Celebrating 75 Years of CAA School Safety Patrol in Saskatchewan

For 75 years, the CAA School Safety Patrol® (SSP) has been a small but meaningful part of growing up in Saskatchewan. Since the program began in the province in 1951, generations of students have pulled on a patrol vest, stepped out into snowy mornings, windy afternoons and everything in between, and helped their classmates get to and from school safely. For many, those few minutes before and after the bell became something they carried with them long after they left the schoolyard.

Chances are, you know a former Patroller. It might be a coworker, a neighbour, a family member or someone you’ve known most of your life. They may still remember the pride that came with being trusted to help others. For many, being a Patroller was one of their first real responsibilities — a quiet lesson in showing up, paying attention and looking out for the people around them.

For Megan Cox, now a CAA Saskatchewan accounts payable administrator, those early memories still stand out. “Looking back, the thing that stuck with me the most was the sense of responsibility we were given at a young age,” she said.

Former Patroller Terri Oudot, now a CAA Saskatchewan insurance quality assurance and audit analyst, says that early commitment to safety stayed with her and, in many ways, still connects to the work she does today. “Both jobs are about helping people,” she said. “With safety patrollers, you’re helping keep people safe. With insurance, you’re trying to protect the most valuable things that clients have in their lives.”

This milestone is also a heartfelt thank you to the people who have helped keep the program strong through the years. We’re grateful to our community partners, including local police, the RCMP and school staff, who have supported Patrollers in more than 40 Saskatchewan communities. Their guidance has helped students build skills that last well beyond the school years — teamwork, confidence, communication and the simple but powerful habit of looking out for one another.