Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre is a not-for-profit educational institute in British Columbia, Canada. It offers programs in health and wellness, creativity, general wisdom, and leadership development on its Cortes Island campus. It also offers programs at various locations in Vancouver throughout the year.

History

Hollyhock was founded in 1982 by Rex Weyler, Siobhan Robinsong and Lee Robinsong who met at Greenpeace. While beach walking on Cortes Island, they saw the abandoned hand-crafted buildings of the former Cold Mountain Institute. Siobhan drew Rex's attention to crimson hollyhocks peeking over a hawthorn hedge. Days before, Rex was given that same vision by an intuitive seer at the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Friends Peggy Taylor, Rick Ingrasci, Torkin Wakefield, Charles Steinberg, Yvonne Kipp and Michael Moore joined to purchase the land. Many others invested over the years, and in 1982, this group of 30 'founders' purchased the abandoned Cold Mountain Institute. Dana Bass Solomon joined in the late 1990s as board member, soon as CEO. With Joel Solomon, Board Chair, (whom she later married), together they have led two decades of mission advancement. In 2008 the partner group donated full ownership and Hollyhock Leadership Institute became a registered charity.

Programming Over the years, Hollyhock has offered a wide range of personal, spiritual and leadership development programs to an international clientele, serving 1,800 to 2,300 guests per year. The Centre hosts education and training Marion S. Goldman 2006. "Cults, New Religions, and the Spiritual Landscape: A Review of Four Collections", Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45(1):87-96. on topics including activism, creative writing, group facilitation, singing, cooking,Solomon, Linda and Moreka Jolar. "Hollyhock Cooks", 2003. painting, drawing, entrepreneurship, dance, photography, leadership,"Short Trips: Holistic programs work on body and soul", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 21, 2007. social ventures,Charlie Smith, "Building Hollyhock’s legacy", Georgia Straight, April 26, 2007. woodcarving, storytelling, kayaking, animal communication, relationships,Shannon Rupp, "Hollyhock Blends Salt air and Spirituality Lite", Georgia Straight, March 28, 1996. mindfulness,M. Kathleen B. Lustyk, PhD; Neharika Chawla, MS; Roger S. Nolan, MA; G. Alan Marlatt, PhD. 2009. "Mindfulness Meditation Research: Issues of Participant Screening, Safety Procedures, and Researcher Training" Advances, 24(1):20-30. nonviolent communication,"Spiritual retreats on Vancouver Island respond to life's challenges", Canadian Press, May 12, 2009. spiritual chanting, meditation,Sameet M. Kumar. 2010. The Mindful Path through Worry and Rumination: Letting Go of Anxious and Depressive Thoughts. New Harbinger Publications. Tibetan Buddhism,G. Alan Marlatt 2006. "Mindfulness meditation: Reflections from a personal journey", Current Psychology, 25(3):155-172. Kabbalah,"Summer gone too quickly?", The Globe and Mail, April 3, 2009. hara hachi bu,Jim Nicolai. 2013. Integrative Wellness Rules: A Simple Guide to Healthy Living. Hay House, Inc. yoga,Tom Pilarzyk. 2008. Yoga Beyond Fitness: Getting More Than Exercise from an Ancient Spiritual Practice. Quest Books. morphic resonance, holistic approaches for dealing with cancer and integrative medicine.Stephan Faulkner 2001. "Two Years in Review", Association of Complementary Physicians of British Columbia News, 1(1):1-8.

Prominent instructors at Hollyhock have included Robert Bateman, Gabor Maté, Jane Siberry, Patrick Lane and Nick Bantock. Hollyhock operates a scholarship fund. In 2008, the centre distributed CAN $97,000 to attendees.

Garden

Hollyhock operates a renowned one-acre French-intensive garden on the property. Flowers and food from the garden are used in the retreat centre's meals.

Political links Hollyhock is led by CEO Dana Bass Solomon,"Hollyhock retreat: 'Paradise with purpose'" , Surrey Now, May 26, 2009.Stephen Legault 2010. "Carry Tiger to Mountain: The Tao of Activism and Leadership" ."Hollyhock retreat offers tool for change, hope and optimism", Canwest News Service, June 26, 2009. while the board's chairperson is her husband, Joel Solomon,Francis Bula 2009. "The Unlikely Revolutionary", Vancouver Magazine.Derrick Penner. "Hollyhock Board Chair Joel Solomon and Hollyhock Sharegiver Carol Newell Inducted To Social Venture Hall of Fame", Vancouver Sun, November 20, 2012. both of whom have connections to the former mayor of Vancouver, Gregor Robertson."Joined at the hip: The mutually beneficial relationship of a mayor and his closest adviser", The Globe and Mail, December 12, 2008."Holly moly", Vancouver Courier, February 15, 2011.Jeff Lee, "Are Vancouver City staff political handmaids of the mayor?", Vancouver Sun, April 11, 2011.Culbert, Lori, "How Big Money Drives Social Change", Vancouver Sun, August 8, 2010.Don't count NPA out next year, Vancouver Courier, November 26, 2010.The Hollyhock primer , City Caucus, March 10, 2010. Robertson was the treasurer of Hollyhock Centre Ltd. from 2003 to 2004, during which he also served on the board of directors. A number of connections have been drawn between Vancouver City Hall and Hollyhock, in part due to the number of people hired by the City of Vancouver who have connections to the retreat centre.How big money drives social change Green philanthropists are striving to turn Metro Vancouver into a sustainable nirvana, Vancouver Sun, August 8, 2010."Vancouver City Hollyhock", City Caucus, March 8, 2010. Solomon responded to these claims by stating that Hollyhock provides space for like-minded people to connect around social and environmental topics, and that the resort's programming attracts attendees from across the political spectrum.

References

External links