Writing Retreats in Canada
Banff, Sage Hill, St. Peter's and Others Create Time For Writing
Aug 20, 2008
The Banff Centre
The Banff Centre in Alberta is perhaps the best known of all the Canadian writing retreats. Located in the heart of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the Banff Centre has a Literary Arts program for writers who are at the beginning of their careers or those who are most established. The faculty list reads like a who's who of Canadian lit, and changes from year to year.
The Banff Centre offers a range of retreat options. The Writing Studio is a five-week course that provides sustained writing time combined with instruction and editorial support. Then there is the Wired Writing Studio, which features at two-week onsite residency followed by twenty weeks of continued online support and teaching.
Banff also offers a one week self-directed writing residencies, where participants are basically provided with a bed, a desk and meals for about $80 a day.
St. Peter's Abbey
The Saskatchewan Writer's Guild hosts writing colonies at the historical St. Peter's Abbey. The primary focus is on uninterrupted individual writing time, but in the evenings there are opportunities to talk with other working writers. The cost is $275 per week, including meals.
Writing colonies are offered in the summer and the winter. Writers can apply for a minimum of one week to a maximum of four weeks in a year. Peference is given to writers from Saskatchewan. Writers are housed in a converted former convent. Also available are a large sports complex with badminton courts and a weight room.
Berton House Writer's Retreat
The Berton House, named after Pierre Berton, is located in Dawson City, Yukon. The Berton House provides writers with a remote location and time to work on writing projects. They accept applications from any Canadian writer who has written at least one book and is established in a literary discipline.
Writers are provided with accomodation, travel expenses and a small honorarium while they work on their writing. In exchange the writer must do a public reading in Whitehorse and Dawson City. Writers spend an average of three months at the Berton House retreat.
Sage Hill Writing Experience Inc.
The Sage Hill Writing Experience, also located in Saskatchewan, provides a summer retreat program for writers. It combines instruction, private writing time and instructor feedback to create an intensive writing experience. Tuition for the eleven day course is $1095.
Sage Hill also offers a two-week spring retreat at St. Michael's Retreat in Lumsden, Saskatchewan.
Get away from it all
Sometimes, the most important thing for a writer to do is to take a break from their ordinary routine. If you can't afford one of these organised writing retreats, or if it's too far for you to travel, you can organise your own retreat. Rent a cheap motel room for a week - or convince a friend to let you occupy her guest room.
Sometimes a change of location - and a bit of quiet - can do wonders for your creative work.
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