Tag: residential retreat

June 2026 retreat 🏠

Please note that as of October 4, we are fully subscribed for the residential and commuter spots. However, the wait list is not that long, so we can still accept people to the waitlist. Register using the link below.

Samadhi and Insight: Anapanasati Sutta

Co-hosted by the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community
and Edmonton Insight Meditation.

A serene statue of Buddha sitting in a meditative pose. The statue has carvings that define the robes and facial features. Surrounding the statue are cherry blossom branches with soft pink and white petals. The background is a blur of more blossoms. The lighting is soft. The statue is partially shaded by a rocky formation on the right. Image by Medusa_Print_Art from Pixabay.

The Anapanasati Sutta (Mindfulness of Breathing in sixteen steps) is an experiential map of joy, tranquility, and liberation. This classic teaching provides the foundation for cultivating concentration (samadhi) and developing insights that lead to the freedom of mind and heart.

It is inspiring to know that this was a fundamental practice for the Buddha. This teaching underlies much of our mindfulness practice, and when explored in-depth can enliven, energize, and deepen the practice as we become more able to work with it intentionally, on retreat and in our daily lives. Anapanasati can become a steady and embodied support for wise response in these times.

Date

June 5-14, 2026

Beginning on the first day with optional supper and then 7 pm start
Ending at 11 am on the last day with clean up and then optional lunch after

Location

The Star of the North Retreat House
3A St. Vital Avenue, St. Albert, AB T8N 1K1

Registration

This is the registration link.

Retreat Information

Registration Fee

Private single occupancy bedroom – $1450 (benefactor $1750, supported $1150) – 50 rooms available
Commuter $830 (benefactor $995, supported $665) – 8 spots available

Accomodations

There are 50 private single occupancy bedrooms for overnight accommodation each with their own bed, sink, desk and chair and access to shared bathrooms with showers.

We have a very limited number of rooms with ensuite bathrooms for a base rate of $1600. If you would like to be considered for an ensuite, please let us know why. We cannot guarantee your request will be granted.

Meals

The following meals will be provided:
Breakfast (June 6-14)
Lunch (June 6-13)
Supper (June 6-13)

For an additional fee, you can optionally add supper on June 5 ($26.50) and/or lunch on June 14 ($21.50).

Cancellation Policy

50% of the registration fee is due upon confirmation of registration. Your spot will not be reserved until payment is received.
Full payment is due by March 1, 2026.

If you find it necessary to cancel, your administration fee will be refunded according to the following schedule:

  1. $50 fee for cancellations March 15, 2026 or earlier.
  2. Cancellations after March 15, 2026, and onward, will not be refunded+*

+ Exception: if we are able to fill your spot with someone from the waitlist, you will be refunded less a $50 fee.
* Exception: For registrations at the Benefactor rate, we will refund the difference between the Benefactor and Sustaining rates.

Our teachers

Jeanne Corrigal - The image shows a smiling individual standing outdoors in front of a lush evergreen tree. The person has curly, shoulder-length brown hair with prominent gray streaks at the front. They are wearing a vibrant blue top and a textured, multicolored blue scarf. A backdrop of green pine needles fills most of the background, providing a natural and fresh setting.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, with a great affinity for the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa and for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Kristina Baré - A photograph of a woman facing the camera and smiling. She has long brown hair that drapes over her right shoulder. She is wearing a colorful patterned scarf with shades of red, green, and gold. The background is a plain, light-colored wall.

Kristina Baré, MFT, SEP, is an insight meditation teacher, therapist, and Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineages of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw and Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. She enjoys supporting students deepening samadhi, loving-kindness and insight. Opening the door to an expansion of the heart and to liberating wisdom. In support of the Buddha’s teachings, Kristina also draws on knowledge from western psychology and Somatic Experiencing. She invites a kind, patient, and embodied approach as a base for samadhi, loving-kindness and insight meditation practices.
http://www.kristinabare.com/

Frequently Asked Questions

Can beginners join?

This retreat is best for those with some meditation experience, particularly those who have participated in daylongs or weekend retreats. Beginners with a sincere interest are welcome to reach out to us. We are happy to discuss your experience and help determine if this retreat will be a good fit for you.

What is Anapanasati?

Anapanasati means “mindfulness of breathing.” It is a foundational Buddhist meditation practice involving focused attention on the breath. The Anapanasati Sutta outlines sixteen steps that guide practitioners to cultivate calm concentration (samadhi) and develop deep insight into the nature of mind and experience, leading to greater freedom and peace.

What is a typical day like?

Each day includes periods of seated meditation alternating with walking meditation to support sustained awareness and refresh the body. Mornings usually begin with guided meditation to help establish the practice, and evenings often feature a Dharma talk exploring the teachings in depth. Afternoons may include practice of the Brahma Viharas — the four immeasurables: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. There will also be an option to participate in a period of mindful movement

What does noble silence mean?

Noble silence is a supportive practice where participants refrain from verbal communication to deepen focus and reduce distractions for themselves and others. During this time, phone calls, reading, journaling, and other forms of communication are discouraged to help everyone settle more fully into their meditation.

Will there be time for questions or discussions?

Yes. Each participant will have the opportunity to attend one group practice talk and a couple of one-on-one sessions with the teachers. Some time may also be set aside during daily sessions for questions and answers. Additionally, participants can leave notes for the teachers at any time.

What is the practice of dana?

Dana, or generosity, is a fundamental Buddhist practice of giving that supports the accessibility of the teachings. The retreat fee covers the basic costs of hosting the event. Teachers offer their time and guidance without compensation, embodying the spirit of dana to cultivate generosity and gratitude within the community.

Cancelled: Zeden Lake Insight Meditation Retreat – September 2025 🌲

The Peace of our True Nature

We are sorry to share that this year’s retreat at Zeden Lake has been cancelled.

After visiting the site recently, we saw firsthand the ongoing impact of the recent fires. While the camp is still hosting children’s programs this summer – guided by the beautiful spirit that nature is still here and can still be learned from – we found that the area is not workable for our retreat at this time. Walking trails are limited, rehabilitation work is underway, and smoke from northern fires continues to be a concern. Given the unpredictability of conditions in the coming months, we feel it is best to cancel now.

We will be in touch directly with participants to arrange full refunds.

This moment reminds us again of how deeply the climate crisis is affecting our northern lands. And yet, even in this shifting landscape, we are still held in relationship with the earth. As Robin Wall Kimmerer teaches, it is a sacred task to continue receiving and offering love to the land in reciprocity, in whatever way is ours to do. You might find support in her reflection:
Returning the Gift – grateful.org

We will reimagine this retreat for next year and will share updates as they unfold.

May nature continue to nourish your heart and mind, right where you are.

With care and connection,
Jeanne and the retreat team

Silent Insight Meditation retreat at lovely Zeden Lake, with Jeanne Corrigal

September 11-16, 2025

some people in canoes and a paddleboard are floating on a lake with reeds, the sky is a hazy blue and there are tall evergreen trees in the background
Meditating on the lake in 2023
Photo by Andrea G.

When we connect quietly and mindfully with nature, we harmonize with the larger nature body. As we settle into this embodied way of knowing, our earth body can reconnect, remember, and deepen into the wisdom of peace. As Thai Forest Master Ajahn Chah said, we can learn all we need to awaken from nature. This retreat will offer spacious time for this re-connection and re-membering, supported by guidance from the Buddha’s path of awakening in nature. The gifts received from nature can be offered back in a circle of care, much needed in our world today.

The retreat includes dharma talks, practice talks with Jeanne, reflective meditation practices, and gentle paddling each day. For more information, please email the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community at contact@saskatooninsight.com.

Two pine trees frame the view of a lake with the opposite shore in the distance. There is blue sky with some grey and white cumulus clouds.
Photo of Zeden Lake, from the St John Bosco Wilderness Camp website.

Retreat requirements

To support the safety and practical aspects of this nature retreat, we ask that participants have:

  • A minimum of one weekend silent insight meditation retreat, or a conversation with Jeanne to understand more about your experience.
  • Previous insight meditation practice.
  • Good swimming and basic canoe skills.
  • If tenting, basic camping experience.

Retreat Etiquette

We will share the happiness of the community work meditations of on-site food preparation and clean up.

This retreat will be held in silence, except for safety and logistical needs, and for practice talks with Jeanne. This supports the whole community.

Please come prepared to participate fully in the retreat schedule:
Day 1: 3:45 pm to 9 pm
Days 2-5: 6 am to 9 pm
Day 6: 6 am to noon

Logistics

  • We will set up our home at the St. John Bosco Wilderness Camp.
    • Please note there is no cell-phone coverage at this location. An emergency number will be provided for you to give to family or friends in case they need to contact you.
  • Base registration fee: $250, plus a food contribution equaling about $80-$100.
    • The base fee is for those who plan to camp (bring your own tent, etc.). There are some additional options for accommodation:
      1) A bed in a bunkhouse for an additional $55 (total $305 + food contribution)
      2) A private bedroom in a cabin for an additional $265 (total $515 + food contribution)
      3) A private bedroom with a shared bathroom for an additional $315 (total $565 + food contribution)
    • Some scholarship support is available, if the registration fee is a barrier.
  • Registration fees cover the operational expenses of the retreat (site, equipment, fees, transportation, etc.). They do not cover the teachings, which are offered on a dana basis. Dana is a Pali word meaning generosity. In keeping with Buddhist tradition, teachers do not charge for their services but are sustained by the generosity of their students. Dana allows the teacher and retreat manager to continue their Dharma work. There will be an opportunity to offer dana to Jeanne for her teaching. (Ways to offer dana to Jeanne.)
  • Protocols to safely offer this retreat in light of Covid will be determined closer to the event.

Registration

Registration is closed.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, with a great affinity for the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa and for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

April 2025 retreat 🏠

This is for a past event – please visit our Upcoming Events page for current offerings.

Image Description: The image depicts a serene nighttime scene dominated by shades of blue. On the left side, there is a solitary tree with a thick trunk and a broad canopy of leaves, rendered in black silhouette. The tree casts a long shadow on the ground, which extends towards the bottom left corner of the image. Under the tree, there is a silhouette of a person sitting cross-legged, facing right, suggesting meditation or contemplation. On the right side of the image, the night sky features a bright, singular star that stands out against the deep blue background, adding a touch of light to the calm atmosphere. Wispy clouds faintly visible across the sky contribute to the tranquil and peaceful ambiance of the scene.

Liberative Dependent Origination
Supporting Awakening in the Mind and Heart

The teaching on Liberative Dependent Origination describes a way that freedom happens in the mind and heart. This insight sequence can happen quickly in a moment, or gradually over time. As we understand how to support this natural and innate process, we can taste freedom and understand how to nurture the conditions for the sure heart’s release. This teaching is accessible to us on retreat, in daily life, and in the midst of the crises of our world, in support of wise action.

On this retreat we will practice with this process to become more familiar with recognizing and supporting it. We will include instruction, dharma talks, and practice talks with the teachers.

Date

April 5-12, 2025

Beginning on the first day with optional supper and then 7 pm start
Ending at 11 am on the last day with clean up and then optional lunch after

Location

Heritage Common, Hepburn SK

Registration

Registration is closed.

Retreat Information

Registration Fee

We are offering this retreat on a sliding scale. Please select the highest rate you can reasonably afford to help ensure retreats are available to all. This does not include compensation for the teachings. There will be an opportunity to offer donations to the teachers at the end of your retreat.

Benefactor: $11900 – provides support for others to attend retreats (single occupancy room)
Base (single): $950 – the actual cost of the retreat with single occupancy room
Base (double): $600 – the actual cost of the retreat with double occupancy room
Scholarship: $475 – approx. 80% of the cost of retreat with double occupancy room

Accomodations

Rooms are equipped with a single bed, dresser, desk with chair. Bathrooms (showers/toilets) are shared.
Bedding, towels and pillows are NOT provided.

Only 22 rooms are available. Shared rooms are available at a reduced cost.

Meals

The following meals will be provided:
Breakfast (April 6-12)
Lunch (April 6-11)
Supper (April 6-11)

You can opt to sign up for supper on April 5 for an extra $18, and/or lunch on April 12 for an extra $20.

Cancellation Policy

50% of the registration fee is due upon confirmation of registration. Your spot will not be reserved until payment is received.
Full payment is due by March 5, 2025.

If you find it necessary to cancel, your administration fee will be refunded according to the following schedule:

  1. $50 fee for cancellations at least seven weeks prior to opening day (February 15, 2025)
  2. $200 fee for cancellations eight to four weeks before opening day (February 9-March 8, 2025)+
  3. Cancellations received four weeks or less before opening day (March 9 and onward) will not be refunded+*

+ Exception: if we are able to fill your spot with someone from the waitlist, you will be refunded less a $50 fee.
* Exception: For registrations at the Benefactor rate, we will refund the difference between the Benefactor and Sustaining rates.

Our teachers

Jeanne Corrigal - The image shows a smiling individual standing outdoors in front of a lush evergreen tree. The person has curly, shoulder-length brown hair with prominent gray streaks at the front. They are wearing a vibrant blue top and a textured, multicolored blue scarf. A backdrop of green pine needles fills most of the background, providing a natural and fresh setting.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, with a great affinity for the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa and for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Kristina Baré - A photograph of a woman facing the camera and smiling. She has long brown hair that drapes over her right shoulder. She is wearing a colorful patterned scarf with shades of red, green, and gold. The background is a plain, light-colored wall.

Kristina Baré, MFT, SEP, is an insight meditation teacher, therapist, and Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineages of Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw and Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. She enjoys supporting students deepening samadhi, loving-kindness and insight. Opening the door to an expansion of the heart and to liberating wisdom. In support of the Buddha’s teachings, Kristina also draws on knowledge from western psychology and Somatic Experiencing. She invites a kind, patient, and embodied approach as a base for samadhi, loving-kindness and insight meditation practices.
http://www.kristinabare.com/

Fall retreat 🏠

This is for a past event – please visit our Upcoming Events page for current offerings.

Joy: An Inner Wellspring

The sun is rising above a field. There are various grasses in the foreground. The sky in the background is shades of gold and blue. There are some wispy white clouds at the top of the image.

Photo by Felix Mittermeier from PxHere

An in-person residential retreat with Jeanne Corrigal

November 15-17, 2024
St Peter’s Abbey, Muenster SK

The Buddha invites us to ‘Live in Joy’, touching its source in our own hearts. Mindfulness allows us to clearly see subtle joys and how to cultivate them: joy sustains the heart and leads to liberation. This retreat will touch reliable kinds joy that are accessible in every moment, open our eyes to unexpected sources of joy, and explore the role joy plays in temporary awakening. Knowing the doorway to this nourishment can support us in daily life, and in the challenges of our times.

The weekend will include dharma talks, instruction, practice, reflection, and relational practice, so that we feel the support of the community as we reflect together.

This retreat is held at St. Peter’s Abbey, in Muenster, SK. There are 29 single occupancy rooms available, and lovely grounds to walk in.

We request that you fully commit to participating in the whole retreat, from 7:00 pm pm November 15 to 4 pm November 17.

This retreat is offered by mutual generosity. When you register, there will be a registration fee to help SIMC cover our costs. If cost is a barrier, scholarship support is available.

During the retreat, we will provide information for those who are able to offer financial support to Jeanne.

Registration

Registration is closed.

Health and Wellness Protocol

As an act of care for our community, especially since some of our retreatants have immune deficiency issues, we will try to be sensitive to everyone’s needs. While mask wearing is optional, we will suggest frequent hand washing and social distancing. In addition:

  • If you have any respiratory or flu symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, runny nose, fever, or sore throat), no matter what you think the cause for these symptoms might be, we are asking you to wear an N95 or KN95 mask and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
  • Physical distancing should be possible in the hall.
  • There will also be air filters in our meditation hall. The center itself does not have air purifiers, but we will keep them on in the hall throughout the week.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, with a great affinity for the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa and for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Cancelled: Zeden Lake Insight Meditation Retreat – September 2024 🌲

Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s retreat. Although we hoped that the date change to early September would work for the community, we just don’t have enough registration to go ahead. We have already tentatively scheduled back to the last week of August for 2025 (August 25-31 – dates to be confirmed), and we hope that you can join us again then. We will update our website when the dates and other details are figured out.

Our True Nature: Still, Easeful, Spacious

Silent Insight Meditation retreat at lovely Zeden Lake, with Jeanne Corrigal

September 2-8, 2024

some people in canoes and a paddleboard are floating on a lake with reeds, the sky is a hazy blue and there are tall evergreen trees in the background
Meditating on the lake in 2023
Photo by Andrea G.

Practicing in community with beloved nature as a teacher can cultivate deep settling, nurture the heart, and free the mind. This retreat will support these innate processes through pathways of concentration, kindness, awareness, and liberation. As we rest into these practices we can come to understand our own true nature more deeply, and this can be a nourishment and wisdom that we carry in all aspects of our lives. In this time of global crisis, the refuge of nature can support our embodied care, engagement in the world, and capacity to love the earth.

The retreat includes dharma talks, practice talks with Jeanne, reflective meditation practices, and gentle paddling each day. For more information, please email the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community at contact@saskatooninsight.com.

Two pine trees frame the view of a lake with the opposite shore in the distance. There is blue sky with some grey and white cumulus clouds.
Photo of Zeden Lake, from the St John Bosco Wilderness Camp website.

Retreat requirements

To support the safety and practical aspects of this nature retreat, we ask that participants have:

  • A minimum of one weekend silent insight meditation retreat, or a conversation with Jeanne to understand more about your experience.
  • Previous insight meditation practice.
  • Good swimming and basic canoe skills.
  • If tenting, basic camping experience.

Retreat Etiquette

We will share the happiness of the community work meditations of on-site food preparation and clean up.

This retreat will be held in silence, except for safety and logistical needs, and for practice talks with Jeanne. This supports the whole community.

Please come prepared to participate fully in the retreat schedule:
Day 1: 3:45 pm to 9 pm
Days 2-6: 6 am to 9 pm
Day 7: 6 am to noon

Logistics

  • We will set up our home at the St. John Bosco Wilderness Camp.
    • Please note there is no cell-phone coverage at this location. An emergency number will be provided for you to give to family or friends in case they need to contact you.
  • Base registration fee: $315, plus a food contribution equaling about $80-$100.
    • The base fee is for those who plan to camp (bring your own tent, etc.). There are some additional options for accommodation:
      1) A bed in a bunkhouse for an additional $63 (total
      2) A private bedroom in a cabin for an additional $315
      3) A private bedroom with a shared bathroom for an additional $378
    • Some scholarship support is available, if the registration fee is a barrier.
  • Registration fees cover the operational expenses of the retreat (site, equipment, fees, transportation, etc.). They do not cover the teachings, which are offered on a dana basis. Dana is a Pali word meaning generosity. In keeping with Buddhist tradition, teachers do not charge for their services but are sustained by the generosity of their students. Dana allows the teacher and retreat manager to continue their Dharma work. There will be an opportunity to offer dana to Jeanne for her teaching. (Ways to offer dana to Jeanne.)
  • Protocols to safely offer this retreat in light of Covid will be determined closer to the event.

Registration

Registration is closed.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She has trained primarily in the Burmese lineage of Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw, with a great affinity for the Thai Forest Tradition of Ajahn Buddhadasa and for the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She is a certified MBSR teacher, is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She has taught with Mindfulness Magazine, Lion’s Roar and Tricycle’s online programs, and teaches across North America. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Spring week-long retreat 🏠

This is for a past event – please visit our Upcoming Events page for current offerings.

An in-person residential retreat
with Guy Armstrong, Sally Clough Armstrong, and Jeanne Corrigal

Co-hosted with the Calgary Insight Meditation Society.

June 1-8, 2024
Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, Saskatoon

A fuller retreat description is coming soon.

This retreat will offer dharma talks, practice talks, and to close, gentle relational community practice.

Details about the retreat are being confirmed.

This retreat is offered by mutual generosity. When you register, there will be a registration fee to help SIMC cover our costs. During the retreat, we will provide information for those who are able to offer financial support to the teachers. If cost is a barrier, some scholarship support is available.

Registration

Registration is closed

Guidelines for caring around COVID

We will review the situation in Saskatoon closer to the event and will publish guidelines at that time.

Guy Armstrong has been practicing Insight Meditation for over 30 years. His training included a year as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, primarily with Ajahn Buddhadasa. He began teaching in 1984 and has led retreats in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Guy is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and a Guiding Teacher of Insight Meditation Society. He is the author of Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators.

Sally Armstrong began practicing vipassana meditation in India in 1981 and started teaching in 1996. She is a member of the Spirit Rock Teacher’s Council and has served as a co-guiding teacher at Spirit Rock. She developed and led Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioners Program and Advanced Practitioner Program. She has a keen interest in supporting students who want to deepen their practice and understanding. She regularly teaches retreats on themes such as metta or concentration, as well as the multiweek retreats at Spirit Rock and the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), is a certified MBSR teacher, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Fall retreat 🏠

Living Fully, Living Freely:
Embracing Our Impermanence

two pink flowers and four smooth dark pebbles rest on a sandy beach - waves are in the background Image by AdelinaZw from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/pebble-spa-wellness-meditation-6896728/

An in-person non residential/residential retreat
with Jeanne Corrigal and Nikki Mirghafori

November 17-19, 2023
Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, Saskatoon

This retreat is a community exploration of living wisely and fully in the light of our common human mortality. We will turn gently to this reflection with the intention of supporting our capacity to engage wholeheartedly in the richness of living this life, now; and as we prepare for its ending. Everyone is welcome, wherever you are in your life journey.

The weekend will include dharma talks, instruction, practice, reflection, and relational practice, so that we feel the support of the community as we reflect together.

This retreat is being offered in-person only. We offer options for people to stay at Queen’s House or commute.

We request that you fully commit to participating in the whole retreat, from 7:30 pm pm November 17 to 4 pm November 19.

If you are a commuter, this means arriving at the center for the first sit and instruction after breakfast, at about 9 am, and practicing with the community until 9 pm. A rest area will be available. The schedule will be confirmed about a week before the retreat.

This retreat is offered by mutual generosity. When you register, there will be a registration fee to help SIMC cover our costs. If cost is a barrier, scholarship support is available.

During the retreat, we will provide information for those who are able to offer financial support to Jeanne and Nikki.

Registration

Please register here:
https://saskatooninsight.com/forms/view.php?id=66513

Guidelines for caring around COVID

We will review the situation in Saskatoon closer to the event and will publish guidelines at that time.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), is a certified MBSR teacher, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Dr Nikki Mirghafori has dark hair, glasses, wearing a pink shirt, standing in front of a dark green forest background.

Dr. Nikki Mirghafori is an Artificial Intelligence scientist and an internationally known Buddhist teacher. She serves as a Stewarding Teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, where she is also on the Board of Directors, and a Dharma Teacher at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. She teaches with clarity and warmth on topics ranging from mindful leadership to cultivating kindness, with a rare expertise on mindfulness of death. Dr. Mirghafori is widely published in AI, has led international collaborations as a Berkeley academic, and advised technology startups. She is of Persian heritage, an advocate for wisdom and compassion in daily life, as well as ethical AI in our zeitgeist. https://www.nikkimirghafori.com/

Zeden Lake Insight Meditation Retreat – August 2023 🌲

This is for a past event – please visit our Upcoming Events page for current offerings.

Silent Insight Meditation retreat at lovely Zeden Lake, with Jeanne Corrigal

August 28-September 3, 2023

On the eve of his enlightenment the Buddha touched the earth and asked for help to awaken. On this retreat we will touch the beloved earth with our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits. This immersion in kindness with the community of land, lake, sky, and trees cultivates our sense of care for ourselves and all beings, and supports liberation into the spacious, loving, connected heart and mind. This in turn can be a nourishment we carry back into the world, in all the big and small ways we care for our communities, including the earth itself, in all the challenges and joys of this time.

The retreat includes dharma talks, practice talks with Jeanne, reflective meditation practices, and gentle paddling each day. For more information, please email the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community at contact@saskatooninsight.com.

Two pine trees frame the view of a lake with the opposite shore in the distance. There is blue sky with some grey and white cumulus clouds.
Photo of Zeden Lake, from the St John Bosco Wilderness Camp website.

Retreat requirements

To support the safety and practical aspects of this nature retreat, we ask that participants have:

  • A minimum of one weekend silent meditation retreat.
  • Familiarity with Insight Meditation practice.
  • Good swimming and basic canoe skills.
  • Basic camping experience.

Retreat Etiquette

We will share the happiness of the community work meditations of on-site food preparation and clean up.

This retreat will be held in silence, except for safety and logistical needs, and for practice talks with Jeanne. This supports the whole community.

Please come prepared to participate fully in the retreat schedule:
Day 1: 3:45 pm to 9 pm
Days 2-6: 6 am to 9 pm
Day 7: 6 am to noon

Logistics

  • We will set up our home at the St. John Bosco Wilderness Camp.
    • Please note there is no cell-phone coverage at this location. An emergency number will be provided for you to give to family or friends in case they need to contact you.
  • Base registration fee: $315, plus a food contribution equaling about $80-$100. A provincial park pass is also required.
    • The base fee is for those who plan to camp (bring your own tent, etc.). There are two additional options for accommodation:
      1) A bed in a bunkhouse for an additional $63
      2) A private cabin for an additional $315
    • Some scholarship support is available, if the registration fee is a barrier.
  • Registration fees cover the operational expenses of the retreat (site, equipment, fees, transportation, etc.). They do not cover the teachings, which are offered on a dana basis. Dana is a Pali word meaning generosity. In keeping with Buddhist tradition, teachers do not charge for their services but are sustained by the generosity of their students. Dana allows the teacher and retreat manager to continue their Dharma work. There will be an opportunity to offer dana to Jeanne for her teaching. (Ways to offer dana to Jeanne.)
  • Protocols to safely offer this retreat in light of Covid will be determined closer to the event.

Registration

Registration is now closed.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), is a certified MBSR teacher, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee. She is a long-time canoeist.

Retreat: The Factors of Awakening 🏠💻

This is for a past event – please visit our Upcoming Events page for current offerings.

The Factors of Awakening
A Process of Liberation

(OR, Jeanne’s secret title: The Factors of Awakening: Otter Teachings)

Picture of an otter on a green background https://pxhere.com/en/photo/960262

An in-person non residential/residential retreat (online option available)
with Jeanne Corrigal

April 21 – 25, 2023
Queen’s House Retreat & Renewal Centre, Saskatoon

This retreat will begin with an exploration of how we can understand awakening, in the Buddhist teachings, and then an understanding of how the seven factors supports this freedom. We will cultivate each factor within our meditation, practicing with them with the intention of cultivating the conditions for this highest happiness. This map is one that can guide us both on and off retreat, to support this peace in the mind and heart.

This retreat will offer dharma talks, practice talks, instructions in the factors, and to close, gentle relational community practice.

There are many ways to participate – in person with full residential; commuter; or online.

With the in person and commuter residential options, we request that you fully commit to participating in the whole retreat, from 7 pm April 21 to 11 am April 25.

If you are a commuter, this means arriving at the center for the first sit and instruction after breakfast, at 9 am, and practicing with the community until 9 pm. A rest area and place for you to eat your meals, if you are bringing your own, will be offered.

If you choose the online option, you can choose whether to participate fully, or if you wish to make the retreat your own, with your own schedule. If you participate fully, we will connect with you about practice talks.

To support our return to the in person residential form, we are subsidizing the cost of the full residential offering by $100 off the cost for the first 25 people registering for this option.
As of February 27, we have 12 of these subsidized seats still available.

This retreat is offered by mutual generosity. When you register, there will be a registration fee to help SIMC cover our costs. During the retreat, we will provide information for those who are able to offer financial support to Jeanne. If cost is a barrier, scholarship support is available.

Registration

To register for the in-person offering, please use this link:
https://saskatooninsight.com/forms/view.php?id=60217

To register for the online offering, please use this link:
https://saskatooninsight.com/forms/view.php?id=62056

Guidelines for caring around COVID

We will review the situation in Saskatoon closer to the event and will publish guidelines at that time.

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), is a certified MBSR teacher, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee.

Anglin Lake Insight Meditation Retreats – August 2022

This is for a past event. For current events, please visit our Upcoming Events page.

Silent Insight Meditation retreats at beautiful Anglin Lake, with Jeanne Corrigal

Near to Nature’s Heart, August 4-7, 2022
This immersion in kindness with the community of land, lake, sky, and trees cultivates our sense of care for ourselves and all beings, and supports liberation into the spacious, loving, connected heart and mind. This retreat is inspired by the teachings of both Elder Jim Settee and the Buddha.

Touching the Earth Insight Retreat, August 7-10, 2022
On the eve of his enlightenment the Buddha touched the earth and asked for help to awaken. On this retreat we will touch the beloved earth with our hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits, as we follow the Buddha’s guidance in cultivating liberation of the heart-mind. This retreat invites us to renew our connection with the nourishing well of our true nature, for the sake of all beings.

These retreats include dharma talks, practice talks with Jeanne, reflective meditation practices, and gentle paddling each day. For more information, please email the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community at contact@saskatooninsight.com.

As of May 26, 2022
Near to Nature’s Heart is FULL.
Touching the Earth Insight Retreat is FULL.
We will take names on a waitlist if the retreats fill.

Save the dates for 2023: Aug 10-13, and Aug 13-16

Retreat requirements

To support the safety and practical aspects of this nature retreat, we ask that participants have:

  • A minimum of one weekend retreat.
  • Familiarity with Insight Meditation practice.
  • Good swimming and basic canoe skills.
  • Basic camping experience.

Retreat Etiquette

We will share the happiness of the community work meditations of on-site food preparation and clean up.

This retreat will be held in silence, except for safety and logistical needs, and for practice talks with Jeanne. Please be prepared to turn your cell phone off for the duration of the retreat to support your capacity to be present with nature. This supports the whole community. An emergency number will be provided for you to give to family or friends in case they need to contact you.

Please come prepared to participate fully in the retreat schedule:
Day 1: 3:45 pm to 9 pm
Days 2-3: 6 am to 9 pm
Day 4: 6 am to noon

Logistics

  • You can register for one or both retreats. There is a maximum limit of 15 people per retreat.
  • Cost for each trip: $200, plus a food contribution equaling about $50. When you register, you will be invited to choose which food items you would like to contribute from our potluck list. A provincial park pass is also required.
    • Some scholarship support is available, if the registration fee is a barrier.
  • If you are able to bring a canoe, the cost is reduced ($105 per canoe).
    A maximum of six canoes are needed for each retreat, depending on number of people registered.
  • Registration fees cover the operational expenses of the retreat (equipment, fees, transportation, etc.). They do not cover the teachings, which are freely given because they are considered priceless. Dana is a Pali word meaning generosity. In keeping with Buddhist tradition, teachers do not charge for their services but are sustained by the generosity of their students. Dana allows the teacher and retreat manager to continue their Dharma work. There will be an opportunity to offer dana to Jeanne for her teaching.
  • We set up our home at the Spruce River Campground and paddle from there. Bring your camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc.). This unserviced campground has outhouses. We will set up a common kitchen area for meals.
  • Protocols to safely offer this retreat in light of Covid will be determined closer to the event.

Registration

Please register here:
https://saskatooninsight.com/forms/view.php?id=49449

Jeanne Corrigal is the guiding teacher for the Saskatoon Insight Meditation Community, and a graduate of the 2017-2021 IMS teacher training program. She deeply appreciates metta and nature based practices. She has been practicing since 1999, and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s Dedicated Practitioner and Community Dharma Leader Programs. Jeanne is certified with Indigenous Focusing Oriented Trauma Therapy (IFOT), is a certified MBSR teacher, and she has trained with Mindful Schools and Somatic Experiencing. She is Metis, and one of her first teachers in loving presence was Cree Elder Jim Settee. She is a long-time canoeist.