Plan Institute’s BC Caregiver’s Retreat will be taking place on the weekend of October 13-15, 2023 at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville,
Please note, the expression of interest for this year’s Caregivers Retreat closed on July 31. We will be reaching out to successful applicants shortly.
If you would like to add your name to the notification list for future retreats, please complete this short questionnaire.
About the Retreat
Being the primary support for a loved one with a disability can be an all-consuming and sometimes overwhelming experience. Often, we feel isolated, exhausted, and disconnected from ourselves outside of our caregiving roles. This special annual weekend retreat was developed by and for family caregivers to allow for the chance to relax, rejuvenate and connect with other caregivers in a beautiful setting.
The details of this year’s event are included below. If you have any questions please reach out to Rachael Plant, Program Manager at rplant@planinstitute.ca.
When: Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15, 2023
Where: Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Who: Family Caregivers from British Columbia,
Format: The format of this year’s retreat will be blended, with some group activities and some personal time. There will be a facilitated group session on Saturday, October 14, where attendees will have the chance to meet other family caregivers and learn about the importance of self-care. The rest of the weekend will be set aside for you to take time for yourself and 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 generous support from the Syd Vernon Foundation and the posAbilities Diversity and Inclusion Fund, we will be asking for a small fee from each attendee towards accommodation and the cost of running the event, as follows:
- Single occupancy room: $100 for the weekend
- Double occupancy room: $160 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 will also be 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, there is space to indicate this in the expression of interest form.
Expression of Interest Process:
Please note, the expression of interest for this year’s Caregivers Retreat closed on July 31. We will be reaching out to successful applicants shortly.
Availability:
15 cabins have been booked and are ready to be enjoyed!
Each cabin comes equipped with a Queen or King bed, and comfortably fits two people. You are welcome to share the weekend with a friend, sibling, parent, spouse 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 do contain an additional Murphy or Sofa bed. If you would like more than two individuals to stay in the cabin, please indicate this in the ‘Additional information’ section of the expression of interest form. There will be an additional fee of $30 per extra person, and we may not be able to accommodate all requests for additional guests.
Please note that we are asking attendees to make alternative arrangements for childcare and/or respire care during the weekend, so that all caregivers are able to participate fully in the facilitated group session. If you have any concerns about this, please reach out to rplant@planinstitute.ca.
We are grateful to the Syd Vernon Foundation and the posAbilities Diversity and Inclusion Fund for their generous contributions and for making this weekend retreat possible.