Spirituality, Healing, Community Building and Pictionary
Join HIV+ men and women at one of this year’s
three Retreats
organized and facilitated by the Support Services Department Retreat Team.
Rev. Tim Stevenson and partner Rev. Gary Paterson facilitate the Spiritual Retreat, June 23, 24, 25,
26. This Retreat is held in a beautiful setting alongside a picturesque lake with meals
and accommodation graciously provided by the Bethlehem Retreat Centre on Vancouver Island.
A Creation Spirituality Workshop takes place while a community circle evolves
throughout the weekend. We sing, spend time in silence, have stimulating discussion,
create and express through art and storytelling. Camaraderie and laughter fills the air
while participants join together over healthy meals, courtesy of the Benedictine Nuns who
financially support this unique spiritual opportunity. The last two Spiritual Retreats
have been extremely successful. The previous participants eagerly await an advanced
Creation Spirituality Workshop which Tim and Gary hope to introduce next year.
Board a canoe, float on an inner tube, laugh and tell stories around an evening
campfire overlooking pristine Loon Lake July 10, 11, 12, 13 at the (12th
annual) Healing Retreat. Meet new friends and come together as community in a rustic setting while
enjoying nutritious meals. Attend an eclectic arts and crafts program; sign up for a
massage, a Reiki treatment or one of the other popular bodywork sessions. You can even
have your fortune told. By now we really know how to do these Healing Retreats right. An
energetic team of volunteer’s work hard to ensure participants are offered
supportive, innovative opportunities to relax, learn and to meet new friends. Whether
that’s in small group work, outdoor activities or joining in a lively Pictionary
game, which has now become a mainstay in the unscheduled evening hours. No-talent Night
always provides many pleasant surprises on our last night at camp.
Men and women all over BC, from many walks of life, cultural experiences, gay and
straight, come together in community which builds right before your eyes as the days draw
to our Closing Circle and the bus winds it’s way through the forest back to the city.
A second Healing Retreat to be held in the fall is in the early planning stage.
Schedule an interview and find out more about which Retreat you would be most
interested in. Sign up for an interview at the Info Centre or telephone 681-2122, ext.
323. Out of town members can call toll free 1-800-994-2437 and can be interviewed over the
phone.
The Selection Process for the BCPWA Retreats.
We have been working towards streamlining the participant
selection process for Retreats. The goals are to make it more equitable for those who
apply and to ensure retreats are safe for individuals, participants, volunteers and staff.
We are committed to making the selection process as public as possible while still
respecting confidentiality of those who have applied or been interviewed.
Why do we interview people?
- To explain the program schedule and rules.
- To assess willingness to respect guidelines and cooperate with the team while on
Retreats.
- To assess any potential problems for the individual, other participants volunteer or
staff.
- To describe the site and the diversity of participants.
- To determine participant’s expectations and if they can be realized.
- To offer a private setting for individuals to ask questions.
- An unofficial ice-breaking opportunity to meet one on one with a Retreat Team member.
Note: a person may be disqualified from attending a retreat for reasons of
health (physical and/or emotional), and/or safety issues.
Once the interviews are complete the selection process is then divided into
three parts:
- First priority will go to qualifying full-members who have never been on a BCPWA
Retreat.
- Second priority is made up of those who may have been on another type of BCPWA retreat
but have never been to the site they are applying for this time. (Attendance is tracked by
database)
- A wait/cancellation list (or third priority) is made up of those who have been to one or
both types of retreats before.
The final list is comprised predominately of the first and second priority
groups. If more people qualify in any category, a draw will be done for a place on the
list. We reserve the right to fast-track individuals who are: isolated, live outside of
the lower mainland or Victoria, in failing health, suffering from a recent loss, or
qualifying spouses of selected applicants.
We always have last minute cancellations. People from the wait/cancellation list are
usually able to attend. We encourage everyone to sign up.
To help to ensure the retreats are as conflict free as possible, participants,
volunteers and facilitators must sign liability wavers, a Confidentiality form, and a Code
of Behavior form.
We hope this information helps the membership understand how this program works. If you
have any questions about the selection process or any other aspects of our program please
feel free to approach any member of the Retreat Team or the Director of Support Services,
Jackie Haywood at the BCPWA office.
For more information or questions and concerns about the selection process contact the
BCPWA support department at 681-2122 ext. 323, toll-free at 1-800-994-2437 ext. 323
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