Get Your Work-in-Progress to the Next Stage.
Whether you’re a recent MFA grad, an emerging writer with a rough draft, or just brainstorming your next project, this retreat is for you.
Inspired by the three-petaled trillium, our approach to the creative process is three-fold:
Mind: Rigorous craft-based workshops on topics that will be curated based on the needs of each group.
Body: Focusing on the embodied narrator, sensory immersion, and the physical reality of the land.
Spirit: Fireside chats about the writing life, cultivating literary citizenship, and finding the courage to stay in the "messy middle."
We believe the most profound creative breakthroughs happen when writers feel safe to experiment. For this reason, we do not engage in peer workshopping. Instead, we offer high-level professional mentorship. You will receive:
Initial Alignment: A one-hour pre-retreat call with Jennifer and Morag to help clarify goals and interests.
In-Situ Support: 1:1 sessions during the week with Morag and Jennifer.
The Long View: A 90-minute follow-up call after the retreat, to process what you’ve learned, and stay grounded, confident, and accountable as you move forward.
This retreat is open to writers working in nonfiction or memoir. Groups are limited to five or six participants and thoughtfully assembled, so the energy feels supportive, focused, and generous.
What to Expect
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We blend workshops, free writing, one-on-one sessions, and space to reflect—so the experience feels both focused and fluid.
Participants will be encouraged to go “low tech” for the duration of the retreat.
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Writing is not necessarily a solo activity. Here, we believe in the value of community.
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Led by experienced facilitators who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose.
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Our retreats prioritize comfort, safety, and respect—so you can show up as you are and fully engage in the process.
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From lakeside morning coffee to candlelit dinners, you’ll be well fed and well cared for all week long. Thoughtfully prepared, chef-made meals are served three times a day, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients—so the only thing you’ll need to lift is your pen. Dietary needs and sensitivities are gladly accommodated.
The Rhythm of the Week
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Participants may arrive any time throughout the day, with everyone on site by 3:00. We begin with 1:1 sessions to align your intentions before a group welcome dinner.
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Morning Workshops: Expert-led sessions covering topics like Nature Writing, Alternative Structures, and The Embodied Narrator.
Afternoon Free Writes: Directed by curated prompts designed to kickstart stagnant projects and invite new discoveries.
Evening Alchemy: Optional fireside chats, board games, and an Author Salon to share works-in-progress in a supportive, non-critical environment.
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A final workshop to synthesize the week’s insights, followed by packing up and checkout. Bag lunches will be provided for travellers who need to depart before lunch. Others may linger as you prepare to carry the creative spark back into your daily life.
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Extend your stay to deepen your retreat experience! Participants may elect to add one or two extra nights (before arrival on Sunday, and after wrap-up on Friday) for an additional fee. Meals are not included in extra night reservations, though participants will have access to the cottage kitchen and there are numerous restaurant options in the area.
Meet your facilitators
Jennifer Robin Wilson
Jennifer (she/her) is a writer, editor, certified coach, business consultant, and facilitator with a background in midwifery and non-profit leadership. Throughout her careers, she has had a passion for guiding people through transformative life experiences. She holds an MBA in leadership and an MFA in creative nonfiction. Jennifer’s work has appeared in Zoomer, West Coast Families, Study Travel News, and the Brevity blog. Her first book, The Heart of Homestay: Creating Meaningful Connections When Hosting International Students was published in 2025.
Morag Wehrle
Morag (she/her) is an author and educator who writes at the intersection of culture, health, and history. Her work spans fiction, non-fiction, and academia, and has been included in various anthologies and literary magazines including Beyond Blue (Caitlin Press) and The Villains' Club (Divine Feminine Press), with upcoming pieces for The Fiddleheadand two Demeter Press anthologies about feminist mothering. She holds an MFA in creative non-fiction from the University of King's College. Morag lives and writes on the traditional unceded territories of the WSANEC peoples on Vancouver Island.
Your Investment
Program Cost for Trillium Writing Retreat, 2026
$3,499 CAD+HST*
Tuition includes: All meals prepared by a professional catering service, four nights of lodging in a private bedroom, all instruction, all extracurricular activities, one-hour private consultation with Jennifer prior to retreat and one 90-minute consultation after the retreat to help participants prepare for a successful and meaningful retreat experience.
Does not include: Flights/travel to the Toronto airport or transportation to Huntsville, though we will help organize carpools both to/from Toronto and to/from the Huntsville train station. The Northlander Train is expected to resume service from Toronto to Huntsville in 2026.
If writers intend to apply for grants or bursaries to cover the cost of this residency, we would be happy to provide letters of support.
Let’s create something meaningful together.
*Discounts available for rooms with shared bath (Green room, Dormer room, and Blue room)
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and apply.
Your Questions, Answered