Hollyhock Retreat
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Hollyhock Leadership Centre is a British Columbia-based non-profit dedicated to personal growth, leadership, and social change.
Since 1982, the Centre has hosted nearly 100 programs annually at its stunning Cortes Island campus and various Vancouver locations. They welcome a diverse community of leaders, seekers, and change-makers from all over the world to participate. Hollyhock's curriculum spans health and wellness, creativity, and leadership development, all rooted in the belief that global progress begins with the individual. By weaving together innovation and traditional wisdom, Hollyhock fosters a deep reconnection to nature and community to help uplift the planet.
Purpose, Vision and Mission
Purpose - To renew people's connections to themselves, one another, and the natural world. Vision - A loving and living planet for all. Mission - To nurture inspired leadership through collective and immersive experiences.
Location
Nestled on the serene shores of Cortes Island, in the Discovery Island Archipelago of British Columbia, Canada.
Impact
Hollyhock is largest employer on Cortes Island, B.C. and invests approximately $65,000+ per year with local Cortes-based suppliers, and approximately $465,000 invested into British Columbia economy, through Hollyhock operations.
History
Hollyhock was founded in 1982 by Rex Weyler, Siobhan Robinsong and Lee Robinsong who met at Greenpeace.
While beach walking on Cortes Island, they saw the abandoned hand-crafted buildings of the former Cold Mountain Institute. Siobhan drew Rex's attention to crimson hollyhocks peeking over a hawthorn hedge. Days before, Rex was given that same vision by an intuitive seer at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Friends Peggy Taylor, Rick Ingrasci, Torkin Wakefield, Charles Steinberg, Yvonne Kipp and Michael Moore joined to purchase the land.
Many others invested over the years, and in 1982, this group of 30 'founders' purchased the abandoned Cold Mountain Institute. Dana Bass Solomon joined in the late 1990s as board member, soon as CEO. With Joel Solomon, Board Chair, (whom she later married), together they have led two decades of mission advancement.
In 2008 the partner group donated full ownership and Hollyhock Leadership Institute became a registered charity. Learn more about how to contribute, here.
Programming
Over the years, Hollyhock has offered a wide range of personal, spiritual and leadership development programs to an international clientele, serving 1,800 to 2,300 guests per year.[1][2] The Centre hosts education and training [3] on topics including activism,[4] creative writing,[5] group facilitation,[5] singing,[5] cooking,[6] painting,[7] drawing,[8] entrepreneurship,[6] dance,[1] photography,[1] leadership,[2][9] social ventures,[10] woodcarving,[11] storytelling,[11] kayaking,[8] animal communication,[10][12] relationships,[13][12] mindfulness,[14] nonviolent communication,[15] spiritual chanting,[15] meditation,[16] Tibetan Buddhism,[10][17] Kabbalah,[18] hara hachi bu,[19] yoga,[20][21] morphic resonance,[10] holistic approaches for dealing with cancer[10] and integrative medicine.[10][22]
Prominent instructors at Hollyhock have included Robert Bateman,[7] Gabor Maté, Jane Siberry, Patrick Lane and Nick Bantock.[10] Hollyhock operates a scholarship fund. In 2008, the centre distributed CAN $97,000 to attendees.[23]
