presently resides in Regina. After successfully completing a Bachelor of Education Degree and Masters of Educational Psychology at the University of Regina, she is currently employed at Saskatchewan Polytechnic as an Accessibility Counsellor.
Her presentation included telling her story of the tragic losses of both her brothers; one due to an inexperienced driver and the second in a collision caused by drinking and driving. Kaufman said she hopes to change the culture around impaired driving by giving a personal side of loss and how it affects not only the families but entire communities. Kaufman’s presentation focused on the risks and consequences associated with impaired driving, hoping to make a positive difference to the people who hear her story.
Following the presentation, CCS SADD took the opportunity to announce the activities planned for the week.
A recruitment drive was held, and Leson said she was pleased to see that CCS SADD chapter membership doubled.
Statistics and facts were shared throughout the school, including body outlines on the floor at every school entrance to get students thinking about the possible consequences of drinking and driving. A smartie cookie sale highlighted the message, “Be a Smart Cookie – Don’t Drink and Drive.”
The poster contest featured the messages emphasized by SADD. As selected by the CCS SADD Chapter, the winners of the contest were: Vicky Lei, Gracie Hamm and Alaina Roebuck. Each of the winners received a gift certificate from Gabano’s pizza and an iTunes gift card. Prizes were donated by Leson’s Funeral Home.
CCS SADD acknowledged SADD Saskatchewan and SGI for the opportunity to host the speaker, Amy Kaufmann, the Town of Canora and CCS SRC (Students’ Representative Council) for donating the gifts presented to Amy, and all staff, students, parents and community members who continue to support SADD and the ongoing initiatives.
