A Centre of Excellence in Whole Person Care & Integrative Cancer Programs
LIGHT IN THE PANDEMIC: NAVIGATING GRIEF & LOSS
An online retreat for people living with cancer, providing self-care tools, practical resources and activities to help facilitate healing and well-being.
Find out more or register below.
Take a Thread & Follow It
Join us for an Expressive Arts adventure to explore the story you wish to tell about your cancer journey.
This course is now full, stay tuned for another Online Expressive Arts series in June.
If you’d like to be added to the waiting list, please email barb@abbeyretreatcentre.ca
Looking In/Looking Out
Join us for this half-day adventure as we explore what we need to travel along the cancer journey, now compounded by Covid.
POSTPONED UNTIL COVID RESTRICTIONS LIFT. Watch for new date.
Find out more or register below.
A SUITE OF WELLNESS RETREAT PROGRAMS
Abbey Retreat Centre (ARC) offers a suite of wellness retreat programs. Central to our mission is offering a four day program for people living with cancer and for their primary support person, looking after the whole person. Body, mind, spirit… In 2020 we have shifted much of this to online programming, while making the facilities available for respite and relaxation one family unit at a time.
Businesses, families, and community groups are invited to use the facility as a gathering space or as a customized retreat experience for a moderate price. All funds generated through fundraising events, facility rentals, and generous donations help to keep our facility beautiful and increase the programs that we offer.
Most importantly, these funds help us to continue to offer our cancer retreats to participants free of charge. We understand the financial burden that can often accompany a cancer diagnosis and we strive to provide a place of healing that does not add to that burden.
Programs
Cancer Retreats
Note that on-site retreats are currently paused until COVID19 risks can be resolved, with online programs in place. Contact us for more information.
Our retreats are for people at any stage in the cancer journey and their primary support person. They include discussion groups, yoga and meditation, nutritional learning, creative expressive arts, connection with nature, and rest time – all in a supportive, caring community atmosphere.
Time at retreat provides the opportunity to explore the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual areas of healing with cancer. Our retreats are 4-day experiences with ten participants. The resulting sense of enhanced well-being and knowledge from being at retreat can allow those with a cancer diagnosis to continue and complete traditional treatment programs staying as well and whole as can be.
CANCER Retreats
Day Programs
Day programs based on local interests.
Speakers, classes, groups.
Rent the Retreat Centre
The Retreat Centre is available for rental when not in use for its retreat programming. Groups, business, families, are welcome to rent smaller spaces or the entire Centre. What would you like host here ?
About Abbey Retreat Centre
Integrative Cancer Care * Rest & Renewal * Healing Power of Community
Abbey Retreat Centre
ARC was born of a vision to advance the work of integrative cancer care in Canada. The Retreat Centre offers several program areas, a commercial-grade kitchen, office space, and sleeping accommodations for 12.
The Centre is located at Abbey Gardens Community Trust, Haliburton, Ontario, Canada. Our core work is to provide 4-day residential retreat experiences for cancer patients and
The Retreat Centre is the newest member of the Abbey Gardens family. Abbey Gardens is a charitable organization whose big dream is to transform a spent gravel pit (300 acres) into a green space that provides economic and recreational opportunities for our community.
The Abbey Gardens property enhances the retreat experience for ARC guests as they are immersed in a peaceful setting in nature. Gardens, hiking trails, Local Food Hub, educational displays and local business partners (including a craft brewery) are all located on site in the beautiful Haliburton Highlands, Ontario. Retreat participants can tour the gardens, visit heritage breed ponies and chickens, shop for local food at the Food Hub, enjoy lunch on the restaurant patio or participate in one of the programs offered throughout the year.
News & Events
Online gatherings during COVID19 period!
Several of our facilitators will be offering sessions online, typically by Zoom, during this time when we can't gather in person. Yoga with Miriam Patterson, Expressive Arts with Fay Wilkinson, Healing Circles with Laurie Stibbards.
Retreat Centre Closed During COVID19 risk
In keeping with all of the efforts to limit the effect of the COVID19 virus we have taken the step of canceling all public events at the Retreat Centre, and we encourage you to take any steps you can to minimize risk and exposure for yourselves and those near you. For...
Canoe FM interview
Canoe FM interview January 23 - Mike Jaycock with Doug Norris and Judy Cole. (Click to hear the interview)
Online gatherings during COVID19 period!
Several of our facilitators will be offering sessions online, typically by Zoom, during this time when we can't gather in person. Yoga with Miriam Patterson, Expressive Arts with Fay Wilkinson, Healing Circles with Laurie Stibbards.
Canoe FM interview
Canoe FM interview January 23 - Mike Jaycock with Doug Norris and Judy Cole. (Click to hear the interview)