Founder & history
Geoff Pawson
Dr. Geoff Pawson (pictured left) was the founder of the Ranch Ehrlo Society in 1966, taking it from a single residential unit for six troubled boys, to a multi-service agency providing highly specialized programs for youth, families and communities.
Today the Ranch has over 700 employees and operates over 40 residential programs, two schools, two colleges, five community-based programs, and three family treatment programs on its three campuses across Saskatchewan. The Ranch also operates one of the largest residential treatment programs for persons with developmental disabilities.
Geoff was one of the founding members of the Child Welfare League of Canada, Past President of the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers and has served on numerous committees at the local, provincial, national and international levels. He co-wrote and edited the book Go Forward with Pride: A Historical Review of the Ranch Ehrlo Society.
In 2000, Geoff was named to the Order of Canada, in 2001 he received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, in 2003 he was awarded the Family Service Canada Award and in 2005 he received an Honourary Doctorate of Law from the University of Regina—all these awards were in recognition of Geoff’s many years of commitment to helping youth and their families become healthier and contributing members of society.
Marion MacIver
Geoff, passed away in January 2012 after a brief battle with cancer but his passion for helping young people, families and the community continues on. Dr. Marion MacIver has assumed the responsibilities of president and CEO of Ranch Ehrlo Society.
Marion has had a long history with the Ranch. She was a member of the Ranch Ehrlo board of directors from 1995 until 2000. During her career as an educator, the majority spent in the Regina Public School Division, Marion had Ranch youth in her class and was the principal of Wetmore School which housed an on-site Ranch Ehrlo classroom.
In 2003, Marion was hired as the Ranch’s Director of Education and the Principal of Schaller Education Centre. She assumed the role of Executive Vice-President in the fall of 2007.
Marion is also a member of the board of directors for the Child Welfare League of Canada and has presented at several international conferences, most recently the International Forum on Child Welfare in Melbourne, Australia and Child Welfare League of America in Washington.
