Prevention Post for November 2025
Executive Director’s Letter
Bridging Research and Action: The History of the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
Founded on a vision of healthier futures for Saskatchewan’s children, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute (Prevention Institute) emerged from a passionate group of parents, medical professionals, and academics in the 1970s. These pioneers, many of whom had children with preventable disabilities, recognized a critical gap between research and frontline services. Their goal: to create an organization that would empower families and communities with evidence-based knowledge to prevent childhood disabilities.
Between 1974 and 1979, the Saskatoon Branch of the Saskatchewan Association for the Mentally Retarded (now Inclusion Saskatchewan) formed a Prevention Committee. This committee, in partnership with the Kinsmen Foundation, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the University of Saskatchewan, laid the groundwork for what would become the Prevention Institute. In 1980, their efforts culminated in the incorporation of the Saskatchewan Institute for the Prevention of Handicaps (now Saskatchewan Prevention Institute).
The Prevention Institute’s founding principles remain steadfast: support prevention efforts, train professionals, raise public awareness, facilitate research, coordinate province-wide services, and evaluate prevention activities. Its collaborative model ensures resources are used efficiently, avoiding duplication and maximizing impact.
Today, the Prevention Institute continues to honor its roots while evolving to meet modern challenges. With a commitment to equity, community engagement, and evidence-based practice, the Prevention Institute remains a beacon of hope and health for Saskatchewan’s children and families.
Working Together Toward Prevention
Across Saskatchewan, prevention begins with connection—with families, communities, and professionals who are committed to creating safer, healthier environments for children, youth, caregivers, families, and pregnant individuals.
Whether we are supporting service providers, promoting primary prevention messages, or advancing trauma-informed practice, each initiative contributes to a broader goal: reducing harm before it happens, responding with compassion when it does, and building resilience across generations.
We want to engage with you. The following program updates offer ways in which you can access information, join networking opportunities, and participate in learning events.
