On November 21st, thirty women+ gathered for Weaving Our Stories, a Five Oaks Centre retreat rooted in connection and collective strength. With Dr. Amira Ayad offering a powerful call to adventure, Niki Andre grounding us in embodied practice, and Tanya Dyck Steinmann holding the container of the retreat with attentiveness and care, the weekend unfolded with remarkable depth and connection. The heart of the retreat was Saturday evening’s Storytelling and Song Circle, where participants shared an object, reading, song, or spiritual practice that expressed a piece of their identity. Weaving Our Stories is more than a self-care retreat. It is a community of women+ who truly see one another, stand in solidarity, and weave together the values of Peace, Respect, Openness, and Kindness.

Personal Reflection – by Jayne Little

I spent the weekend with an old friend.

We first “met” at a Wesley retreat in the late ’90s, then shared years of family camps, women’s weekends, and quiet mornings with herons keeping us company. The land always wrapped itself around us as the seasons shifted. Our memories are full of children’s laughter, women singing, herons overhead, and trees dancing in the wind.

That old friend? Five Oaks Retreat Centre.

Almost my age, its first class ran in 1952, Five Oaks has weathered highs and lows. After one of those lows, I was fortunate to be part of the group that rolled up our sleeves to help bring it back to life. Once rooted in Christian tradition, it has grown into an intercultural centre, evolving much as I have.

This weekend I was at the Interfaith Women’s+ Retreat, Weaving Our Stories, where we explored the Hero’s Journey, reflected on the wisdom of Rumi, and spent time together in community and in small groups.

As I listened to the women’s voices, I felt the familiar rhythm of Five Oaks come alive again – the way our hurts, hopes, and questions are offered, received, and gently held within a larger community. This place has always been more than buildings and trails; it’s a loom where individual threads become something stronger together.

And I left feeling deeply grateful for the women who stepped into vulnerability and risk. Their stories joined with mine this weekend; some rough, some golden, some echoing with parallels, and together they reminded me why Five Oaks continues to matter.

Personal Reflection – by Jayne Little

I spent the weekend with an old friend.

We first “met” at a Wesley retreat in the late ’90s, then shared years of family camps, women’s weekends, and quiet mornings with herons keeping us company.

The land always wrapped itself around us as the seasons shifted. Our memories are full of children’s laughter, women singing, herons overhead, and trees dancing in the wind.

That old friend? Five Oaks Retreat Centre.

Almost my age, its first class ran in 1952, Five Oaks has weathered highs and lows. After one of those lows, I was fortunate to be part of the group that rolled up our sleeves to help bring it back to life. Once rooted in Christian tradition, it has grown into an intercultural centre, evolving much as I have.

This weekend I was at the Interfaith Women’s+ Retreat, Weaving Our Stories, where we explored the Hero’s Journey, reflected on the wisdom of Rumi, and spent time together in community and in small groups.

As I listened to the women’s voices, I felt the familiar rhythm of Five Oaks come alive again – the way our hurts, hopes, and questions are offered, received, and gently held within a larger community. This place has always been more than buildings and trails; it’s a loom where individual threads become something stronger together.

And I left feeling deeply grateful for the women who stepped into vulnerability and risk. Their stories joined with mine this weekend; some rough, some golden, some echoing with parallels, and together they reminded me why Five Oaks continues to matter.

Program Recap written by Tanya Dyck Steinmann

Tanya Dyck Steinmann, former Five Oaks staff member and founder of Wildscape Soul, frequently returns as a valued Program Partner, facilitating retreats throughout the year. She has shared her reflections in this program review.