Camp Widow Workshops
Friday
Camp Widow Opening Session (8:30am - 9:30am)
Join Stacey Brown, Chair of Soaring Spirits Canada’s Board of Directors, for opening remarks. Read More
Opening Session Breakouts (9:45am - 11:00am)
Mayfair – Our Newly Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people whose widowhood began within the past twelve months. The content for this introduction to the Newly Widowed track is based on research done through the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center and will focus on a combination of providing campers with tools and resources […] Read More
Mount Royal/Rideau – Our Recently Widowed workshop track has been designed for widowed people who were widowed anywhere from one to three years ago. The content for this introduction to the Recently Widowed track is based on research done through the Soaring Spirits Resilience Center and will focus on a combination of providing campers with […] Read More
Lakeview – This track is designed to meet the needs of people widowed between three and five years. These middle widowhood years are a time of searching, rebuilding, getting to know this new self within the widowed experience. The content for this introduction to the Middle Widowed track is based on research done through the […] Read More
Banff – There are many common misconceptions about the length of time widowed people will need the support of their community. As widowed people continue the work of building new lives, their need for access to, and connection with, their widowed community evolves and the topics they need to discuss change. The content developed for […] Read More
Friday Block 1 (11:15am - 12:30pm)
Mount Royal/Rideau – Grief touches every part of who we are. It impacts our minds, bodies, emotions, relationships, routines, and even our sense of identity. Together we’ll explore what grief is, why it can feel so overwhelming, and how the many responses you experience are normal reactions to profound loss. We will explore the physical, […] Read More
Lakeview – After losing your spouse, one question echoes: Who am I now? The roles you held and the future you planned can feel shattered. This session explores the identity crisis that follows loss and helps you make sense of grief’s disorientation. Together, we’ll honor your love story while redefining who you are becoming. You’ll […] Read More
Banff – This workshop will explore some of the challenges associated with complicated grief, including loneliness and isolation. We will talk about the role of emotions (e.g. anger, relief, shame, guilt) and how to experience these emotions with less judgment and self-criticism. Self compassion will be explored as a mechanism for helping us to free […] Read More
Mayfair – This session would focus on the impact grief has on the nervous system, including an accessible introduction to polyvagal theory, the window of tolerance, and emotional regulation. Many widowed people believe they have a capability problem, when in reality they often have a capacity problem. In grief, even ordinary life can feel overwhelming […] Read More
This workshop is focused on the needs of our widowers, and offered just for the men at camp. We will explore a variety of topics relating to being male and widowed. Read More
Lunch (12:30pm - 1:45pm)
Friday Block 2 (1:45pm - 3:00pm)
Mount Royal/Rideau – As a widow herself, Michelle High soon noticed in the absence of her husband Henry, her support system began to grow smaller as time went on. Friends that said they would always be there stopped coming around, and the invites to activities and events no longer came. Struggling in this new environment, […] Read More
Lakeview – Tired of talking about how your person died? Let’s talk about how they lived! I believe that most couples have one or two favorite funny or poignant stories that they like to tell about something that occurred during the course of their time together. This workshop will provide a safe and warm space […] Read More
Banff – How do we continue our bonds with our person if we don’t have that genetic living legacy? In this session is specifically for those who are Widowed Without Children, Kelley and Justine lead a heartfelt conversation on topics such as the fears and joys of not having children, continuing bonds with our person, […] Read More
Mayfair – I would like to share my story, allowing participants to feel comfortable enough to engage and participate. I feel that an abusive relationship is not one that people want to discuss. It has often been said to me “Oh! you must feel so guilty?” Actually guilt never crossed my mind. But more relief. Read More
Belair – This workshop will offer support for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer community and consists of small group discussions among those with similar situations. Read More
Friday Block 3 (3:15pm - 4:30pm)
Bonavista – Lighten your heart by learning a few basic line dances. Enjoy music, movement, and laughter in this interactive workshop. Please wear comfortable clothes and footwear/stocking feet. Read More
Mount Royal/Rideau – Writing is a free, powerful tool that can be incredibly healing for anyone who believes they deserve to get out of pain and create a brighter future. We’ll practise ways to: * Empower the future by re-aligning the past. * Harness our deepest hardships as sources of strength and wisdom. * Connect […] Read More
Lakeview – In this workshop we will discuss the difficulties we face after losing our partner of many years. The challenges of starting over alone and losing the person who knew everything about you. The person who watched you grow from a young adult to the person you are today. Read More
Banff – Conferences are great, but none of us wants to be here. We all find ourselves on a road we never would have chosen to travel. Come to this presentation to find ideas and strategies to find your way down this road so hopefully you won’t feel like you’re lost forever. . Read More
Mayfair – “I can’t remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,” join Lori Tucker-Sullivan who will discuss her grief journey and return to her passions of writing and rock music. Participants will discuss their feelings about dreams they may have deferred and how returning to those passions/dreams can provide a path […] Read More
Belair – The death of a partner from suicide brings unique challenges, complex emotions and circumstances, and difficult responses from society. This workshop offers a private and supportive space for widowed people navigating this distinct experience. Together, we will explore the way suicide impacts grief and create opportunities to connect with others who understand this […] Read More
We Have a Widowed Person for That (4:45pm - 6:00pm)
Brittania – We Have a Widowed Person for That is a place to find others whose lives have been altered in some of the same ways as yours. Every widowed experience is different, and yet the way the person you love died may influence how you grieve. At Soaring Spirits we’ve discovered that connecting with […] Read More
Evening Reception (6:15pm - 9:00pm)
Join your fellow widowed community for an evening event that provides the opportunity to further the connections you made throughout the day. Appetizers and snacks provided. Read More
Saturday
Morning Yoga Session (7:00am - 8:00am)
Keynote Address (8:30am - 10:00am)
Brittania – In Living After Loss, Cindy Lang offers a powerful and compassionate keynote for widowed people learning to live the life they never expected. Drawing from her lived experience and years of walking alongside others in grief, Cindy speaks to a profound truth of widowhood: when someone we love dies, we do not only […] Read More
Saturday Block 1 (10:15am - 11:30am)
Mount Royal/Rideau – Dating after the loss of a partner can bring a mix of emotions such as hope, uncertainty, excitement, and guilt. This session will explore the emotional realities of dating after loss, including common concerns, barriers and myths. Together, we’ll discuss what it means to move forward while continuing to honour your person […] Read More
Lakeview – This workshop will cover the intricacies of moving forward with grace. How to navigate intrusive questions at work/place of worship/public, moving or staying put, and staying active/traveling Read More
Banff – Losing a spouse brings profound emotional and financial change. In this compassionate and practical session, Charlotte Paul, CIM—Associate Portfolio Manager with Assante Capital Management and founder of Shine Financial Group—shares five key rules every widow should follow to avoid common financial mistakes. Using her “Hurt, Heal, and Harmony” framework, Charlotte offers clear guidance […] Read More
Mayfair – Digital Toolkit: Supportive Tech for Rebuilding Routines is a practical, beginner-friendly workshop on simple tools that can make daily life feel a little easier after loss, no tech experience needed. We’ll go step by step through a short list of free and paid apps for reminders, calendars, task lists, notes, meal planning, photo […] Read More
Belair – This hands-on workshop, originally created by Sarah Trenor, takes us down memory lane deep into our relationship with our person. Envisioning how to stay connected to our person when rebuilding our life can be hard. This craft-style workshop prompts participants to visually express what restoring their heart means to them. Making arts and […] Read More
Saturday Block 2 (11:45am - 1:00pm)
Bonavista – Grieving the loss of a primary relationship causes us to struggle in almost all aspects of our lives. Finding new coping strategies and full-body self-care techniques is one way to manage our profound emotional reactions. Come prepared to stand up and learn some basic movements of Qigong and Tai Chi Ch’uan as an […] Read More
Mount Royal/Rideau – Parenting through grief can bring constant questions: Am I doing this right? Am I giving my children what they need while I’m struggling myself? This workshop offers a gentle space to explore the realities of raising children while grieving, including guilt, self-doubt, and the pressure to be everything at once. Drawing on […] Read More
Lakeview – In this expressive arts presentation and experiential workshop, participants will explore expressive arts, myth, and metaphor to illuminate their own path with grief. Through the story of one goddess’s journey with grief, death, descent, and return, participants will be invited to access their own inner wisdom. Using myth, archetypal reflection, and expressive arts (no […] Read More
Banff – Widowhood is grieving the loss of a life-partner and the life that you lived together. How do we find new meaning and a new path in life that works? The Toolbox can help you explore and reenvisage your life. Through personal anecdotes, Rebecca & Neal will illustrate how these tools have helped them. Read More
Mayfair – In this workshop, Lori Tucker-Sullivan will discuss her grief journey and return to her pre-marriage passions of music and writing. Participants will discuss their feelings about dreams they may have set aside or deferred and how returning to those passions and dreams can provide a path forward through grief. We’ll spend time identifying […] Read More
Belair – After the death of a spouse or partner, life can feel like a giant bingo card filled with squares you never expected to mark. Grief. Paperwork. Loneliness. Identity loss. Learning to do things you never imagined doing alone. In this interactive workshop, participants will use the Bingo Card Framework to reframe their experiences, […] Read More
Lunch (1:00pm - 2:15pm)
Saturday Block 3 (2:15pm - 3:30pm)
Bonavista – Lighten your heart by learning a few basic line dances. Enjoy music, movement, and laughter in this interactive workshop. Please wear comfortable clothes and footwear/stocking feet. Read More
Mount Royal/Rideau – Widowhood changes every part of life—but it can also become the beginning of unexpected growth, purpose, and transformation. In this inspiring panel discussion, four widowed women share how grief reshaped their lives and led them to meaningful new chapters they never imagined possible. Join podcast host and community leader Jenny Salkeld, transformational travel […] Read More
Lakeview – This will be an experiential and interactive workshop where we will use writing of imagery, thoughts, feelings to help us move along our journey and create powerful and meaningful memories. Read More
Banff – This presentation is designed to normalize and validate the sometimes, unanticipated, thoughts and feelings that emerge as one processes grief and the loss of a partner. Katrina uses personal journey and introspection to provide points of reflection to the audience, based around what she has come to identify as the, ‘Three Ps of […] Read More
Mayfair – In times of deep loss, the connections around us can either weaken or become powerful sources of strength. This workshop explores how widowed people can intentionally build, rebuild, and nurture support networks that truly sustain them. Together, we’ll look at the shifts that occur in friendships and family relationships after loss, how to […] Read More
Belair – Can you imagine yourself on a date? How do you tell your family and friends that you’ve started dating? What are your best hopes and worst fears about falling in love again? Is your heart ready and large enough for a second love? What do you do with the photos? Join us for […] Read More
Saturday Block 4 (3:45pm - 5:00pm)
Mount Royal/Rideau – For people who want help envisioning a new future, re-establishing their personal and professional identity and discovering career possibilities that integrate what is most meaningful to them. After losing a spouse you may have to go back to work or decide you want to change careers. However, the idea of relaunching your […] Read More
Lakeview – By the end of The Identity Earthquake session, participants will: 1. Recognize identity disruption as a normal and neurological response to loss. 2. Identify personal strengths developed through widowhood. 3. Differentiate survival behaviours from intentional self-leadership. 4. Practice boundary-setting language in a supportive setting. 5. Commit to one actionable step aligned with their […] Read More
Banff – In this interactive session, participants will discover how a simple summer bucket list can be a catalyst for change. Using a framework of HOPE: Honouring, Opening, Pursuing, and Evolving, participants will start creating their own intentional list blending together adventure, curiosity, courage, and personal growth. Leave with a clear inspiring plan to help […] Read More
Mayfair – Shelley Roth is a mom, sister, grief-shopper, student of comedy, and a reluctant widow. This workshop is for anyone who is reluctantly qualified to attend Camp Widow. Join Shelley as she shares her unexpected grief journey into – stand-up comedy! Yes, there can be humor in widowhood. In this session laughter is guaranteed. […] Read More
Saturday Block 5 (5:15pm - 6:15pm)
Friends of Bill
Banquet (6:30pm - 11:00pm)
Join us as we honour our loved ones at this year’s memorial gala, themed Moonlight in the Mountains. Early in the evening there will be an organized heartfelt tribute, giving us space to remember and honour those we’ve lost, before we come together to dance and celebrate the beautiful gift of life. This is a come-as-you-are […] Read More
Sunday
Closing Session Breakouts (8:30am - 9:30am)
Mayfair – Please join your Newly Widowed community for a discussion of the weekends’ offerings from the point of view of those who are widowed less than one year. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Mount Royal/Rideau – Please join your Recently Widowed community for a discussion of the weekends’ offerings from the point of view of those who are widowed from one to three years. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Lakeview – Please join your Middle Widowed Community for a discussion of the weekend’s offerings and to reconnect around the joys and challenges of being widowed three to five years. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More
Banff – Please join your Seasoned Widowed Community for a discussion of the weekend’s offerings and to reconnect around the joys and challenges of being widowed five years or more. We will also be providing information on how you can stay connected with your widowed community through Soaring Spirits’ programs. Read More