Caregivers Retreat

Being the primary support for a loved one with a disability can sometimes feel overwhelming and all-encompassing. At times it can be isolating, exhausting, and difficult to disconnect from our role as caregivers. At Plan Institute, we worked with family caregivers to create the BC Caregiver’s Retreat, offering a chance to relax, rejuvenate and connect with other caregivers in a beautiful setting.

Caregivers Retreat 2025

Please see below for the details of this year’s event. To be notified when the Expression of Interest form for the 2025 Caregivers Retreat opens, please add your name to our notification list.

If you have questions, please reach out to Sahra Kohistani, Coordinator at [email protected].

When:

Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Where:

Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Who:

The retreat is open to anyone who is a primary caregiver for someone with a disability, including children, parents, siblings, or partners. Caregivers must fill out the Expression of Interest form to have their names added to the draw. The Expression of Interest form will open at 12pm on Friday, July 11, and close at 11.59pm on Tuesday, July 29. To be notified when the Expression of Interest form for the 2025 Caregivers Retreat opens, please add your name to our notification list.

We especially welcome applications from caregivers who might not otherwise have access to this kind of respite opportunity. Bursaries are available to support the cost of attending.

Schedule:

This year’s retreat will include both group activities and personal time. There will be a facilitated group session on Saturday, October 18, where attendees will have the chance to meet other caregivers. For the remainder of the weekend, you will have free time. You are encouraged to take this time to do whatever makes you feel good – reading, taking a walk along the beach, visiting the spa, or simply enjoying the serenity of picturesque Tigh-Na-Mara resort.

Cost:

While the cost of this year’s retreat will be subsidized by Plan Institute and through the generous support of the Syd Vernon Foundation, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, and posAbilities, we will be asking for a small fee from each attendee. This will go towards accommodation and the cost of running the event. The fees are as follows:

• $100 for a single occupancy room for the weekend, or
• $160 for a double occupancy room for the weekend.

Selected participants will be required to pay the fee within two weeks of being notified in order to secure their place on the retreat.

A small number of full bursaries are available. There will be space to indicate this need on the expression of interest form.

What is included:

The retreat fee includes two nights at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, a facilitated group session, and a shared group lunch on the Saturday. A gift card to contribute to the cost of other meals or spa services will also be provided.

Attendees are responsible for the cost of travel to and from the resort, as well as the cost of activities, and any other personal fees incurred during their stay.

A limited number of travel bursaries are available. If you need assistance with the cost of transportation, please indicate so in the designated section on the Expression of Interest form.

Expression of Interest Process:

Due to overwhelming demand, and in the interest of fairness, we will be determining attendees for this year’s retreat through a randomized draw (imagine pulling names out of a hat!). We ask that all interested caregivers complete the Expression of Interest form. Submissions will open on Friday, July 11th, 2025, at 12 PM PT, and will close on Tuesday, July 29th, 2024, at 11:59 PM PT. To be notified when the Expression of Interest process opens, please add your name to our notification list.

After the form is closed, we will use a randomized, automated process to determine who will be offered spots to attend the retreat. If your name is selected, we will reach out to you directly by Wednesday, July 30.  You will have two weeks to confirm your attendance and pay the event fee. If you have not confirmed your attendance or paid the event fee by Thursday, August 13, your spot will be given to someone else. Notifications will be sent via email, so please check your Junk folder regularly.

Availability:

We have booked 16 cabins for the BC Caregiver’s Retreat.

Each cabin comes equipped with a queen or king-sized bed and comfortably fits two people. You are welcome to share the weekend with a friend, sibling, parent or partner.

When completing the Expression of Interest form, you will be asked to indicate how many individuals will be staying in your cabin. Some rooms contain an additional murphy bed or a sofa bed. If you plan to have more than two people staying in the cabin, please indicate this in the Additional information section of the Expression of Interest form. There will be a fee of $20 per additional guest (over two people), which will be due to the hotel upon check-in. We must receive requests for additional guests in advance, and may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Please note that we are asking attendees to make alternative arrangements for childcare and/or respite care during the weekend so that caregivers can fully participate in the facilitated group session.

We are grateful to the Syd Vernon Foundation, the Petro-Canada CareMakers Foundation, and posAbilities for their generous contributions and for making this weekend retreat possible.