to a lakeside historic home surrounded by gardens where you can settle in and write? Join us for an immersive springtime retreat at a beautiful Victorian estate on the edge of Ontario's Lake Simcoe. SPECIAL BONUS for the final two registrants: get editorial feedback from Lauren on up to 20 pages of your work! 
the retreat centre reveals itself gradually. Framed by massive trees, blooming spring gardens, and the lake beyond, this Victorian cottage seems the perfect setting. Already everyday life is easing away, and you can’t wait to immerse into your creative work…
Gravel crunches underfoot when you walk to the front door. Passing the sensory garden, you catch the fragrance of lavender and blooming lilacs. Nearby, a sign points to a trail into the woods, marked ‘labyrinth.’
Inside Edgar House, the floors creak as you wander toward the sunroom. This wrap-around space full of comfortable seating offers the perfect spot to sip a cup of tea and stare out at the water, notebook in hand. You can’t wait to settle in… and write!
as you write with others, pausing to lift your gaze to the panoramic view of lawn, gardens, and the lake beyond. A steady, calming presence, the water seems to mirror the depth and clarity you find yourself bringing to your work this weekend.
Held in a vessel of steady support and nourishment, you find yourself able to deeply connect with your stories.
Whether through a guided labyrinth walk inviting reflection on your creative project or a morning spent clipping images to collage your subconscious, the expertly guided sessions have stirred your imagination and fired your writing spirit… while the delicious food and engaging conversation has offered you a feeling of warm kinship and support...
Yes! Isn't it time to invest in focused time and wise guidance to help calm the waters and immerse into your creative flow!
A nourishing retreat isn't complete without mouth-watering food and conversations around the supper table! With all dietary needs considered, we provide home-style cooking that includes a well-rounded selection and lots of options.
For breakfast, help yourself to yoghurt, home-baked gluten-free granola, fruit salad, a bagel and cream cheese or other selections at our serve-yourself continental breakfast (not to mention good quality coffee and a selection of teas!). At lunch, the buffet-style sandwich and salad bar offers choices such as Vegan carrot-ginger or red pepper soup, quinoa and Caesar salad, and cold cut and cheese for sandwiches on Caprese buns or wraps.
The mouth-watering aroma of supper will draw you to the kitchen when Chef Todd arrives with catered meals like roast lemon chicken with Greek-style potatoes and penne with rose sauce… Open your wine and settle in for delicious candle-lit meals and inspiring conversation.
And we haven’t forgotten dessert! From Anita’s amazing peanut butter cookies to crispy-sweet baklava and a treat of tiramisu, we won’t neglect your sweet tooth!
Lined with fragrant flowering hedges, the curving driveway into this Ontario retreat centre arrives at a historic estate overlooking Lake Simcoe. During our time at this beautiful property, we will enjoy:
See the Loretto Maryholme Retreat Centre from the sky at this link.
Easily accessible from Toronto, the Loretto Maryholme Centre is a ministry of the Canadian Loretto Sisters with a special focus on the areas of justice, education, and spirituality and a mission to “encourage individuals and groups to explore and restore the energies needed for personal, communal, and world transformation.”
Welcoming guests and visitors of all faiths and backgrounds, the Centre is located on the traditional territories of the Chippewa and Mississauga and the First Peoples of the Williams Treaties First Nations.
I am a writer who intimately knows how hard it can be to escape distraction and settle in order to access creative flow. As the author Junot Diaz says, “The whole culture is telling you to hurry, while the art tells you to take your time. Always listen to the art.”
I've been listening to the art (or trying to!) for my whole life. I'm the author of the short story collection Places Like These, a Globe & Mail recommended read in Spring 2023, and four previous books of fiction and poetry, including This Has Nothing to Do with You, winner of the 2020 Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction. My debut novel, Swarm, was longlisted for CBC’s Canada Reads, and my work has been published in a wide variety of periodicals and longlisted multiple times for the CBC Literary Prizes. My next novel, The Longest Night, will be out Fall 2025 with Freehand Press. I also hold an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph and am certified in Teaching and Training Adults and the Amherst Writers Workshop Method which posits that "a writer is someone who writes." Writers that I’ve worked with have obtained agents, signed publishing contracts, won or been shortlisted for awards, and learned how to manage anxiety and settle more deeply into their work.
Although neurotypical, I am part of a vibrant neurodiverse family, a trait shared by at least one of the family pets. My writing explores the intersection of neurodiversity and mental health, intergenerational trauma and breaking cycles. I have been offering writing workshops and retreats for the past six years, merging my passions for wellness and creativity. In 2023 I won second place in the Creative Non-Fiction Collective-Humber Literary Review Contest.
I am a Physiotherapist, Certified Coach, Co-Founder of Ignite Your Write, an Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) facilitator and graduate of The Humber School for Writers, The Sarah Selecky Writing School, and Spark Your Story Intensive, where I received mentorship from award-winning Canadian creative non-fiction authors Rowan McCandless and Nicole Breit.
In my spare time, I do laundry, procrasti-knit, and enjoy doggy cuddles.
"After leading many retreats, I really appreciated being able to rest in your competence! So many delightful, thoughtful details... terrific food, appreciated gift bag and the lovely pink peony, and help getting set up. Thanks so much for your efforts and care!" - Lori Edey
"I've been to a variety of writing retreats across Canada, in Scotland and Ireland, and Still Water was one of the loveliest. Lauren and Anita built in quiet time to reflect, rest, read, or write, and the peace and creative spaces were a welcome respite from the demands of everyday life. I also really loved meeting other women writers. The way in which Lauren and Anita created rapport and community was impressive. I'd love to come again!" - Kim Fahner
"Before the retreat I felt isolated and alone in my writing struggles. Books on writing process made it worse. Being with other writers in a place of safety and peace has been a revelation!" - Anonymous
You can also go here to read Melanie Martilla's account of the retreat--"calming and peaceful"-- and see some of her pictures!
Bonuses
Roches Point, Georgina, ON, Canada 
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