Update: David’s birthday wish came true, as he returned to Saskatchewan with hardware in hand. Team Saskatchewan brought home the bronze in the Floor Hockey Nationals at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024. David and his teammates finished third in the Wild-Rose Division, on the heels of Team Quebec and Team Ontario. “In talking to him, David was very…
Erika walks into her home at 2:40 p.m., on a Thursday afternoon. It isn’t her home she’s stepping into, but her second home- her work home, Dalla Vicenza. Erika says hi to house manager Mike and sits down with youth care leader Brody to go over the planning book and decide what activity (program) to do with the youth that night. It’s been decided, the kids will go for an evening…
Ranch Ehrlo has introduced a new, innovative crisis management tool to help improve safety at the Ranch. Ukeru, Japanese for “to receive,” is a crisis management approach that prioritizes comfort over control. It is not intended to replace any existing practices at the agency but rather to complement our CARE principles and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention techniques, further…
Ranch Ehrlo Society has long seen the impact that music has on the people who come to us for support. In 2011, we started more consistently incorporating music therapy with the participants in our Supported Living Program (SLP) which supports persons with differing abilities and youth in our Group Living Program. Thanks to a generous grant from the National Music Centre, Ranch Ehrlo has…
Damon working with children in Columbia Caseworker Damon Weigl brought something new to the Ranch to help youth that has its roots in Indigenous history – a sharing circle. As part of his master’s degree project, Damon convened a diverse group, including elders, knowledge keepers, elder helpers, and Métis leaders who represented all of the linguistic groups within the…
Colleen Smith knows a lot about numbers and surprisingly, a lot about baking. Recently the supervisor of accounting at Ranch Ehrlo used the latter skill to build relationships with participants over the holidays. Colleen, who has a pastry diploma on top of her accounting education, teamed up with Gopher House Supportive Living Program (SLP) participants including Raymond for Ranch…
Ranch Ehrlo Society continues to maintain the highest level of standards of care for the children, youth, adults, and families that we serve! Ranch Ehrlo has been reaccredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA) following a year review of the agency which culminated with a site visit in September 2023. COA is an international, non-profit human service accrediting organization…
At Ranch Ehrlo we have a compass that charts the course but also illuminates the path forward to help individuals and families achieve their full potential. This isn't a conventional map with geographical coordinates, but rather a blueprint that unfurls our collective vision and purpose. Our strategy map was first unveiled in 2020 after a robust strategic plan consultation process, looking…
Music connects us all and helps us to communicate no matter our abilities. Ranch Ehrlo Society provides music therapy for many of its participants including the youth and adults in the Supported Living Program (SLP) participants. Ranch Ehrlo’s SLP supports persons with differing abilities by providing group living, educational, and vocational programs to people with multiple, complex…
An artistic success once again, this year's 19th annual Art from the Heart celebration was held at Liski Gymnasium in Schaller Education Centre. For the past 19 years, Ranch Ehrlo participants from across the province have submitted their artwork for a chance to be featured in the annual Art from the Heart calendar. “I tell our winners, when your artwork is selected, you are…
The holiday season can bring unique challenges for some families, especially those participating in Ranch Ehrlo's family programs. Many of these families grapple with financial difficulties, leading to unmet expectations and disappointments for children. Parents, in turn, face increased stress and struggles during this festive time. Patti Petrucka, family program director commented,…
Ranch Ehrlo students are giving delight this holiday season. In a Ranch Ehrlo classroom in a public school, elves are busy making the season bright for younger students in a neighbouring deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) class. Billie Deschene, Ranch Ehrlo teacher, explained that both classes have the same number of students, so the DHH teacher approached Billie to discuss a collaboration.…
The Family Centred Addiction Program recently received a generous gift! Cirque du Soleil will be in Regina during the middle of December, and they have invited 25 Ranch Ehrlo participants to attend the opening night by providing free tickets! Josée Bergeron, a member of Cirque du Soleil’s community engagement program, said, “As our show Corteo will soon be visiting the…
Ranch Ehrlo is excited to partner with the National Music Centre (NMC) to give more participants and families the opportunity to grow and develop with the power of music therapy. Following a formal proposal, Ranch Ehrlo Society was recently chosen as one of four organizations in Saskatchewan to help expand the work of NMC and music therapy into the prairies. Thanks to a generous grant from the…
The Emergency Receiving program on the Buckland campus outside of Prince Albert will be on the move. Written by Sean Bader, Emergency Receiving program manager, with Barclay Batiuk, northern Group Living Services director, and Chris Shynkaruk, property management manager. Prince Albert’s Emergency Receiving (ER) program started in 2018 after the Ministry of Social Services (MSS)…
