Our archives are full of content created by former staff – pictures snapped, interviews done, notes taken. It’s a great way to look back at the past.

But sometimes we get a special treat and come across things created by our former clients. Recently former staff member Helen Finucane gifted us with the Ehrlo Express, a 59-page booklet filled with everything from original drawings, to album reviews, to interviews with staff and other youth, all created by the youth of Kruzinenski House in 1990.

It’s a blast from the past, featuring some staff who still work here today!

This week, we’re looking back at an interview with the founder of Ranch Ehrlo, Geoff Pawson, found within the pages of the Ehrlo Express.

Question: Why did you start this program?

Answer: In 1966, there were only two types of programs in Saskatchewan. There was foster care and there was the Saskatchewan Boy’s School, now the Dojak Centre. There was a great need to have a program that we could operate that worked with youth, that didn’t lock them up, that provided some guidance and direction for young people – and that’s why we got started.

Question: What did you have to do to get this program started?

Answer: Probably the most difficult part of getting started was to find the right property. We knew that we wanted a rural environment. We wanted an environment where the kids could have fun, but also have access to the city, after looking all around the city, we finally came out and located the Cliff Ehrle property located here at Pilot Butte.

Did you know? Ranch Ehrlo is named for the original owners of the property where our Pilot Butte campus now sits, Cliff and Julia Ehrle. Since being established in 1966, we have added two additional campuses in Corman Park and just outside of Prince Albert, as well as group homes within the cities of Regina and Prince Albert?