Do you have a memoir, writing project or solo show that you’d like to jump start?

Would six days in the beautiful natural setting of an arts centre on Toronto Island spark your creativity?

Could working in a group setting overlooking Lake Ontario help you focus on your next passion project?

Step away from the noise of life to reconnect with who you are by writing your story.

Lisa and Julia invite you to join a creative sanctuary of writing, yoga, somatic movement and play on Toronto Island to deepen your connection with your creative life. Writing the Self: Unearthing Your Story could be the gold of your next writing project.

We will begin with a supermoon ritual to prepare ourselves for the week. You will be in the company of an intimate and confidential group of like-minded women. Lisa Randall is a writer, playwright, actor, singer, and community organizer. Julia Juhas is a performing artist, embodied movement coach, certified yoga teacher, and educator. Two guest workshops will feature Judy Holm, and another guest artist. Lisa and Julia are committed to creating an inspirational, dynamic, purposeful and supportive space for emerging and experienced writers and creators.

"Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard." - Anne Sexton

What we offer:

• Skilled facilitators with the training and professional artistic backgrounds to provide quality workshops.
• Three award-winning creator-facilitators to help you dive deeper into your story and your humour.
• Sessions designed to deepen your connection to the senses, embodiment, storytelling, and improv.
• A creation lab to test out ideas to help you access your story through words, your body, and your voice.
• The opportunity to find your gold through writing stories from your life.

Space is limited to 14 participants.

“This is one of the best investments I’ve ever made in myself. No, strike that: THE best.” — Julie Charles, Toronto

“The sense of community was life-affirming—far beyond what I imagined.” — Cate Mistruzzi

“It was a magical retreat with Lisa. Her varied and well thought out exercises, skillful, gentle, inclusive and comedic guidance enabled the retreat attendees to quickly establish trust and affection creating bonds.” — Meghan Davis

“It was such a fun weekend! Lisa - you were such an amazing facilitator!” — Tricia Williams

“I love Julia's approach - she puts you in the driver's seat by reminding you how your body has its own language. The best part is applying this thinking, breathing and movement on and off the mat. Thank you, Julia!!” — Alison Brooks

“Julia Juhas’s workshops are exquisitely designed and exceptionally helpful. She’s a superbly gifted teacher: responsive and insightful.” — Sara Zuckerbrot

“This session combining dance, breathing guidance, freedom of expression, and release through principles of yoga was enjoyable and productive for me. As a senior but very inexperienced practitioner of yoga, I appreciated that I could set my own boundaries for exertion but stretch my range of motion under Julia's modelling of movement. For days afterward I have felt more limber and confident about what my body can do.” — Nancy Smith

Your home for the week will be Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, a secluded community cultural hub nestled against the shoreline of Lake Ontario. For more than 25 years, the Centre has hosted 10,000+ artists from around the world, and offers residency space, studio rentals and retreats.

Housed in a former school, the Centre offers simple and comfortable private rooms with double beds, and shared bathrooms. Guests have access to studio spaces to write in, a common lounge, fully equipped kitchen, laundry room and fire pit. Retreat meals will be curated for the group and served in a community dining area for our group.

When was the last time you invested in yourself, your art and your dreams?

Give yourself this gift of time to write, the space to explore, and the inspiration to create.

When: November 24 to November 30, 2026.

Where: Gibraltar Point Arts Centre - Toronto Island.

Price: $2,100.00 - Includes accommodations, meals and facilitation.

Early Bird Registration: September 20, 2026 for a discounted fee of $1,850.00.

Who to contact: Email lisarandallcreates@gmail.com.

Deeply committed to interdisciplinary storytelling, Lisa creates and facilitates work that explores identity, aging, faith, social connection, and the heart of human resilience. Lisa Randall is an award-winning playwright, actor and singer. She will lead morning writing sessions and afternoon play workshops in storytelling, improv, creative expression that are designed to help writers find new ways to access your story in writing, memoir and monologues. Lisa is trained in writing for healing while doing her MA in Culture and Learning at Athabasca University and recently completed her MA in Theatre, Dance and Performance from York University. She also has almost 30 years as a manager in social, settlement where she developed many inclusive activities and arts activations for newcomers and refugees; and in museum and heritage services where she co-created inclusive arts activations including outdoor immersive theatre. Lisa co-created She-Rites, a women's empowerment writing for healing program for Toronto History Museums. With a breadth of experience as a facilitator, artist and administrator, Lisa loves running workshops and retreats and is a true believer in forging community connections.

As an actor and playwright, Lisa’s play, The Sorauren Book Club received Patron’s Pick Award at the 2022 Toronto Fringe. Her original play, Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit, about an aging nun in crisis, was in the Hamilton Fringe in 2025 and in 2026 was a part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was selected for historical preservation by the National Library of Scotland and was recommended on BBC Radio Scotland. Lisa presented also at the Victoria Fringe Festival and the Gabriola Island Theatre Festival. Lisa has acted in numerous commercials, TV/web series and films and recorded two albums of original music as a singer/lyricist. Lisa uses solo, duo and group theatre and storytelling exercises to encourage fun, mutual support and playing toward your joy.

Julia Juhas (she/her) is a professional performing artist, embodied and somatic movement coach, certified yoga teacher, and educator who has been captivating audiences and guiding students for over three decades. She is also the founder of Live With Ease: The Juhas Approach. Visit Julia’s Youtube Channel to experience her approach listen to her recent interview on the Brian Crombie Radio Hour or visit her Instagram for more inspiration.

Julia’s work is as much about artistry as it is about healing. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: movement is medicine, and everyBODY deserves the freedom to live with ease. Julia’s story is one of resilience. In the midst of her flourishing career, she faced two life-changing challenges: a rare knee injury and a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis, both threatening to end her career as a dancer. She shifted her approach to movement and yoga, diving deep into somatic practices, and mindful movement focusing on sustainability, functionality, mobility, and longevity. More than a decade later, she is pain-free, still performing, and through her integrative coaching, she leads others to reclaim their own freedom of movement, empowering individuals to move without fear. Julia offers a unique “meditation in motion” - slow, mindful practices that soothe the nervous system and release tension.

As a Film/TV and theatre actor, singer, and dancer, Julia has performed alongside celebrated artists including Hilary Swank, John Travolta, Louise Pitre, Sean Cullen, and Michael Therriault. A graduate of Sheridan College’s prestigious Music Theatre Performance Program, her career has spanned Mirvish Productions, The Stratford Festival, The Shaw Festival, and numerous stages across Canada and the U.S. If you are interested in her film/tv projects, visit Julia’s IMDB page.