Among Ranch Ehrlo's first female staff
In the early years of Ranch Ehrlo, when its future was still being written one person and one program at a time, Sharon Richardson was someone willing to help pave the path forward, becoming one of the agency’s first female youth care workers.
Ranch Ehrlo’s story began in 1966 with a single home for six boys with complex needs on the Ehrle homestead in Pilot Butte. In those early years, the program was supported by founder Dr. Geoff Pawson and a small group of male staff. That landscape began to shift in 1973, when Sharon joined the agency, marking an important moment of change in Ranch Ehrlo’s evolving workforce.
At the time, Ranch Ehrlo Society was still very much in its infancy. Sharon worked alongside early leaders whose names remain deeply woven into the organization’s history, including Bob Ryan and Jim Ennis. Together, they were shaping the agency’s culture, values, and approach to care – laying foundations long before Ranch Ehrlo grew into the multi-service agency it is today.
“It was a really good time,” Sharon recalled from her home in High River. “It was a great learning experience for me.”
Sharon began her journey with the Ranch as a practicum student while completing her degree at the University of Regina. Like several of her peers, she was drawn to the work and the sense of purpose Ranch Ehrlo offered. That interest led her north to Chitek Lake, where she and a small group of students spent a summer building the cabin that would later support youth camping programs. She recalled the experience fondly, describing days filled with learning and laughter.
“We always said it was like the eighth wonder of the world because the four of us students knew zilch about building anything, but with the help of an architect, we built quite the cabin,” she said. “All the logs had been cut, and the kids would come up to help for a couple of weeks at a time and that’s how it all got started.”
Following her summer at Chitek and graduation in the spring of 1973, Sharon applied to become one of the first women youth care workers at Ranch Ehrlo. She joined the team, first working at Old Mitchell House, and later at programs in Regina’s northwest and on Froom Crescent.
“I worked out at the Ranch in the main house and one of my favourite memories from out there was working on a Sunday afternoon. All the boys were busy, doing their thing, and it was so loud. Geoff Pawson came out of his office as I was getting lunch ready and he said to me, ‘Can’t you hear that noise?’ I laughed and said, ‘What noise? Happy noise?’ They were boys being boys,” she laughed.
It was a simple exchange, but one that reflected a shared belief in creating spaces where youth could feel safe, joyful, and free to be children.
Throughout her years at the Ranch, Sharon said she always felt supported, and it was a job that never felt like work. She built meaningful, genuine relationships with both her colleagues and the children – so much so that she invited one youth to be part of her wedding party.
Looking back, she said it was those relationships that defined the most rewarding and enjoyable part of the job, along with seeing youth turn their lives around and experience a childhood that felt as “normal” as possible.
“I'm most proud of the fact that so many of the boys we helped during the time I was there went on to be successful in their own lives,” she said.
Sharon spent several years working directly with youth before moving on to roles at the YWCA and later with the federal government. She credits Ranch Ehrlo as the foundation of her career, an experience that taught her about human behaviour, communication, and collaboration across disciplines.
Now retired, Sharon continues to follow Ranch Ehrlo’s journey, watching its growth and evolution from afar. What resonates with her most is the agency’s ability to remain strong and true to its mission, maintaining a strong commitment to helping youth, families, and communities heal.
Today, hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds are building meaningful careers at Ranch Ehrlo. Like the Ranch’s own history, Sharon’s story is a reminder that growth is possible when individuals are willing to lead with heart, resilience, and dedication.