In 1983, the students and staff of Yorkton Regional High School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan were invited to host the annual provincial student leadership conference of 1985. The Honorable Grant Devine challenged the Yorkton group to turn the 1985 provincial conference into a national conference as one of Saskatchewan’s contributions to the 1985 International Year of the Youth project.
The challenge was accepted and on September 18 -20, 1985, the first CSLC was held in Yorkton. Over 800 students and their advisors from across Canada and the United States (and even one delegate from Mexico) attended this conference, the theme of which was Youth of Today – Leaders of Tomorrow.
The Canadian Student Leadership Association (formerly the Canadian Association of Student Activity Advisors) has been addressing the leadership needs of high school students and student council advisors since 1985. For more information on the Canadian Student Leadership Association visit www.studentleadership.ca
CSLC: A Leadership Legacy
| 1985 | Youth Leadership in Action | Yorkton, SK |
| 1986 | Success through Involvement | Sherwood Park, AB |
| 1987 | Youth Leadership in Action | London, ON |
| 1988 | Youth Can Make a Difference | Lower Sackville, NS |
| 1989 | The Challenge of Leadership | Point Claire, QC |
| 1990 | Creating Tomorrow’s Needs by Leading Today | Burnaby, BC |
| 1991 | TNT: Tomorrow Needs Today | Brandon, MB |
| 1992 | The Future Starts Today | Kitchener, ON |
| 1993 | Youth Today Leading the Way | Bishop’s Falls, NL |
| 1994 | Tip Your Hats to Our Leaders | Yorkton, SK |
| 1995 | Set Sails for New Horizons | Bathurst, NS |
| 1996 | Leadership in Motion | Edmonton, AB |
| 1997 | Take Flight | Montreal, QC |
| 1998 | One Nation – One Dream | Kamloops, BC |
| 1999 | Making it Work! | Waterloo, ON |
| 2000 | Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow … Forever! | Winnipeg, MB |
| 2001 | Charting the Course: A Leadership Odyssey | Lower Sackville, NS |
| 2002 | SPIRIT: Students Putting Imagination, Resources, & Ideas Together | Saskatoon, SK |
| 2003 | Unlock the Future | St. John’s, NL |
| 2004 | A River Runs Through It | Abbotsford, BC |
| 2005 | Plant a New Seed | Lloydminister, AB |
| 2006 | Ordinary Youth Doing Extraordinary Things | Fredericton, NB |
| 2007 | LEAD ON: Lead with Enthusiasm, Activism, Diversity, and Optimism Now | London, ON |
| 2008 | It All Starts Here! | Summerside, PE |
| 2009 | Lead the Stampede | Cochrane and Olds, AB |
| 2010 | Big Top 2012: Canadian Youth Performing Above and Beyond | Pierrefonds, QC |
| 2011 | Newfound Energy | Corner Brook, NL |
| 2012 | Flat Out Leadership | Weyburn, SK |
| 2013 | Light the Way | Montague, PE |
| 2014 | Leadership Destination: Your Ticket to Inspiration | Kelowna, BC |
| 2015 | Leadership 360: When Giving is Receiving | Halifax, NS |
| 2016 | Natural Leader | Edmundston, NB |
| 2017 | Startup Leadership: Ignite Your Innovative Spirit | Waterloo, ON |