Born in Calgary on February 22, 1938, Geoffrey Pawson attended the Universities of Alberta and British Columbia. He earned his doctorate in social work at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, and in 1966 founded Ranch Ehrlo Society in Regina. Pawson then headed the society, which continues to provide residential treatment for youth battling drug addiction, alcoholism, and social problems. In addition to “The Ranch,” Pawson created other community programs such as Ehrlo Community Services and the Child Welfare League of Canada. A recipient of distinguished service awards from the Canadian and Saskatchewan Associations of Social Workers, Pawson was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2000 and awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2001. In 2005, he was granted an honorary doctor of laws from the University of Regina. Pawson died January 30, 2012, in Tucson, Arizona, following a brief battle with cancer.
Canadian Plains Research Center