Each year, Patrick Lane offers four writing retreats on beautiful Vancouver Island. At each of these retreats, sixteen poets come together for four days to improve their craft through writing exercises and discussion. New work is at the heart of these retreats, where Patrick provides structure, guidance, editing advice and personal consultation. These retreats are not traditional workshops, although all work done there is read and discussed during a free exchange of poems. Poets who participate bring with them years of study and practice, and many have gone on to publish in magazines, chapbooks and books, and have as well been the recipients of numerous awards and prizes.

Each retreat results in a beautiful chapbook anthology containing a poem written at the retreat by each participant, with an introduction by Patrick. The chapbooks are created by one of Canada’s finest book designers, Ursula Vaira, the publisher of Leaf Press.

These retreats, which always take place from a Thursday to Sunday, are often fully booked a year or more in advance. Should you apply and find the retreat you've applied for to be fully booked, please request a spot on the waiting list. Cancellations do come up. You may also explore the possibility of attending one of the other retreats. 

November and March at The Ocean Wilderness Inn near Sooke on Vancouver Island
All-inclusive cost is $700.00. No deposit required. Double occupancy. Sixteen participants.
For information please contact Wendy Morton at 1-250-642-3542 or by email.

January and July at Honeymoon Bay Resort at Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island
All-inclusive cost is $700.00. Deposit required. Single occupancy. Sixteen particpants.
For information please contact Richard Osler at 1-250-597-7875 or by email.