Sorrento Centre Retreat & Conference Centre
1159 Passchendaele Road V0E 2W0 Sorrento, BC, Canada

Look up - Northern Lights could be visible... (thanks to Judy Graves for spotting this)...

Sneak peak: Read all about it... our extra-special six-page December "newsy" newsletter is now out and winging its way, electronically and via Canada Post, to our many friends near and far. Look back at 2020, look ahead to 2021, get lots of updates!!! You can download your copy here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//our-december-newsy-newslett

Trans Day of Remembrance today - even though we must be physically distant (due to the pandemic), we welcome you in our hearts and minds... https://egale.ca/egale-in-ac/trans-day-of-remembrance-2020/

'There's a light in our future' - BC's top health official Dr Bonnie Henry has announced a COVID-19 vaccination team. Even as the Sorrento Centre is locked down and everyone is masked up as we navigate through the terrible reality of the pandemic, there are hopeful signs. Our staff team is using the latest 'pause' in our operations to continue safe and prudent planning for our 2021 events and activities. Click here for more info on our plans, and look for more details on dates and events after mid-December. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//light-in-our-future-bc-vacc

And this just out... the winter program from St Dunstan’s...

New province-wide pandemic protections were introduced earlier today. The Sorrento Centre has cancelled some upcoming events and is reviewing the detailed COVID plans for our entire main campus and natural farm. We’re using the ‘pause’ in our operations over the next few weeks to continue our plans for an exciting and nourishing 2021 - as well as expanding our on-line work. Check out more details here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//another-pause-for-the-good-

A beautiful morning on the Shuswap... https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//incredible-beauty-all-around

Entry into Advent: Three special sessions with Bishop Lynne McNaughton on-line starting at 9 am. The season of Advent: Waiting carries new meaning as we enter a winter of pandemic. Scripture readings of the season sound a note of alarm and lament for Creation, and yet turn us again to promises of restoration of earth and human community. For more information and on-line registration: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//entry-into-adven/2020-11-28

Thanks to Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl for sharing this musical introduction to Hanukkah!

Not to be missed... Christmas in Killarney... Dec 4

Good enough to eat! Seven young adults are living, working and learning together as the first cohort of the Sorrento Centre's WYLD (Winter Youth Leadership Development) program. Built on a legacy of young programming going back to the earliest winter courses in 1965, the WYLD program was launched in mid-September to support personal growth, spiritual development, community service and practical employment for the youth. One of the important ways that the youth practice community-building is preparing meals together. Here is tonight's offering - a perogie casserole. Yummy. More on WYLD here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wyld-winter-youth-leadershi

Everything is on ‘pause’ at the Sorrento Centre - even the picnic tables are taking a break by leaning up against the trees. We are assessing the latest COVID rules and planning for well into next year. Check out our on-line Entry Into Advent with Bishop Lynne McNaughton: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//entry-into-adven/2020-11-28

Have a very musical Christmas...

A big concern in our region...

Wild Church Sorrento: Nov 29. You are welcome to this COVID-compliant event https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wild-church-sorr/2020-11-29

This just in: Mark your calendars and plan to spend five Monday evenings - starting Feb 22 - with Sister Water and the Sultan: Exploring our Spiritual Lives with Francis of Assisi. Canadian Franciscan expert Leonard Desroches will lead five 90-minute on-line sessions: (1) introduction to Francis; (2) love of Earth; (3) Francis' encounter with Sultan Malik al Kamil; (4) love of enemy; (5) "perfect joy". More info and registration details coming shortly. Make sure to circle these dates in your calendar. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//sister-water-and/2021-02-22

Now open for registration: Entry into Advent - a special on-line event with Bishop Lynne McNaughton, Saturday. Nov. 28. Sign up in one easy step! https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//entry-into-adven/2020-11-28

Watch this: Elections are an important time in the life of a democracy, and the Sorrento Centre was honoured to host a provincial election all-candidates' debate on Oct. 14 - sponsored by the South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce. Live (via video recording) from the virtual community hub at our Spes Bona administration building, listen to the three candidates debate the issues. Make your vote an informed vote in the upcoming election! https://vimeo.com/468407977

The site-wide COVID-19 lockdown for the Sorrento Centre has been extended to midnight on January 8 - as per the latest public health orders and guidelines from BC medical authorities, including Dr. Bonnie Henry. This means no onsite events and activities until at least then. Our staff team are busily planned an active 2021 on the prudent assumption that there will be a gradual re-opening in the first quarter of 2021, followed by a more general easing of restrictions in the se...cond quarter of 2021. We are also planning on-line events and activities. To begin planning your 2021, visit our home page at www.sorrentocentre.ca. Scroll down to see upcoming events, or click on "Calendar" at the top of the page for more listings for the year. For COVID-19 updates, click on the "COVID-19 and the Sorrento Centre" button on the main page. We continue to monitor the daily developments to ensure that the health and well-being of our guests, staff and neighbours is our top priority. See more

Welcome, Meredith...

Entry into Advent with Bishop Lynne McNaughton - Saturday, Nov. 28, starting at 9 am. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this on-line event. Three special, engaging on-line sessions at 9 am and 11 am and 1 pm (Pacific). We had hoped to welcome Bishop Lynne for an in-person retreat, but the full Advent retreat with Bishop Lynne had to be cancelled due to new pandemic restrictions. Bishop Lynne has kindly agreed to join us for three linked on-line sessions on the Saturday before the start of Advent. More details and on-line registration will be posted shortly. Don't miss this special start to a liminal season in the life of our faith. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//entry-into-adven/2020-11-28

From our friends at St Dunstans...

Still time to register for the Wednesday evening all-candidates’ provincial election on-line debate for the South Shuswap... send in your questions and register on-line: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//all-candidates-o/2020-10-14 In case you missed it, here is the link to the provincial leaders’ debate earlier this evening: https://youtu.be/86K22w5CNDE

Thanks to Mitch Broome for sharing info and a link to Uprooted!

Advent as a pilgrimage of lament and hope. Register today to join Bishop Lynne McNaughton for a special Advent retreat at the Sorrento Centre: Nov. 27 to 29. Full details, on-line registration link and telephone contact: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//advent-as-a-pilg/2020-11-27

Thank you to Lynn Knox and the Absolutely Obsessed Quilters, who just wrapped up (stitched up? quilted up?) a four-day quilting retreat at the Sorrento Centre. The small group of quilters, safely distanced in these COVID times, were working on a variety of quilting themes, but animals seemed to be a major focus for several! Lynn and her gang are regulars at the Sorrento Centre, and we are honoured to be able to host them. For more on upcoming events: www.sorrentocentre.

A great big thank you to our Sorrento Centre Associates who gathered for a work + study weekend - everything was COVID-compliant and we even enjoyed a turkey dinner. Check out some pix here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//thanksgiving-work-study-gat

Two days to go: send in your questions and register today for the BC provincial election on-line all-candidates' debate on Oct. 14. The event will be live-streamed and also recorded and posted. Share your concerns for our beautiful Shuswap region, meet the candidates, make your vote an informed vote! https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//all-candidates-o/2020-10-14

Starting soon: phase two of our glorious Solar for Spes project a newsy update from our solar consultant, Michael Mehta at Sweet Spot Solar. Click on the link below to see a pix of electrical contractor Amber Cachelin installing the first 19 panels. https://www.sweetspotsolar.com//phase-2-of-the-sorrento-ce Help us get over the top: Safe + secure link for on-line donations... https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx

Hurrah and happy national tree day!

Check it out: New video and pix from WYLD (the Winter Youth Leadership Development program of the Sorrento Centre) from their late September trip to Wells Grey. Check back regularly for updates on WYLDlife - a 21st century update on programming for young adults that stretches back to 1965 at the Sorrento Centre. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wyld-winter-youth-leadershi

Awe-mazing! This pix, taken from the hoist high above the roof of Spes Bona, shows the wonderful progress in terms of phase 2 of our Solar for Spes. Nineteen panels last year - 32 more will soon be in place. Thanks to Amber Cachelin of Greensleeves Electrical and her team... most of the costs of equipment and installation have been covered by grants and donations, and your donation will help us get over the top: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx

One month to our very special story-telling and writers' retreat at the Sorrento Centre. Full details and on-line booking here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//story-telling-wr/2020-11-09

Registration will start shortly: Story-telling and writer's retreat with author and activist Meredith Egan. Do you have stories that you want to tell? Are you an aspiring writer who wants to polish your skills? Are you an accomplished writer who wants to find your muse? Mark your calendar and plan to attend a very special story-telling and writer's retreat at the Sorrento Centre in the beautiful Shuswap region of British Columbia. Author Meredith Egan is a skilled writer, a s...trong story-teller and a long-time advocate for justice. All three come together in her brilliant novels, including Just Living. She is a certified executive coach as well as a successful author. During this time together, participants will gather to learn practical tips, share their stories and discuss the art and craft of writing. There will also be plenty of time for reflecting and writing, including rambling across the 24-acre main campus of the Sorrento Centre and nearby trails and scenic spots. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//story-telling-wr/2020-11-09 See more

Calling all story-tellers and writers: book your spot today for a special writers' retreat Nov. 9 to 15, Sorrento Centre, BC, in the beautiful Shuswap region of British Columbia. Do you have stories you want to tell? Are you an aspiring writer who wants to polish your skills? Are you an accomplished writer who wants to find your muse? Author Meredith Egan is a skilled writer, strong story-teller and long-time advocate for justice. All three come together in her brilliant novels, including Just Living. She is a certified executive coach as well as a successful author. Full details, and on-line registration: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//story-telling-wr/2020-11-09

Our fall display of pumpkins and other produce direct from the Sorrento Centre farm has been lovingly arranged by Farmer Gwen in the hallway of Spes Bona, our iconic administration building. Our fall calendar of on-line and in-person events is growing all the time... The next dozen events are displayed on our home page, or you can click on 'Calendar' to see events in the coming months. Check it out at www:sorrentocentre.ca

Kukwstsetsemc to Kenthen Thomas for gifting us with Secwepemc stories and wisdom on the Sunday afternoon of our Thanksgiving weekend at the Sorrento Centre. Kenthen has been regularly bringing stories to our Centre throughout the summer as we gradually re-opened with our "safe, slow, small" COVID-compliant plan. We are deeply grateful. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//kukwstsetsemc-to-kenthen-th

Register and then vote in the upcoming BC general election: It's a very good thing! To be eligible to vote, you must be 18 or older; a Canadian citizen; and a resident of BC for six months or more. Did you know that you don't need to have a home address in order to vote? People who are homeless can register using the shelter where they are staying, or the social services agency where they get support. https://elections.bc.ca/voting/register-to-vote/

Finding home in South Shuswap: everyone is welcome to join an on-line forum on housing and homelessness in the South Shuswap - Tuesday, Oct. 20th at 6.30 pm. Hear from Urbanics Consulting about housing needs in our area; share your own stories about housing and homelessness; hear about plans for new affordable housing. Hosted by South Shuswap Housing Society with the support of Columbia-Shuswap Regional District and Sorrento Centre... https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//finding-a-home-i/2020-10-20

Thanks be! A light dusting of snow in the hills above the Sorrento Centre as we welcome Thanksgiving Sunday morning sunshine and blue skies...

Hello, beautiful! A great, big, bright rainbow over the Sorrento Centre on Saturday afternoon of Thanksgiving weekend - as our Associates work and study on our main campus and natural farm. More here: www.sorrentocentre.ca

WYLDlife: second full day of learning and engagement for the young adults who are in the first cohort of our Winter Youth Leadership Development (WYLD). In the coming months, the youth will live together, learn together and engage with the wider community together. Here is a pic from a session earlier today! More on WYLD: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wyld-winter-youth-leadershi

Welcome to WYLD! Woot, woot - the first cohort of our renewed Winter Youth Leadership Development program gathered for dinner and introductions this evening. What a fine group of people! The Sorrento Centre has been welcoming young adults from our beginnings in 1963 when Jim Cruickshank and Ruth Hall launched the first winter youth program. Times have changed, and we have refreshed the curriculum and activities. More on WYLD: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wyld-winter-youth-leadershi

Looking smart: our smart virtual hub (camera, microphone, speakers, controllers, big screen) is installed in the newly renovated Spes lounge. First of its kind in the Shuswap, the hub will allow us to connect small groups in our campus to the world. The hub will be available to guests who book space with us, and also free to our community friends. We want to get a big beautiful table for the room, but until then, our COVID-compliant plastic tables and chairs (which can be quickly and easily sanitized) will have to do... up next: final decorations for the room. Can you make a donation of $10 or $100 towards a conference table? Click here for a safe + secure link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx

Finding a home in the South Shuswap: Mark your calendar and plan to attend this virtual town hall meeting on housing and homelessness in our area - hosted by the South Shuswap Housing Society with support from CSRD and Sorrento Centre. More info: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//finding-a-home-i/2020-10-20

We st the Sorrento Centre are honoured to be part of the global reconciliation network: the Community of the Cross of Nails...

Thanks to yesterdays rain, the skies are clearer, the smoke is mostly washed away and we can see across the Shuswap again. This doesnt take away the urgency of tackling human-induced climate change - which fuelled the climate fires in the US - but reminds us of the beauty of Mother Earth.

Amen... https://www.facebook.com/canadiananglican/videos/322978755703951/?vh=e&extid=dr0AeuoGBjcRoxCy

Watch this: Service of consecration and installation of Rev. Lincoln McKeon as Bishop of the Territory of the People earlier today... https://youtu.be/bEMDsKBGqaU

Everyone must visit the artisan market every time they come to the Sorrento Centre... a most wonderful place...

Sure sign of fall and the coming of Thanksgiving... great big and beautiful pumpkins from the Sorrento Centre farm adorn the stairs of Spes Bona on our main campus... another sure sign - the conkers are growing big in horse chestnut trees on our main campus. Check out fall and winter activities at www.sorrentocentre.ca

Consecration and installation of new bishop for Territory of the People: Saturday on-line at 2 pm https://www.territoryofthepeople.ca//consecrat/2020-09-19

Sorrento Centre is proud to be in the interior of beautiful BC: www.sorrentocentre.ca

The Sorrento Centre is pleased to welcome a new interfaith initiative: You are warmly invited to a Standing Meditation workshop on Sunday, Oct. 18th from 1 4 pm. Experience deep meditation without being restricted in a seated posture. You will receive a transmission of universal energy in the vajryana Buddhist tradition and flow with gentle movement following a talk. Register early for limited space: call 778 587 7468. Cost is $50 on a sliding scale for lower-income partici...pants. Dr. Vibeke Vaerum is a meditation lineage holder in Buddhism who has been teaching since 2009. She brings wisdom and humor to teaching and is in community outreach at Sorrento Centre. Workshops will be offered on a monthly basis with follow-up practice sessions. Read on for Vibekes take on how this meditation promotes resilience during times of uncertainty. More details: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//standing-meditat/2020-10-18 See more

Biomimicry- innovation in nature. Thanks to Kim Fulton for this amazing video...

C'est ca! The physical upgrades to the main lounge at Spes Bona, the iconic administration building on the main campus of the Sorrento Centre, are complete. Next step to converting the space into our virtual community hub - adding in the smart camera and other technology, plus other furniture. Thanks to Kevin, Scott, Ashley and others...

Tune in on Thursday at 10 am (Pacific): Sorrento Centre ED Michael Shapcott will make a short public presentation to regional council on Thursday at 10 am on housing and homelessness in our region, and some home-grown solutions. He is President of the Board of the recently created South Shuswap Housing Society. The society was formed as a collaboration amongs groups and individuals in our region - including the South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce, the Sorrento Food Bank, the Sorrento Centre, the South Shuswap Health Services Society and St Mary's Anglican / United Church. You can register in advance to watch the CSRD council meeting. Click on the page below for more info and plenty of links. https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//taking-action-on-housing-ho

Monday smoke update: how serious is the smoke from the US climate fires in our Shuswap region? Well, the thick smoke from the US fires caused, in large part, by human-induced climate change, cut the energy production in more than half for the 19 panels on the roof of Spes Bona - down from 25kWh yesterday to 10.4kWh today. Another measure, while yesterday we could see (through a haze) the north shore of the Shuswap... today, we can barely even see a few feet into the lake.

A good tool for building harmony with Mother Earth https://pwrdf.org/covenantforclimatechange/

How choked-up are the skies above the Sorrento Centre from the United States human-induced climate change fires? Or, perhaps the question is, when will the political leadership in Canada and the US finally recognize the devastating impact of the anthropocene (human-induced climate change) and commit to positive action. This summer, Secwepemc knowledge holder Kenthen Thomas brought us considerable wisdom through ancient stories, including how coyote taught the trees to breathe. We need to listen to the old stories about being in harmony with Mother Earth - instead of at war with nature.

Share your contribution to the next online Gospel Jamboree...

A dull and cool day at the Sorrento Centre... it has been delightfully warm and sunny, but sadly the smoke from the human-induced climate change forest fires in the US is pouring across the border. Many US politicians have refused to take serious action in the face of 200k+ deaths from COVID-19. Many US politicians refuse to take action in the face of catastrophic climate change. Sad! Here at the Sorrento Centre, our new winter youth program will have a big chunk of time devoted to confronting the climate crisis. We are opening up some sessions to the public. Stay tuned for more details. The young adults arrive next week to start the Winter Youth Leadership Development program. More info here: https://www.sorrentocentre.ca//wyld-winter-youth-leadershi

This morning at St Marys Anglican / United Sorrento: live https://youtu.be/s-OrwILZLhg

Welcome to Lisa Lindsay and Creative Ladies: the Sorrento Centre is a major hub for arts and crafts, and we are able to host COVID-compliant small groups on our main campus. We are delighted to have Lisa and her group this weekend. Check out our fall schedule at www.sorrentocentre.ca