Programs
Social Venture Institute – Virtual 2025
With Hollyhock Leadership Institute and Vanessa Richards
Together: A Gathering for Facilitators (Vancouver)
With Khari Wendell McClelland
Skillful facilitation has the capacity to transform spaces and communities. There's a special kind of power that is felt when people come together in circle, to speak truth, and to practice better ways of being in dialogue. Building on the success of its inaugural offering, Hollyhock Leadership Institute, in partnership with the SFU Wosk Centre […]
Social Venture Institute – Sea to Sky 2025
With Hollyhock Leadership Institute
Partnering with Compassionate Spirits: An Introduction to Your Medicine Council
With Julie Kramer
For millennia, people worldwide have used singing, dancing, drumming, whistling and rattling to generate natural trance states in order to journey into the invisible realms and form alliances with benevolent helping spirits. Whether we’re aware of them or not, we all have compassionate helping spirits who are devoted to our well-being, potentiation, and evolution. The […]
Helping the Helpers: Social Justice, Restoration and Hope for Those Who Give
With Sarah Delroy and Zahura Ahmed
Restoration for those who generously give: Rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit through somatic exercises and nature connection practices. As generous souls, we often carry the weight of the world’s suffering, grappling with how to engage in the right ways without becoming overwhelmed. The desire to make a difference can feel urgent, even when we’re […]
Collective Reset: A Leadership Retreat
With Janet Moore and Adrian Sinclair
Join a group of leaders in social, political, environmental, and educational impact organizations for a 5-day retreat. We are co-imagining what it means to collectively reset our nervous systems and meet others building businesses and fostering movements in the systems-change sector. The purpose is simple: engaging fully with our own personal/embodied “system” and resetting and recharging […]
Watercolour and the Art of Seeing
With David McEown
Explore watercolour’s magical flowing spontaneity and essential techniques as you paint directly from nature. Enhance your perception, way of “seeing”, and connectedness to the earth with this travel-friendly medium. Enjoy a dynamic watercolour demonstration; exploring paint as a form of meditation and play. Uncover the secret hydrodynamics of watercolour paint and the brush work manipulation […]
From Age-ing to Sage-ing®: Deepening the Sage Within
With Annie Klein
A great gift of our older years is the potential for deepening wisdom and expanding possibilities. As more and more of us are living longer, we want these extra years to be vibrant, inspiring and fulfilling. This program will help you discover what gives your life meaning as you age. An intimate gathering where we […]
Ebb & Flow: Kayaking & Yoga Practice (May)
With Kai Harvey and Jasmine Hillier
Immerse yourself in the rhythms of the natural world and the ebb and flow of the Salish Sea. Hollyhock, located on the southern coastline of Cortes Island (on the unceded land of the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla’amin), and ʔop qaymɩxʷ (Homalco) Nations) is an ideal basecamp and launch point for kayaking adventures. Against […]
Tending The Fire Within: A Creative Journaling Journey
With Jenn Forgie
"I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back..." - Oriah Mountain Dreamer, "The Invitation" Tending the Fire Within invites you to awaken the sparks […]
Sketch by Sketch: connecting with the world through drawing
With Emma FitzGerald
Learn to sketch without fear of making mistakes! Join celebrated author/illustrator, Emma FitzGerald as she leads participants through a series of exercises that build confidence and improves observation skills, while allowing for the happy accidents that make a drawing that speaks from the heart. Using pen and watercolour paint, and working both together and independently […]
Write from Your Heart
With Susan Musgrave
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional” - attributed to the Dalai Lama. It is hard work, when we are grieving, not to suffer; suffering — personal and universal — has become a condition of how we live. Writing, especially poetry, fiction, journaling and memoir, has always been a place where we can count on being […]
A Financial Therapy Retreat with Bari Tessler and Danielle Cohen
With Bari Tessler and Danielle Cohen
Money is far more than numbers in accounts or symbols of status—it's one of our most intimate daily companions. For some of us, it's a constant whisper in our minds; for others, it lingers in the background until suddenly demanding our attention. It's there as we pause before initiating a delicate money conversation with a […]
The Heart of Communicating
With Farah Nazarali
The Heart of Communicating masterfully weaves together polyvagal theory, conflict resolution, nonviolent communication, yogic practices and Eastern wisdom. This is an innovative, experiential and holistic course in a new way of communicating and relating using somatic intelligence as the foundation for how we engage and interact with others. Explore the deeper layers of communication- our […]
Climate Readers' Retreat with Guest Author John Vaillant
With John Vaillant, Zoe Grams and Ian Gill
Our world needs scalable, systemic change, and now. But most of us don’t have the time and space in our daily lives to deeply reflect on what our contribution to solving the climate crisis might be. The Climate Readers’ Retreat is an opportunity for people with a passion for climate and democracy to work through […]
Peace in Action: Transform Overwhelm into Focus, Clarity, and High Performance
With Amrita Ahuja
Do you need to get a lot done but don’t want all the stress? Read on. We have a problem - our hustle-and-grind culture pushes professionals with demanding schedules and goals to get things done but leaves them feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and burnt out. Groundwork shows you another way. In this transformative retreat, you’ll learn […]
Writing The Great Turning: Climate Writing
With Jess Serrante and Zoe Young
Discover your path to climate action with creative writing and deep emotional learning. The climate crisis affects all of us, but showing up to this fight will mean healing ourselves as much as it means healing the planet. Creative writing is a powerful tool for looking our grief in the face while allowing us to […]
Finding Clarity & Joy in Times of Change: A Life Balance Retreat
With Celeste Young
How well we navigate changes and transitions has a direct impact on the degree of well-being, meaning, and satisfaction we experience in our daily lives. If you’re considering a big change, find yourself in the midst of one now, or are still feeling the effects of past changes, this unique retreat offers you the personal […]
Skymind: Sacred Land, Sacred View
With Lopöns Pieter Oosthuizen and Charlotte Rotterdam
"Anyone who is interested in learning how to practice open awareness has come to the right place." -Skymind Participant Immerse yourself in the profound nature of mind teachings of Buddhism, with transformational practices inspired by the great 11th century Tibetan yogini Machig Labdrön. Relaxing your body onto the earth, gazing into the vast expanse of […]
Deepening Tranquility and Insight: A Silent Meditation Retreat
With Celeste Young
During this silent meditation retreat, we will focus on practices that calm the mind and awaken the heart to support the deepening of insight and inner freedom. “One can’t gain profound insight without profound calm.” -Ayya Khema A silent meditation retreat offers us the unique conditions to allow the mind and heart to settle more […]
Resonance: A Deep Listening, Somatic Retreat
With Charlie Gates and Kiko Pace
Join Charlie and Kiko for an offering of Deep Listening and feeling as we gather in the belly of Spring on Cortes Island. From sound baths, reflective journaling, meditative movement practices, and Somatic Dreaming® - we venture to explore and expand our relationship to ways of listening, receiving, and generating creative awe. During our time […]
Activate: Digital Leadership 2025
With Hollyhock Leadership Institute and Khari Wendell McClelland
Places, Sounds, Portals, Worlds: A Soundscape Ecology Immersion
With Rebecca Bruton and Edzi’u
Open new portals to creativity and collaboration amidst the planetary spheres of sound, music, and landscape. In this interdisciplinary eco-arts residency, participants will be introduced to conceptual ideas about collaborating ethically with landscapes and soundscapes, and learn a variety of approaches for generating sound, music, text, and performance compositions with/in the local Cortes Island surroundings. […]
Dance of Connection
With Bettina Rothe
Come home to yourself, find connection and nourishment in community, and with the land. Together we take refuge in our primary language "rhythm", and find belonging in the dance. Expand your repertoire of how you can connect with others on the dance floor and in life. Release old patterns of relating that no longer serve […]
Love Actually: Learning to Balance Power and Love
With Deepa Narayan, Eric Mulholland and Peggy Taylor
Hollyhock’s core purpose, since its origin, has been inner transformation for outer change in community with others. A place for body, mind and spirit renewal. This workshop draws from mystics, philosophers, neuroscience, psychology and community arts practices to explore the ideas of power and love as the foundational drives of human beings. Power without love […]
Mindful Self-Compassion
With Megan Prager and Martin Thomson-Jones, PhD
Application is required before registering. You may apply here. This 5-day residential program is an intensive form of the internationally recognized, eight-session Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training developed by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. It is open to laypeople and professionals alike. Participants will learn to: understand the science of self-compassion, practice self-compassion in daily life, […]
Qi Medicine: A Silent Qigong and Tea Ceremony Retreat
With Stephanie Nosco and Catherine (Cat) Reynolds
Experience the medicine of qigong, tea, and nature on this transformative inner journey back to yourself. Join Qigong teacher, author, and psychotherapist Stephanie Nosco, alongside tea ceremonialist Catherine Reynolds, for this special silent retreat that will explore the art of Qigong and the mindful practice of tea ceremony. We will practice in social silence, encouraging […]
Unwind: Yamuna Body Rolling & Essential Somatics
With Namchi Bazar
Release pain and restrictions for a total body awakening and rejuvenation. Explore two complementary modalities to support your journey of self-discovery and self-healing. Let go of unproductive holding patterns as you develop effective body-wellness routines that are easy to incorporate into your home practice. Focus on foundational movements that help you exercise without pain and […]
Coastal Foraging Adventure
With Robin Kort
Forage for wild food and cook with professional forager, cookbook author and sommelier Chef Robin Kort of Swallow Tail Culinary Adventures. Connect to the food of the coastal ecosystem on Cortes Island from forest to sea. Foraging at the sea tunes your senses to the ebb and flow of the tides, teaching us to time […]
Wild Soma Being and Becoming: Embodied Practices for Collective Thriving
With Andrea Nann, Julia Aplin, Roula Said and Shannon Litzenberger
In this time of intersecting social, political, and planetary crises, how do we embrace and honour all that is arising in us as bodies? What if we listen closely to what we feel in our hearts, what we know in our bones? Can we resonate care and connection across our differences, tuning into our sense […]
Raise Your Vibe With Reiki: Levels 1 & 2
With Fleur Choy
Awaken your healing powers and expose your light to the world. If you have felt sensitive your entire life and feel ready to fully embrace your gifts, or if you are already a healing practitioner and are seeking to diversify and establish yourself as a multidimensional healer, this training is for you. We also welcome […]
Contemplative Mind, Spontaneous Brush: Ink, Colour and Japanese Washi Papers
With Heather Midori Yamada
Relax body, breath and mind with short guided meditations and simple perceptual exercises. Follow brushwork demonstrations using Japanese sumi ink and watercolour on various Japanese washi papers (provided). Inspired by the natural beauty of Cortes Island, we will explore mixed media approaches of layering, tearing and collaging. Deep intuitive and directed studies lead to personal […]
Shakti is Nature: How to Listen for the Divine Mother
With Raja Choudhury
One of the key teachings of Sri Vidya Tantra or Shaktism is that the Divine Mother, in whose womb we exist and who acts through us, speaks to us all the time, whispering in our ears through plants, animals, the water, the air and through all the people we meet. It is we who have forgotten […]
Being Human Takes Practice
With Jeff Warren
Join writer and meditation teacher Jeff Warren for a journey through the core skills of meditation practice and what they have to teach us about being human. These skills lie at the headwaters of mental and emotional and spiritual health. Through a mix of guided, seated and movement meditation, nature practice, small group sharing and […]
Dancing from the Inside Out
With Margie Gillis
Move into your body’s experiential wisdom and reveal the soul in motion. Refine your sensitivity to the connection between thought, feeling, spirit and body as you listen in to your body’s inner wisdom, impulses, conversations and emotions. Becoming sensitive to and engaging with this inner life provides information both for expanding well-being, as well as […]
Singing in the Vocal River
With Rhiannon
Hear your own song and learn new ones as you find your place in the world of music and invention. Co-create vocal magic in a safe, dynamic circle of singers, delving into the possibilities of spontaneous composition and the language of storytelling. Working alone, in pairs, and in ensemble, meld intuition and invention with skill […]
Ebb & Flow: Kayaking & Yoga Practice (July)
With Kai Harvey and Jasmine Hillier
Immerse yourself in the rhythms of the natural world and the ebb and flow of the Salish Sea. Hollyhock, located on the southern coastline of Cortes Island (on the unceded land of the toq qaymɩxʷ (Klahoose), ɬəʔamɛn qaymɩxʷ (Tla’amin), and ʔop qaymɩxʷ (Homalco) Nations) is an ideal basecamp and launch point for kayaking adventures. Against […]
Pwātamowin - the act of dreaming - A Yogic retreat
With Malina Dawn
Pwātamowin is a Cree word meaning “the act of dreaming.” But this is not the kind of dreaming you do when you sleep; it is akin to catching visions. This planet needs more healed people and a big part of that process is us being able to catch a beautiful and powerful healing vision for […]
Slow Art, Somatic Practice, and Creative Rest
With Shauna Kaendo, Registered Art Therapist | BFA, RCAT and Trudi Smith, Registered Clinical Counsellor | MC, MA, PhD
Being in conversation with art, process, and our bodies. In this therapeutic arts program, we offer a blend of creative care practices…getting curious about what that can look and feel like, both individually and in community. Through creative meanderings with solo and collective art-making processes like bilateral drawing, stick brush making, sculptural wrapping, watercolour and […]
Radical Dharma: Conversation
With Rev. angel Kyodo williams Roshi
It’s time to create the conditions that reimagine a path of healing, reconnect with authentic community, and manifest true justice. Radical dharma (“complete truth”) is a way to enter the critical conversation about how the legacy of racial injustice and white supremacy plays out and prevents our collective awakening. We can only accomplish shifts in […]
Four Agreements for a Better Life
With don Jose Ruiz and don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
"Everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is […]
Discover Cortes: Adventures in Nature (July)
With Bill Ophoff
The natural world is your classroom as you hike, kayak, and sail amid the wild beauty of Cortes Island. Discover the flora and fauna of both land and sea along with local history and geological phenomena as you adventure forth with Hollyhock's knowledgeable, fun-loving naturalist. Explore ancient forests, sandy beaches, colourful tide pools, windswept bluffs, […]
Nature Paints Itself
With Jeremy Herndl
What if the world created us humans to speak its names, sing its rivers and winds? What if nature paints itself, using our deft human hands and the tactility of sight to emulate its textures, colours and spaces? In this workshop we shall enter the space of nature, the garden, forest and ocean and paint […]
Between the Human Animal & the Animate Earth
With David Abram
How can we open a fresh and unshakeable solidarity between ourselves and the other animals, plants, and elemental forces that compose this breathing biosphere? The deepening contortions of climate change – intensifying droughts, monster floods, flaring wildfires and heart-wrenching geopolitical cataclysms – all ensure that our species is tumbling toward a sea change of immense […]
Locus Amoenus: Exploring Organic and Artificial Systems in Art
With Rebecca Brewer and Veit Laurent Kurz
Together we navigate an urgent inquiry and reflect on dynamic processes of renewal and the power of generative frameworks in the organic and digital realm: How can we, as physical beings in an increasingly digital world, reclaim the intimate, tactile gestures of our hands? Can we react to the vast, almost cosmic scale of artificial […]
Meditation in Action: Becoming One with the Spirit of the Drum
With Gordy Onayemi Ryan and Zoë Ryan
Activate the Fire in your hands, the Beat in your feet, and the Song in your Heart on this soulful journey in Rhythm in the iconic Olatunji Hall. Drum, dance and sing to increase the flow of vital energy in your body and open your ears to the beauty of rhythms and songs from many […]
Science, Art, Sound & the Sacred
With Merlin Sheldrake and Cosmo Sheldrake
Explore the entanglements between science, art, sound, and the sacred in a beautiful, wild setting. What we call art and science both arise from our faculties of imagination, wonder, and curiosity. We will spend part of our time outdoors – in gardens, on seashores and in forests – connecting with the more-than-human world and bringing […]
In These Bodies, On These Lands: Iyengar Yoga and art-making
With Jennifer Van de Pol
Learn Iyengar Yoga posture and breathing practices to support, enliven, and uplift your creative practice/s. Experience ways to integrate journaling/writing, drawing, and intuitive painting with movement (Asana) and breath (Pranayama) rooted in this Yoga tradition. Try out various approaches to making and moving in an encouraging, nourishing environment. As a professional artist, Jennifer’s drawings, performances, […]
Nature & Nurture Yoga: Embracing Abundance
With Fiji McAlpine
Embrace the abundance of August in the Pacific Northwest on spectacular Cortes Island. Summer is the season to savour the fruits of the year's growth. The warm air is thick with the smell of sweet berries, and the forests are vibrant and lush. Each day you will be nourished with exquisite food, invigorated by dynamic […]
Tantra: Freedom, Embodiment, and Transformation
With Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Keith Cantú
Have you ever dived into the ocean of Tantra? Have you experienced the weaving of the world? Join scholar-practitioners Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Keith Edward Cantú as we explore Tantric practices and perspectives on topics like freedom from external interference and self-sovereignty (Sanskrit svādhikāra), the link between physical and so-called “subtle bodies,” and the creation of […]
Dzogchen: The Three Statements that Strike the Crucial Point
With Lama Tsultrim Allione
“I gained so much for my meditation practice and feel so supported and somehow I feel different in the world since then. What I experienced cannot be put into words.” - past participant The Three Statements were the final teaching of Garab Dorje, after he passed away, when he appeared in the rainbow body to […]
2025 Canadian Psychedelic Summit
With Hollyhock Leadership Institute and Kim Haxton
Register for the 2025 Canadian Psychedelic Summit! What to Expect Led by facilitator and ceremonial practitioner Kim Haxton, our time together will center the embodied knowledge of Indigenous peoples, creating space for ceremony, storytelling, and connection with ourselves, one another, and the natural world. With these foundations in place, we will lean into tough conversations […]
Whole Human Health
With Lawrence Cheng, MD, CCFP(EM), MPH and Devon Christie, MD, CCFP, RTC
The Whole Human Health Retreat is a transformative five-day journey into the science and art of optimizing well-being at every level—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Guided by Dr. Lawrence Cheng and Dr. Devon Christie, this immersive program integrates functional medicine, mind-body practices, and cutting-edge approaches like precision medicine to empower you with the tools to […]
Connecting to Source: Yoga, Meditation, Ritual
With Mara Branscombe
Since ancient times, the human collective has aligned with the seasons, the elements, the rhythms of the sun, the moon, and the earth as a way to source pure energy and connect to one’s inner compass. The mind-body science of yoga, combined with the practice of meditation, breath-work, and the alchemy of earth based rituals […]
Authenticity in an Artificial World: Mindfulness, Emotion, and Meaning
With Dave Smith
As we become endlessly distracted by the artificial, the search for authenticity becomes vital. Contentment, meaning, and purpose have become fleeting ideas of a world forgotten. It does not have to be this way. The world-over is saturated with contemplative practices, structures of philosophy, and therapeutic methods that can point us directly towards personal transformation. […]
Harmony Within: A Journey of Songwriting and Reconnection
With Leah Abramson and Samantha Parton
Songwriting is a powerful tool for self-expression and connection with our deepest thoughts and feelings. The Harmony Within workshop explores songwriting as a medium, a practice, and a journey through which we can reconnect with our creative source, our vulnerability, and our inner wisdom, harnessing the healing power of music to illuminate, transform, and transcend […]
SoulCollage®: An Enchanting Path to Inner Wisdom & Creativity
With Kimberly Lee, J.D.
Embark on an enlightening journey of self-discovery, guided by the power of your own intuition and creativity. In this immersive workshop, you’ll discover your own inner wisdom through the unique, inspiring SoulCollage® method. This fun personal practice harnesses the magic of images, intuition, and imagination to create simple collages that represent facets of your unique […]
The Art of Leadership
With Suzanne Hawkes and Michael Bell
Participation is by application. Click here to apply! Are you committed to making a difference in the world? In social change, socially responsible business, education, politics or community service? Learn to inspire, engage and collaborate with others in effective action to broaden the impact of your work together. Come participate in an intensive process of […]
Nourished Woman Goddess Retreat
With Abneet Kaur Sandhar
Aligned. Knowing. Full Bloom Radiance. Clear. Shining. Grounded. These qualities all exist within us, yet for so many women, we feel depleted and defeated. Our attention is being pulled in many different directions, with a low-grade fever of constant overwhelm. We may feel racked with guilt, shame, and comparison, constantly feeling we don't 'measure up'. […]
Psoma: Discover When the Body Says Yes
With Donna Martin & Shelley Winton
What if we can learn to accompany someone on their healing journey without any suggestion of something wrong, something to fix? How can we recognize healing as an inside job - the unfolding of our intrinsic and natural wholeness? How can we learn to be the kind of presence that is itself a powerful healing […]
Essential Somatics: Free Your Movement!
With Martha Peterson
If you have “tried everything” to relieve your chronic muscle or joint pain for the long term and have only experienced short term relief (or none at all), then this 5-day immersion is for you. Come and learn how to restore freedom of movement, resolve chronic muscle tension, so you can live more fully. Eliminating […]
Presence Psychotherapy Training: Integrate Spirituality With Trauma Work (28 CE Credits)
With Michelle Lepak
Note: Continuing Education Credits available. See below for details. Presence Psychotherapy is a trauma therapy that integrates spirituality, internal inquiry, and relational attunement to facilitate healing. Developed by Michelle Lepak, this intensive 5-day training, rooted in evidence-based practice, helps clients orient to Four Dimensions of Presence to sense compassion in and around them, experience oneness, […]
Social Venture Institute 2025 - Hollyhock
With Hollyhock Leadership Institute and Vanessa Richards
The Art of Resting Well
With Farah Nazarali
Bring your tired and weary souls for a restful, restorative, and rejuvenating retreat that is an immersion into the art of resting well. This experiential retreat is designed to provide rest for your body, mind, and spirit through land-based and somatic practices--guided beach walks, mindful forest walking, sunset gazing, restorative yoga, yoga nidra, poetry, slow […]
Cultivating Wellbeing for Health Professionals
With Andrea Grabovac, MD, FRCPC and Erin Burrell, MD, FRCPC
Replenish Yourself and Gain Tools for Living with Intention Join us for this mindfulness-based meditation retreat for health professionals and partners. Come away to the serene shores of Cortes Island to be replenished, restored, and equipped with tools to help navigate life in modern healthcare. This retreat emphasizes connection as key to vitality, and fosters […]
From Roots to Reach: Transpirational Growth for Social Ecosystems
With Nadia Chaney and M. Rako Fabionar
As water serves as a nourishing, developmental flow through transpiration—absorbed by roots, carrying nutrients throughout the plant, and offering its essence through leaves into the broader ecosystem—our workshop fosters transpirational growth within communities and organizations. From Roots to Reach: Transpirational Growth for Social Ecosystems is an immersive five-day workshop designed to equip participants with diverse […]
Eldering in Times of Transformation
With Cheryl Rose, Juana Berinstein and Zhiish McKenzie
“A human being would certainly not grow to be seventy or eighty years old if this longevity had no meaning for the species.” - Carl Jung There comes a time when you find yourself, perhaps to your surprise, in a new land which is unlike any part of the long life journey you’ve made so […]