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How women have used the Nurtury over the past couple of years...
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We have put on a number of customized weekends for women and their friends, colleagues and relatives in our unique facility. Below you'll find a few examples of how women have used the Nurtury to create for themselves a one-off experience. As you'll see, for some the experience hasn't stopped here... |
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women's working group
This group of academics needed a place to workshop ideas after a conference in their field took place at McGill University. Just an hour out of Montreal, the Nurtury provided the perfect place for them to escape for a weekend of creative thinking and programme planning before they headed home to their various universities across North America. Getting here was made easier when the group of 8 rented a minivan from the airport. Our high speed internet connection made coordinating with colleagues in the US via Skype possible for the 2 days of meetings. And the Nurtury's spatial layout was equally conducive to accommodating whole group meetings and smaller break-out sessions. By combining intense working sessions with rejuvenating walks in the woods and fine dining, this group managed to get a lot accomplished while also enjoying some down time together. |
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women's card playing group
For some time now a group of women in the Pointe Claire area have been meeting on Fridays to play cards together. This past Spring they made a full weekend of it - playing card games that ranged from Wizard to Five Crowns to Salad; enjoying strolls round the property and conversation round the dinner table between sessions. The competition was fierce. The prizes - courtesy of Debbie "the Trickster" Trickie, who alongside Kathy "Cool Hand" McKnight, organized the weekend - were worth fighting for. This was a great example of how the Nurtury can be used by a group of women who want to get away from it all and spend a weekend getting pampered in the hospitality department whilst enjoying an activity together. |
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women's band jam
In the summer 8 friends who had in common a love of music and a desire to jam together booked the Nurtury for a weekend. What began as an idea between two women who occasionally get together to play guitar and flute duos, and wanted to add a bit of oomph to their sound, soon gathered momentum. First, a couple of clarinet players who hadn't touched their instruments since high school band days signed on. Next, a piano player with full band scores at her fingertips (!!) generously came forward. Recruiting in a women's hockey locker room brought a singer and a percussionist on board. And, to borrow from The Partridge Family, it really came together when a xylophonist played along. This is how it can happen: it only takes a whim of an idea and a bit of application to create a fantastic weekend activity for you and your friends. Not only did these women have a terrific time playing together over the course of their weekend...They've put together a Montreal-based practice schedule and are continuing to play as The Elegant Hedgehogs. |
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women's 'words and walking' weekend
In the Fall Pat Machin, who had run our collective writing weekend with us, gathered 6 friends who all share a love of books and built a customized experience called 'words and walking'. Activities ranged from a lively fireside discussion of favourite books, to making beaded jewelry while talking books, to exploring the ambulant realm of walking philosophy while...Yes, you guessed it, yet more book talk! By combining good food and good book talk with invigorating strolls along the country lanes and forest trails surrounding the Nurtury, this group of friends found a way to enjoy both alone time and communal time - leaving the Nurtury after their weekend away both relaxed and refreshed. The proof that their self-styled weekend was a success... They're doing it again next year, same time same place! |
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women's film and book club weekend
In the winter 6 members of wine women and philosophy got together to do one of our wwp weekends. Four of them had already attended a wwp book and film club...Sharing their adventure with other members at our bi-monthly salon evenings resulted in 2 more women signing on for the experience. Together, they approached us to run a book and film club weekend especially for them. They were keen to build on the philosophical formation that they have all been exposed to at the salon evenings and wanted to use this opportunity to work some of these ideas into our generosity-themed book and film club weekend. For more details on how this customized book and film club weekend went, please visit our blog. |
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A selection of our past weekends...
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Marta Fudakowska's passion for sharing yoga with others came from a natural extension of her interest : developing a healthy body, mind and spirit. Her background in teaching Lifestyle Management and practicing meditation became the inspirational impetus for illuminating others with the benefits of yoga: realizing one's full potential through a centuries old Eastern practice.
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Yoga at The Nurtury
7-9 May 2010  Marta Fudakowska
Visit our blog to see how the weekend went |
Western yogis helped shape Marta's style of teaching to include beginners to advanced students of different ages, abilities and special needs.
Her major influence is her daughter Yasmin, under whose guidance she has developed her love and enthusiasm for this enriching practice called yoga. |
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Spend a weekend in Nature seeing and capturing the new growth and hope of spring.
Learn more about your camera and how to get the best out of it. Get a feel for using Photoshop in order to enhance both your photographs and your own creative process. Practical forays into the world of macro photography will be enhanced by an exploration of the hidden stories that photographs tell. |
Digital Photography and Photoshop
30 April - 2 May 2010 
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Lea Stillinger is an architectural photographer classically trained in large format 4x5 cameras.
With the advent of the digital world and spontaneity of a computer darkroom she has embraced seeing and sharing our abundant world through the lens of a 35mm camera. Visit our blog to see how the weekend went |
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Soundwalking is a practice that makes places audible: amplifying tiny sounds to bring our attention to things we don't usually hear going on around us; discovering the sonic intricacies of a place through walking, listening and recording.
For those who are interested in discovering the sounds of nature, the surroundings of the Nurtury provide an ideal place to soundwalk. Far from the bustle of the city, we hear birds, water and the sounds of the weather, and learn through our experiences of these sounds. |
Soundwalking Weekend
24 & 25 April 2010 
Not only do these insights about sound environments accompany us back into daily life; they also provide the starting point for our exploration of listening as a sensory concept. Visit our blog to see how the weekend went |
Over the course of this weekend Andra McCartney introduces new soundwalkers to the pleasurable processes of this activity. Under her guidance we walk through the property both together and individually: listening to the remarkable soundscape of the area, recording sounds on our walks, and then meeting together to talk about how to work with these recordings. Listening to soundwalk recordings made by other artists encourages us to think about how we can glean nourishing sound works from ambiences that usually go unnoticed. |
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As the holiday season beckons, there's nothing like a weekend of carol singing to get you in the mood. Join Kathy McKnight as she works us through the traditional caroling repertoire: satisfying that burning desire to sing 'Hark the Herald Angel' at the top of our lungs (and without apologies!) whilst refreshing and rejuvenating this and other old favourites with an array of new harmonies.
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Tuning-up for the Caroling Season
5-6 December 2009 
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Whether you are an experienced singer or somebody who only works those vocal chords during the holidays, you'll have a great time celebrating the festive season in snowy Lakefield before the seasonal rush sets in. This weekend combines the joys of singing with the joy of cooking, festive-style. visit our blog to hear how we sounded! |
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Taking inspiration from the novels and films being examined and enjoyed over the course of this weekend, participants of the Nurtury Book and Film Club combine the shared delights of book-talk, film-talk and food-talk to create an extended epicurean take on the standard monthly meeting.
The theme of this particular weekend is belonging, and to this end, Linnet Fawcett facilitates our sampling of literary and cinematic works created by female authors and filmmakers that deal with this tenuous state. |
Nurtury Book and Film Club
27-29 November 2009 
Visit our blog to find out how the weekend went |
Participants on this weekend are expected to arrive having read the following 3 books:
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Back by popular demand the Nurtury Book and Film Club combines the shared delights of book-talk, film-talk and food-talk to create an extended epicurean take on the standard monthly meeting.
The theme of this particular weekend is generosity, and to this end Linnet Fawcett facilitates our sampling of literary and cinematic works that focus in on the giving and taking that transpires in teaching and mentoring environments. |
Nurtury Book and Film Club
19-21 November 2010
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Participants on this weekend are expected to arrive having read the following 3 books:
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Want to try something new? Native to North Africa, Asia and the Middle East, belly dancing is one of the oldest social dances in the world. It is also a dance that allows you to express your inner-self and leave your inhibitions behind.
Over the course of this weekend, Sharon introduces us to the basics: hip and chest circles, hip lifts and drops, shimmies and belly undulations.
Belly dancing sessions are interspersed with periods of deep relaxation, with an examination of the benefits of shared fun, and with a taste of Middle Eastern cuisine. |
Belly Dancing
20-22 November 2009  Sharon Levinger
Sharon has been teaching and creating choreographies for her own dance students since 2003 in both French and English. This includes teaching oriental dance classes at McGill University, at Salsa Laval, and in local gyms. |
Sharon Levinger has been belly dancing since 1998 and from 1996 to 2000 studied Latin dances such as the Salsa, Merengue and Bachata. Through the years her passion for Oriental Dance has grown, and now focuses on the following techniques: Modern Egyptian veil-technique, Cabaret Oriental dance, Cane dance (Saidi) and Gypsy styling. As a refined and elegant dancer she performed in Greece (Santorini) and Turkey (Selcuk) in 2001. She brings a warm modern touch to the classic Oriental dance.
Sharon continues to participate in a multitude of shows festivals and Oriental cultural events. She regularly performs at private events and in dance studios and restaurants.
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Our wwp collective writing weekend is led by Pat Machin - a lifelong teacher who is passionate about the writing process and who describes herself as a ten-year-old at heart.
Writing, in itself, is like the sound of one hand clapping - incomplete, silent, and without impact. Only when the writer as the one hand, and the reader as the other, confront each other is there that clap, that spark of communication which makes literature alive. Visit our blog to find out how the weekend went |
Collective Writing
23-25 October 2009  Pat Machin
Eleanor Wachtel |
Pat is a firm believer in what she terms 'the side burner effect'...
"The brain is an amazing creation. It allows one to file ideas which will come to the surface when they are cooked. It allows one to write effortlessly despite all the warnings that one is supposed to struggle with an idea. It works on so many levels and catches one by surprise." Over the course of this weekend Pat explores ways of serving up those cooked ideas, and making them sizzle. As a side dish, we explore 'the fragment' as a philosophical concept. The weekend culminates in an epicurean-style reading of newly produced work. |
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You can't help but smile when you sing with others. Join Erica Phare and Kathy McKnight on a joyful weekend of choral singing. We'll explore music like Appalachian, African, gospel, and jazz. Maybe you've only sung in the shower before, or maybe you were in a school choir many years ago. Whatever your musical background, you'll be sure to have a great time as we create music and share its beauty together.
 Erica Phare
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Here's to Song!
20-22 March 2009 
Visit our blog to find out how the weekend went and to check out how we sound! |
Let the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of this weekend lift you out of the ordinary, and into the fun of singing together.
The choral component of this uplifting weekend is complemented by a philosophical exploration of the sense of joy and its many nuances.  Kathy McKnight
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A selection of our past away days...
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Painting Autumn Colours Away Days
Saturday October 2nd and Sunday October 3rd 2010 
These 2 away days are for people who would like to learn to paint, and who want to catch those beautiful autumn tones at their peak. Our resident artist, Janice Poltrick Donato, will be on hand to help you as you perch yourself on the edge of our private lake (check out those reflections!) or take off into our 22 acres of woodland trails to experience those remarkable autumn colours at your leisure. If you have your own watercolours, acrylics or oils, bring them along. If not, we'll have a selection of painting materials available for you to experiment with, and find your medium. Check our blog for details on how the painting autumn colours away days went. |
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Social Bridge Away Day
Sunday June 13th 2010 
Join Marianne Metrakos for a day of social bridge. If you already play some bridge, The Nurtury is the ideal place to experiment with that 4NT bid. If you are a beginner or just starting out on your bridge journey, we will make sure that you will be teamed up at a table that puts you at ease. One way or another, this is the day to pull up a chair lakeside and bridge yourself out. A delicious feel good lunch and snacks ensure that we are well pampered between rubbers. As for food for thought, Rona Brodie takes a philosophical look at who we are, and what we reveal about ourselves, when we play games? For how the day went please visit our blog |
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Soundwalking Away Days Saturday April 24th and Sunday April 25th 2010 
Soundwalking is a practice that makes places audible: amplifying tiny sounds to bring our attention to things we don't usually hear going on around us; discovering the sonic intricacies of a place through walking, listening and recording. For those who are interested in discovering the sounds of nature, the surroundings of The Nurtury provide an ideal place to soundwalk. Far from the bustle of the city, we hear birds, water and the sounds of the weather, and learn through our experiences of these sounds. Over the course of these away days Andra McCartney introduces new soundwalkers to the pleasurable processes of this activity. Under her guidance we walk through the property both together and individually: listening to the remarkable soundscape of the area, recording sounds on our walks, and then meeting together to talk about how to work with these recordings. Listening to soundwalk recordings made by other artists encourages us to think about how we can glean nourishing sound works from ambiances that usually go unnoticed. Not only do these insights about sound environments accompany us back into daily life; they also provide the starting point for our exploration of listening as a sensory concept. For more information on how this weekend went visit our blog |
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Funny Girls : What Makes Us Laugh And Why?
Saturday March 27th 2010 
This away day looks at what makes us laugh. Using footage old and new, we explore the work of female comics from Mae West to Margaret Cho, from Lucille Ball to Ellen DeGeneres. And between laughs we ask...What lies behind what these funny girls do? What challenges do women comediennes face that male comics do not? What is a sense of humour? And in this age of "laugh therapy," is laughter really all it's cracked up to be? Visit our blog for details on the day |
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Slow Philosophy Away Day: A Communal Experiment in Embodied Philosophy and Bodily Learning
Morning Session (10-12*): Feeling Time with our (Female) Bodies "If there is one virtue that should be cultivated more than any other by him who would succeed in life, it is punctuality: if there is one error to be avoided, it is being behind time." - Electric Signal Clock Company Catalogue, 1891 "In my father's presence I believed I was pure mind; I was horrified to think that he now suddenly saw me as an organism. I felt permanently dethroned." - Simone de Beauvoir, on starting to menstruate at age 13 Bill of Fare: 1) Viewing of factory scene from Charlie Chaplin's Modern Times (1936) 2) A reading that evokes philosopher Simone de Beauvoir's relationship to time, and her embodiment of Existentialism 3) "Racing Against the Clock" Charades: Timely Expressions through Bodily Impressions 4) An Experiment in Haiku Writing: Timepieces and our Corporeal "tics" Lunch Session (12-2*): Feeling Flow with our Bodies "A firm defense of quiet material pleasure is the only way to oppose the universal folly of Fast Life...Our defense should begin at the table with Slow Food" - Carlo Petrini, Founder of Slow Food Movement Bill of Fare: 1) Spicy Parsnip Soup - Slow Food is "Clean" 2) Chicken and 'Slow Lemon' Tagine - Slow Food is "Fair" 3) Grapefruit and Pear Frappe with a Twist - Slow Food is "Good" 4) Chocolate Nut Cake - Slow Food is "Pleasurable"
Followed by an exploration of walking vertically rather than horizontally, as we step outside and take a 20 minute walk with our chora.
Afternoon Session (2-4*): Feeling Rhythm with our Bodies "Movement is located not in the"I" that moves but rather, is out there already circulating, waiting for the "I" to hop on board" Bill of Fare: 1) Finding our Pace - Moving to the Metronome 2) Sharing our Pace - What it feels like to be "in" our natural pace, and "out" of it 3) Your Pace or Mine? - Music that moves with us or against us 4) Changing Paces - Singing ourselves into a Whole *Timings today are subject to change in accordance with our group's tempo giusto Visit our blog for details on the day |
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In addition to being educational, our life-enhancing philosophy experiences have embraced a number of epicurean pleasures...
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 our garden
 nan's studio  loch robin
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Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher. He founded a school of philosophy which - significant for its time - was welcoming to women and other 'non-citizens' of Athens. According to Epicurus, an understanding of philosophy:
Taking inspiration from Epicurus, The Nurtury sits on a private lake and is situated in the midst of thirty one acres of birch, maple and pine trees. Whether you want to hike out on one of our nature trails or sit on the dock with a book, it is an environment that is conducive to the kind of learning experiences we seek to create for you. |
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We believe that by marrying the pleasures of a beautiful setting with good food and good conversation, we help to create an atmosphere conducive to engaged and sensory living and learning...
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 It isn't the big
pleasures that count the most, it's making a big deal out of the little ones. Jean Webster 
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For many of us, wine is one of life's epicurean pleasures.
Excited by the relatively recent entry of so many women into the wine business at a number of levels - from sommeliers to wine makers, from wine writers to connoisseurs - we turn to inspirational trailblazers such as Natalie MacLean (of Red, White, and Drunk All Over fame) to guide us through the world of wine. In a sense, you could say that the world of wine echoes the world of philosophy - for so long, the domain of men, and yet now being invigorated and energized by the participation of women. Moreover, female wine writers like Natalie MacLean are introducing new ways of expressing this special relationship... "Wine is as much about camaraderie as taste. When we share good wine with good friends, we also share what makes us human: sensual pleasure, conversation, and connection. That's the magic hospitality of wine: you can give it all away and yet feel filled to the brim yourself." |
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Menus From The Nurtury To Whet Your Appetite...
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lunch
Thai carrot and ginger soup
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Roquefort cheesecake with roasted balsamic tarragon pears
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Nova Scotia bannock with local cheeses
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...no point
in picking the apple if you don't want to see how it tastes. |
evening meal
a selection of Mediterranean tapas paired with a wine tasting
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Moroccan chicken tagine with artichokes and green grapes, accompanied by coriander quinoa and minted melon balls
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| Join us at wine women and philosophy...the spa that ignites your creative and reflective side. |
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Did you Know?
We are in the process of producing wwp's first cookbook, based on favourite 'feel good' recipes from our weekends and from the kitchens of our members.
All proceeds made from the sale of the cookbook will go towards supporting the Marcelle Scholarship Fund. |
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