Ranch Ehrlo is celebrating 20 years of Art from the Heart.  

The 20^th anniversary Art from the Heart reception was held on December 18^th at Ranch Ehrlo’s Schaller Education Centre in Pilot Butte.

The venue was adorned with green and gold décor, and the room filled with special guests, staff members, board and senate members, and those at the very heart of the event – the youth.

Hayley Maurer, principal at Schaller school, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome and the land acknowledgement. 

“It’s hard to believe we have two decades of student art in this room,” she said Wednesday morning.

 Before unveiling the calendars and introducing the young artists, Hayley thanked Carrie Polanski and her shop class for baking the dainties, Kirsten Endicott for “saving everything literally”, Dustin Ritter for supplying background music, and Kendra Delmas, Corinna Hayden-Fidler, and all the Schaller staff who helped organize the event.

CEO Natalie Huber followed with her address, reflecting on the anniversary and the lasting impact that Art from the Heart continues to have within the agency and in the community.

“It’s an honour to have you with us today as we come together to celebrate the incredible talent, creativity, and resilience that have been the cornerstone of this event for the past 20 years,” she told the crowd. “Over the past 20 years, Art from the Heart has grown into a vibrant platform for self-expression and healing.” 

Each year, participants from across the province submit their artwork for a chance to be featured in Ranch Ehrlo’s annual Art from the Heart calendar. This year, there were 140 artwork submissions, with only 17 pieces selected for publication.  

The Art from the Heart reception is an opportunity to unveil the calendar and for the young artists to be celebrated – to share their inspiration, and most importantly, to sign their artwork and claim it as their own.

In addition to the wall calendar this year, two keychain designs were produced, and a special coffee table book was unveiled. The coffee table book contains a collection of artworks spanning 20 years of the calendar’s history, serving as a keepsake and a special gift for staff, stakeholders, and members of the community.  

“This event is a celebration of creativity, community, and the profound impact that art has in telling the stories of our participants,” said Natalie. “It’s truly an honour to reflect on the incredible progress we’ve made and to celebrate 20 years’ worth of impactful artwork.”