How to Organize a Retreat

The purpose of this webpage is to provide you with all the information you will need to organize a ‘Skills for Healing Weekend Retreat.’  Please feel free to download and modify any of the documents for any event.

Initial Proposals explains how to create support for this project from all of the people within the cancer system, and includes the budget.


Advertising the key to a successful weekend, provides example posters, media releases and other documents needed for a weekend including those needed for a website.


Registration overviews of how attendees sign up for the weekend and includes all the mail-out information we send to attendees.


Facilitators help guide the small group discussions. (One facilitator for each group of seven participants). Learn more about their responsibilities.

The weekend provides a detailed description of the Halifax retreat programming, the presentations, and a list of things to bring to the weekend.

Evaluation provides blank evaluation forms and spreadsheets.

Limited filming of participants occurs at some retreats only when the local organizers have fully agreed beforehand and those who are filmed sign a consent form.

Retreat checklist and timeline. This excel spreadsheet lists all the activities associated with the retreat and guidelines of when each activity should be accomplished. It may seem cryptic to read all of the activities listed in the first column but you can download and modify the file.

Final word: The proposed weekend curriculum is modifiable based on the perceived needs of the attendees and the talents of the local facilitators. Ultimately, all programming would aim to provide the best possible experience to the people attending the weekends.