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All Ages Creative Holiday Retreat with Lisa Cowen


  • Dharma Centre of Canada 1267 Galway Road Kinmount Canada (map)

Designed by Lisa Cowen

All Ages Creative Holiday Retreat

with Lisa Cowen

December 27-31, 2023

“All-Ages Creative Holiday Retreat celebrating art, nature, play, meditation, and community”

“A non-silent retreat where the peaceful luminosity of meditation in nature will be joyfully mixed with snowball fights, art explorations, and seasonal comfort food.”

“If you are interested in bringing your family, please let us know as early as possible so age-appropriate activities and art supplies can be incorporated into the retreat plan.”


Lisa grew up studying with Namgyal Rinpoche directly as a child and young adult, and has continued on as a student of other great Dharma teachers since then. She has undertaken meditation retreats and intensive courses of study for about 25 years ranging broadly from Abhidharma to Vajrayana Yidam practices, and from Tarot to Dzogchen.

In addition to a passion for awakening, Lisa has specialized in Art and studied Psychotherapy.

She is the mother of a son who loves lego and minecraft, the custodian of an epic and rather wild vegetable garden, a working artist in the film industry, and a core founder of the Virtual Dharma Temple. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Previously Lisa offered courses at the DCC such as Intro to Mindfulness, and Intro to Silent Retreat Practice, and continues a commitment to offering an accessible blend of the so-called transcendental and the so-called ordinary.


Important Details

When: December 27-31, 2023. Please plan to arrive between 3-5pm on the first day. The retreat will begin with a property orientation at 5:30pm followed by a light supper and the first evening class and will finish after lunch on the final day.

Rates: $552 - non-members $500 - members

(To find out how to become a member please visit our membership page)

Rates include: Single accommodation and all meals. They do not include instructor fees. Teachers are sharing their experience within the traditional Buddhist understanding of Dana. To understand more about Dana, please read the following:

What is Dana? Teachers give the teachings of awakening (Dharma) freely so that anyone, no matter their financial means can attend classes. Each time one receives teachings, it is an opportunity to consciously practice generosity. Giving money and other means of support expresses gratitude and support to the teacher and helps to ensure that these teachings continue. Each person receiving Dharma teachings determines the kind and amount of Dāna according to one’s heart and one’s financial means. When deciding how much to offer, one should think about what these teachings mean to you and try to give accordingly. It is recommended that students make an offering of dāna at the beginning of a class or retreat to establish the intention to make the most of this opportunity for one’s own progression and for the benefit of all others.

Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to hold your space upon registration.

Cancellation policy:

All cancellation are subject to a fee of $100. These funds will support other low income practitioner (Practitioner Support Fund). 

Loss of  50% of deposit if cancel within 14 days ( = 25% of the retreat cost) – Funds to go into the Renewal Project (Buildings Renewal Fund)