Come Alive
240 Davis Rd, Gabriola, BC V0R 1X1, Canada
March 14 - 19, 2027
About this Retreat
Ian Curtin
BComm,
DipC, specializes in facilitating dialogues within and between organizations, supporting relational leadership and teamwork, and promoting the art of living change. He believes communication habits form the building blocks of family relationships, work teams, and entire organizations. He has been associated with The Haven for 28 years, leading
Come Alive and
Couples in Conflict.
He is a founding member of the The Inner Activist , whose mission is to co-create a learning space that develops compassionate, reflective and responsive leadership in individuals and communities, supporting leaders to skillfully navigate emotions, conflict, power and difference grounded in a commitment to social justice, diversity and equity.
Susa Holt, ND, MA, LMHC, SEP, Dip C, is a Psychotherapist who works with individuals, couples, groups and organizations, seeking meaningful responses to change while deepening capacity for relationships. Her career spans Naturopathic Medicine, Allopathic Medicine, Organizational Design and Counseling Psychology, including Somatic Experiencing trauma work. She first arrived at the Haven in 1985 and became a program leader in 1995. She currently leads Come Alive Programs and has led our Phase One program, Couples 911 and Self Compassion Workshops.
Details of this retreat
Come Alive is our most popular core program and the perfect place to begin or continue your journey in personal or professional growth and transformation.
People from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations join us and most experience something profound.
We are grateful for the land and sea that sustain us. We are deeply grateful to learn, live and play on 7 acres of forested land by the sea that is the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a community of Coast Salish Peoples. Our peaceful yet vibrant centre on Gabriola Island offers a natural environment that supports the exploration of our innermost selves and our relationships with others. It’s a special place where we can take back our lives and discover our potential.
The magic of Come Alive is in our unique history, renowned communication and relationship models, community dynamic, and oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island. With support and guidance, you will learn and practice the Haven models of communication, relationship and self-responsibility, through a range of opportunities for personal learning. Group activities, discussions and experiences take place in both large and small group settings.
Come Alive is for me if...
I want to deepen my self-awareness and move beyond self-imposed limits
I'm ready to develop greater self-compassion and self-acceptance
I want to experience the freedom of being my whole and authentic self - mind, body, and spirit
I'm open to learning and practicing a transformative model for communication
I want valuable insights to strengthen my health and well-being
I want to break through self-limiting patterns and live the life I want
I'm curious about myself and my place in relationships, community, and the world
I want to rediscover joy and meaning in life
I want more harmonious, loving and fulfilling relationships; I want to know what intimacy really is
I am looking to improve my professional skills; to be more authentic as a leader, bolster my 'soft' skills, and develop better relationships with my co-workers.
I want to shake things up and try something different...
"For the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin..."
Program highlights:
5 days in a serene oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island to focus on yourself.
Opportunity to learn from, relate to, and deeply connect with others.
A unique East meets West approach developed by a psychiatrist (Ben Wong) and a medical doctor and acupuncturist (Jock McKeen).
Experiential learning through diverse methods: bodywork, breath, visualization meditation, movement, and cognitive skill development.
A powerful approach to developing self-compassion and deeper self-awareness.
40 years of continued success with thousands of participants from around the world.
Select expert program leaders, who are highly trained at The Haven and in their various professions.
Unparalleled support and a high ratio of team members to participants.
Opportunities to further heal and explore mind-body-spirit connection with onsite bodyworkers.
A full schedule, complete with daily breaks for introspection, connecting with others, rest, relaxing in the oceanfront hot tub, exploring nearby trails, and more.
Support to integrate your learning beyond The Haven through one-on-one coaching, online video meetings, and various local groups.
A $1000 discount off Living Alive after you have completed Come Alive
Investment:
Our Earlybird tuition price of $1490 is available up to one month prior to the program start. Full tuition is $1590. Full payment is due one month before the program start date regardless of tuition price.
You can find our cancellation policy here
Schedule:
Your program begins with dinner at 5:45pm and your first session at 7:00pm
Daily schedule:
Breakfast 8:00 - 8:45am
Morning session 9:00 - 11:45am
Lunch 11:45am - 12:30pm
Afternoon session 2:45-5:45pm
Dinner 5:45-6:30pm
Evening session 7:00 - 9:00pm
Afternoon and evening sessions can vary. Your program finishes with lunch on the last day
Transportation:
If you are traveling to Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry a shuttle to The Haven can be requested. Information on this option will be included in your pre-arrival email.
Recommended Resources:
Here are book titles that can complement and enhance your learning in this program. You can purchase when you are at Haven, or contact us to order. Click to learn more:
Being: A Manual for Life by Bennet Wong & Jock McKeen
Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn. Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health. The student must understand and speak English.
Accommodation
Thunderbird dormitory is our most economical option. Each dorm pod accommodates up to 6 people, and each pod has its own washroom. Bunks are single over single, with extra-long mattresses. Dorm pods are separated by gender. The Thunderbird dormitory is only available for participants registered in a program at The Haven. From July to mid-August, the dorms are reserved for our Youth Programs.
Basic rooms are simply furnished, comfortable and economical. They have two singles or one double bed, ensuite, no TV. Basic rooms are designed to be shared by two or three people, with beds in the same room and a shared bathroom. A Basic room may also be booked as a private room.
Forest View rooms are nestled in attractive forested areas of The Haven property. Larger than our Basic rooms, Forest View rooms are designed to be shared by two or three people, with beds in the same room, a TV and private bathroom. A Forest View room may also be booked as a private room.
Ocean View rooms offer spacious, well-equipped and comfortable accommodation looking out over the beach and waters of Taylor Bay. There is a TV in each room, a full kitchen or kitchenette, and private bathroom. Most Ocean view rooms have a deck. Although Ocean View rooms are usually booked as private accommodations, you may be able to share an Ocean View room if you and another program participant both request to be each other\'s roommate.
Many people find that having a roommate enhances The Haven experience. For some, it\'s the start of a long friendship.
If you choose Basic or Forest View shared accommodations and wish to stay with a particular person, please provide that person\'s name when you complete your on-line registration. Please ask your preferred roommate to do the same. Ocean View rooms may only be shared if both guests request each other by name as roommates when booking.
If you choose the Dormitory, or if you choose Basic or Forest View shared accommodations and would like us to find a roommate for you, we assign rooms as men only, women only, or gender neutral.
We make every effort to meet the needs of all our guests, but cannot guarantee specific rooms.
Dorm Bed (lower bunk)
Our dormitory is our most economical option. Each dorm pod accommodates up to 4 people, and each pod has its own washroom. Bunks are adult built, single over single, with extra-long mattresses. Dorm pods are separated by gender. From July to mid-August, the dorms are reserved for our Youth Programs. We have property wide complimentary WiFi, and the signal varies from room to room.
Dorm Bed (upper bunk)
Our dormitory is our most economical option. Each dorm pod accommodates up to 4 people, and each pod has its own washroom. Bunks are adult built, single over single, with extra-long mattresses. Dorm pods are separated by gender. From July to mid-August, the dorms are reserved for our Youth Programs. We have property wide complimentary WiFi, and the signal varies from room to room.
Shared Room
With this option you will be sharing a room with one other participant. These cozy rooms have either 2 single beds or one double or one single. We have property wide complimentary WiFi, and the signal varies from room to room.
Private Single
Our least expensive private room option. These are cozy rooms, with one single bed, a small desk, small fridge, coffee pot, and kettle. Please be aware, these rooms are up a flight of stairs, so if stairs are an issue this option will not be right for you. All of our private rooms come with their own private bathroom.
Private Double
Our private double rooms are bright and cozy, with one double bed, small desk, small fridge, coffee pot, and kettle. These are our only room options with slight view of the ocean. Please be aware, these rooms are up a flight of stairs, so if stairs are an issue this option will not be right for you. All of our private rooms come with their own private bathroom.
Private Queen
These rooms contain our largest beds and look out to lush forest views. Most of these rooms have a fridge, but not all, so please let us know if this is of importance to you. Each room does have its own coffee pot and kettle. If stairs are an issue for you, please let us know, as some of these rooms are up a flight of stairs. All of our private rooms come with their own private bathroom.
Staying off-premise - Participant
This lodging type is used by guests staying off-premises, not staying at The Haven.
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