History of the Association
In 1983, the students and staff of the Yorkton (in Saskatchewan, Canada) Regional High School was invited to host the annual provincial leadership conference of 1985. A year later the Premier of Saskatchewan, the Hon. Grant Devine, challenged the Yorkton students to turn the 1985 provincial conference into a national conference. This would be one of Saskatchewan's contributions to the 1985 International Year of the Youth project.
The challenge was accepted by the students and staff of Yorkton Regional High School and the 1985 conference was held on September 18, 19, and 20 in Yorkton. Over eight hundred students and student advisors attended this conference which had for its theme YOUTH OF TODAY—LEADERS OF TOMORROW. Not only did the people come from all across Canada, but there were strong delegations from five states south of the boarder and one delegate from Mexico City. Among the keynote speakers were Mark Scharenbroich, Pamela Wallin, Laurie Skreslet, Jack Donahue and a host of others from within and outside Canada. The Canadian Association of Student Activity Advisors has been addressing the leadership needs of high school students and student council advisors since 1985.
The advisors at the Yorkton conference voted unanimously to support the idea of an annual leadership conference across the nation. Provinces and Northwest Territory/Yukon would be invited to host these conferences. Through the interest, effort, and commitment of these advisors, the Canadian Association of Student Government Advisors was born.
The second annual conference was hosted by Salisbury Composite High School, Sherwood Park, Alberta in August 1986. The theme of the conference was LEADERSHIP '86: SUCCESS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT. It was well-attended by delegates from coast to coast and the then Territories. The advisors worked on developing a constitution and they elected the first executive of the Association. There has been more information about the Canadian Student Leadership Conference is available.
In 1990, at the Burnaby Conference, the name of the organization was changed to the Canadian Association of Student Activity Advisors to reflect most accurately the membership of the organization. Not all members are student council advisors; on the contrary, many are responsible for overseeing other student activities in their schools.
In the first decade, the Association saw the creation of provincial student leadership organizations with similar goals and objectives as that of the national organization. In most of our provinces and in The Yukon and The Northwest Territories, annual student leadership conferences are being held.
In recent years, we have also witnessed the number of schools developing and offering leadership courses (credit and non-credit) to high school students. These courses have helped individual participants to become more knowledgeable and stronger in providing leadership in their respective schools. Both the national and provincial organizations have helped, and continue to help, to equip individual student leaders with the necessary tools to enable them to be effective leaders.
The association also provides help for those counsellors who are seeking assistance, ideas, and the like so that they can become more effective in their responsibilities. One of the programs that has been developed in some provinces is the weekend drive-in conferences for advisors. This brings together counsellors from across the province to come together for a weekend to share and learn about student leadership.