For this Faces of the Ranch feature, we’ll rewind the clock to 1984. A bright-eyed young woman named Shelley Sayer arrived at Ranch Ehrlo, full of gusto and gumption, ready to lead recreational programming for youth.

It didn’t take long for her to realize the job was something else entirely.

On her first day of work as a youth care worker, the reality of the role came into focus. It wasn’t just recreation. It was being an emotional supporter, a cheerleader, a caregiver – a lifeline for kids searching for connection, community, and a healthier path forward.

She fell in love with the work quickly.

Shelley grew into her role, moving from youth care worker to youth care leader, spending a short time as a house parent, and eventually stepping into a program management position – all within six years, while starting a family of her own.

In 2001, she completed her social work degree and finished a practicum at Ehrlo Housing. It was there that she found a deep connection to community service, one that would stay with her for the next 24 years.

Today, as director of Ehrlo Housing, her work extends far beyond placing tenants in apartments. It’s about helping build community, creating connections, leading with empathy, and being someone who supports families when they need it most.

“It really does take a village to raise a child and to be a good parent,” she shared.

Shelley’s deep compassion for her work took root years ago during an intake meeting. Sitting with a child’s family, she witnessed a moment of raw honesty as the parents shared their own challenges and the trauma they carried from their experiences as residential school survivors.

“They talked about their pain and how they struggled raising their own kids because they didn’t know how; they had never been taught. They felt so much guilt and shame for having to leave their own child at the Ranch,” she said, her voice breaking as she fought back tears. “It was that moment I knew I had to do everything I could to include family and keep kids connected to their communities.”

In that moment, her “why” came into focus.

“It changed the way I worked. It really impacted me and has sat with me throughout my whole career.”

When Shelley joined the agency at 21, she knew very little about the world or her place in it. Through the relationships she built and the experiences she had at Ranch Ehrlo, she grew into the person she is today.

“It becomes personal, this work. It shapes who you are as a human being.”

It’s that transformation, in her own life and the ones she’s helped shape, that has kept her working at the Ranch for more than four decades.

Because for Shelley, this was never just a job. It was a belief in the mission.

“I am so committed to (founder) Dr. Geoff Pawson’s vision and philosophy. It is the reason I try to do my best work every day. Some days are very hard, but I stick to it because everybody needs somebody.”

Ehrlo Housing was established in 1995 and acquired its first property, Lakeshore Village, in 1997.

“Ranch Ehrlo was approached by the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to discuss the possibility of assuming the mortgage on a four-building apartment complex in south Regina that had run into financial difficulties, “ Dr. Geoff Pawson detailed in his book, Go Forward with Pride. “The administrative personnel at the Ranch were excited about the project, as they saw an opportunity to develop another part of the preventative continuum – affordable housing.”

Ehrlo Housing continues to be a leader in the affordable housing sector in the province today and manages Lakeshore Village, Chaz Court, and McEwen Manor in Regina.