About Us
OSAID (Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving) is a registered Canadian charity that helps to empower youth to eliminate impaired driving. As a student-led, peer to peer program, it helps develop valuable future leadership skills in teenage volunteers. OSAID addresses an issue critical to us all, safety on our roads, while developing future leaders who will make lasting contributions.
OSAID volunteers gain invaluable life skills, grow and build confidence as they participate in networking, leadership and communication opportunities. Founded in 1987, OSAID has a strong history of high school students practicing responsible choices, during a time many are learning to drive and deal with a variety of issues related to social situations. These social situations, alcohol and drug use and the reliance on smartphones, are key dangers related to impaired and distracted driving and contribute to crashes, serious injuries and fatalities among young people and novice drivers. OSAID encourages youth to practice responsible choices and to never to drive while impaired. OSAID chapter members regularly hold awareness raising activities, and school events aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of driving while impaired or distracted driving.
Each year, OSAID groups and volunteers reache thousands of students and families with a positive message of "Safer Roads Safer Community" These groups are supported by adult teacher/mentor/allies, a youth advisory council as well as countless amazing youth volunteers. OSAID has graduated over ten thousand youth leaders who are now living their adult lives and not driving impaired.
Our History
In the early 1980’s the students’ fight against impaired driving began with a handful of dedicated students, police officers and teachers, and support from the Drinking and Driving Countermeasures Office of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
In 1989 the OSAID program began to grow with approximately fifty school OSAID groups, a Board of Director’s and Student Advisory Committee and a Provincial Coordinator. By the mid 1990's OSAID expanded to over five hundred OSAID chapters province-wide. OSAID credits its longevity to hosting a three day annual youth conference on road safety each year since 1987. Twenty eight provincial conference and five National Conference and over ten thousand road safety youth ambassadors attended these conferences over the many years.
Currently the OSAID office acts as a support hub for OSAID groups and activities providing support, resources and motivation to volunteers. OSAID’s goal is to keep youth motivated and engaged to the cause of raising awareness around the issues of impaired and distracted driving to their peers.
For more information about OSAID or our programs, please contact us at: info@osaid.ca