Today

SGAIA is an autonomous, non-profit, voluntary trade association dedicated to promoting the best interests of the printing and allied industries in Saskatchewan and inproving management skills for members of the Association. The SGAIA is comprised of Saskatoon and Regina Chapters.

The provincial association is governed be a Board of Directors. Directors are elected by the membership from among the most progressive firms in the industry, each year at our annual meeting. The two chapter offices also elect their executive each year.

Yesterday

The first meeting of the Saskatoon Employing Printers Association was held in the King George Hotel on June 8, 1955. Issues of general concern at that time were, allocation of federal printing to Saskatoon printers, stock pricing and purchasing, and the use of the Franklin Printing catalog.

The Employing Printers Association of Regina were holding their own meetings at the same time. The positive merits of amalgamation between the two organizations became apparent, and in late 1960, the Saskatchewan Graphic Arts Association came into being, with Saskatoon and Regina as branches. The presidency would alternate annually, as would the location of the annual meeting. As Regina held membership in the national association, it was agreed that the new provincial association would become a member.

The two branches continued a policy of individually developing programs of local nature, while joining forces under the umbrella of the provincial association to deal with situations of provincial or national concern. While technology has expanded leaps and bounds since the early 60's, areas of concern for printers have changed little since the formation of the provincial association. Topics such as worker's compensation rates, in-house printing plants (governments and private industries), government allocation of printing, E&H tax on equipment, etc., were as prominent back then as they are today.