SADD Saskatchewan History
Our History
From a grief-stricken hockey coach in Massachusetts to 250+ Saskatchewan schools — the story of how a student-led movement took root and changed provincial policy.
From a grief-stricken hockey coach in Massachusetts to 250+ Saskatchewan schools — the story of how a student-led movement took root and changed provincial policy.
In 1981, an American high school teacher and hockey coach named Robert Anastas started SADD in Wayland, Massachusetts. SADD was originally an acronym standing for Students Against Driving Drunk.
Anastas started SADD after two of his players were killed in separate driving collisions only two days apart. While supporting other students through the grieving process, he arrived at some important realizations.
Because it was the young people — not the adults — who were attending the parties, only the young people could intervene to protect their friends. He saw that the most effective way to address youth and drinking was to have students take charge of themselves.
It was also vital to raise public awareness and involve the broader community in the solution.
Anastas travelled all over the United States with his message and SADD grew rapidly. Over 50,000 American high schools established SADD chapters.
SADD's foundational tool — the Contract for Life — was introduced alongside the organization in 1981, establishing the mutual commitment between students and parents that remains central to SADD's approach today.
Guidance Counselor Connie Peacock started the first Canadian SADD Chapter in 1983 in Cowansville, Quebec.
In 1986, SADD chapters were established in schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. Bert Yakichuk, the Principal of Sister McGuigan High School in Regina, established the first SADD chapter in Saskatchewan.
Yakichuk spread the word to other Saskatchewan schools and by the end of the 1986–87 school year there were SADD chapters in Regina, Saskatoon, North Battleford, Swift Current, Weyburn, and Melville.
SADD held its first provincial conference in 1988, and by the end of the 1987–88 school year had 50 registered chapters. Since then, more than 250 schools have established SADD chapters in Saskatchewan, with approximately 130 active each year.
In 1989, SADD in Saskatchewan changed its name to Students Against Drinking and Driving and adopted a new logo chosen through a province-wide contest.
Nicole Nakonechny's design was selected. Nicole was a co-founder of one of the first chapters in Meath Park, Saskatchewan — and had tragically been killed in 1987 in a collision not involving alcohol.
In 1989, SADD elected its first student President, Sheila Bazarckwiecz, and established a student Board of Directors, replacing the adult advisory board that had existed up to that time.
Bazarckwiecz established the SADD tradition — which became a SADD rule — that students, not adults, speak for SADD to the media and at public meetings. Student leadership has remained a defining aspect of SADD Saskatchewan ever since.
Sheila Bazarckwiecz established the tradition that students — not adults — speak for SADD to the media and at public events. This became a formal SADD rule and is enshrined in the SADD Saskatchewan Constitution today.
In 1990, SADD Saskatchewan took the initiative to hold the first Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving (CYAID) National Conference — right here in Regina.
The conference attracted over 800 delegates from every province and the Northwest Territories. It became an annual event, subsequently hosted in Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary, Fredericton, Kamloops, Ottawa, Yellowknife, and Edmonton.
None of those conferences, however, came close to the scale of the first Regina conference — or the 1996 National Conference held in Saskatoon, which attracted 1,100 delegates. Saskatchewan remains the only host province to have attracted delegates from every province and the Northwest Territories.
In 1990, SADD began the process of having members discuss and vote on changes to legislation to improve drinking and driving laws. After two years of discussion, the SADD Board of Directors released SADD's Legislative Agenda — considered a radical move at the time.
The Legislative Agenda proposed lowering the BAC level from .08 to zero over 20 years. It also proposed a probationary driver's licence, increased penalties, vehicle impoundment for suspended drivers, and administrative licence suspension for impaired drivers.
While SADD developed its legislative agenda, some safety officials pressured SADD to endorse graduated licencing and raising the legal drinking age to 21 — proposals that were overwhelmingly rejected by SADD members.
In 1993, the provincial government held public hearings on proposed changes to drinking and driving laws. SADD members were strongly represented and argued for laws that affected everyone equally — emphasizing a zero BAC should apply to all drivers, not just youth. Jason Dubois, SADD President in 1993, was the leading spokesperson and played a crucial role in convincing the government that changes were necessary.
In 1995, a second provincial committee toured Saskatchewan for public input. SADD members were well represented at every public meeting and made a significant impression on the politicians. The committee ultimately recognized that impairment starts with the first drink — and credited SADD for leading that initiative.
Based on the committee's recommendations, the Saskatchewan government introduced new legislation in 1996 that included:
The .04 BAC suspension threshold introduced in 1996 — championed by SADD Saskatchewan — made Saskatchewan the toughest province in Canada on impaired driving at the time. This was a direct result of years of student advocacy.
Originally managed by the Saskatchewan Safety Council, it was determined that it would be in SADD's best interest for growth and direction to become an autonomous organization. This change was supported by SGI.
On March 12, 1997, SADD became incorporated as an independent non-profit organization — Students Against Drinking and Driving Saskatchewan Incorporated — with Aaron Schroeder becoming the first President of the independent SADD.
The principle of students — not adults — carrying authority in the organization became entrenched in the SADD constitution, with numerous safeguards to prevent adults from overruling decisions made by the students.
The SADD Saskatchewan organization is unique in Canada because of the degree of control the participating youth possess. That founding principle remains at the core of everything we do today.
SADD Saskatchewan is unique among Canadian youth organizations for the degree of control its student members possess. Adults support and advise — but students govern, elect, and lead.
Robert Anastas founds Students Against Driving Drunk in Wayland, Massachusetts, following the deaths of two of his hockey players.
Guidance counselor Connie Peacock establishes the first Canadian SADD chapter in Cowansville, Quebec.
Bert Yakichuk, Principal of Sister McGuigan High School in Regina, establishes Saskatchewan's first chapter. By year-end: chapters in 6 Saskatchewan cities.
SADD Saskatchewan holds its inaugural provincial conference. 50 registered chapters by year-end.
SADD Saskatchewan becomes Students Against Drinking and Driving. Nicole Nakonechny's logo is adopted. Sheila Bazarckwiecz elected as first student President.
SADD Saskatchewan hosts the first Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving (CYAID) national conference — 800+ delegates from every province and territory.
SADD members debate and vote on proposed law changes, releasing SADD's Legislative Agenda calling for lower BAC limits and stronger impaired driving penalties.
SADD members appear at provincial government public hearings, led by President Jason Dubois, arguing for laws that apply equally to all drivers.
Saskatchewan introduces legislation lowering the BAC suspension threshold to .04 — the lowest in Canada — following years of SADD advocacy. All measures applied equally regardless of age.
SADD Saskatchewan hosts the 1996 CYAID national conference in Saskatoon — 1,100 delegates, the largest national conference ever held.
On March 12, 1997, SADD becomes Students Against Drinking and Driving Saskatchewan Incorporated — an independent non-profit with Aaron Schroeder as first President.
More than 250 Saskatchewan schools have established SADD chapters. Approximately 130 are active each year. The annual provincial conference continues. The mission remains the same.
SADD Saskatchewan's story is still being written — by students, in schools, across the province.
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