Teresa Doyle - Rock Barra Retreat

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Rock Barra is a private artist’s retreat for the contemplation and practice of the creative and healing arts located on the northeast corner of Prince Edward Island. The property is a spectacular twenty-acre site with grand views of the sunrise and sunset over the ocean, sand dunes, a fresh water pond, a spunky little river, fresh water springs, six acres of woods with a walking trail, woodland flowers and herbs, and a fabulous beach.

Our dear friend, Sam Sniderman (Sam the Record Man), owns the property. Sam owned a string of record stores across the country and has helped to launch the careers of countless Canadian musicians. A sweet and generous man, Sam works tirelessly to give back to the musical community. In that spirit he granted a fifty-year lease on the property to create the Rock Barra Artist’s Retreat.

The first summer we hacked our way through the roses and bayberries to set up a tiny camper. Soon after we found our first Airstream, a 1965 Safari, at the time home to a bevy of wild creatures including raccoons, birds and mice! Thus began our love affair with the silver beauties. Our collection now includes a 1973 Sovereign, a 1963 Caravel, and an eighteen-foot Avion. We have spent hundreds of hours restoring these treasures and share them with creative friends and family at what some call “Silver Beach”!

In summer of 2003 we rented the property to Rebecca Miller, daughter of the playwright Arthur Miller, to film her screenplay The Ballad of Jack and Rose starring her husband Daniel Day-Lewis. The film, released in spring 2005 is the story of a failed hippie-commune. The scenery of the Rock Barra site is one of the most prominent aspects of the film. As part of the set they constructed a large bermed (partially underground) building with a sod roof. This structure is now a studio, providing a lovely space in which to present workshops.

At Rock Barra Retreat, our intention is to create a sacred space for the creative and healing arts. We've designed lovely walking trails, a seven-coil labyrinth, and a stone circle. The retreat is open to the public only for daytime workshops. As time goes on we may begin presenting longer programs and possibly offer overnight accommodation at this drug and alcohol free retreat. Sightseers are asked to respect the privacy of this special site. For a list of local accommodations contact Tourism P.E.I. at 1-800-463-4734.

All general inquires about Rock Barra Retreat (www.rockbarraretreat.com), or requests to facilitate a workshop at Rock Barra for your group, can be sent to teresa@teresadoyle.com.

Songwriters and storytellers perform at Rock Barra Retreat, Sunday evenings at 7:30, July 25–August 22

Join songwriters, local storytellers and folks in the community for an intimate house concert every Sunday evening. We encourage anyone with a good yarn about colorful characters and events on the Northside to inspire our songwriters to craft songs based on these tales. Bring your old photos, maps or other artifacts to share with our talented songwriters. Concert time is 7:30, tickets are $10. Teresa Doyle will host the August concerts . For more info contact teresa@teresadoyle.com.

Henry Chapin and guests
July 25

Colette Cheverie and guests
August 1

October Browne with guests Marcus Lutterman and Gary Turlone
August 8

Mark Haines and guests
August 15

Tim Chaisson and guests
August 22

This summer we are proud to be offering a wide variety of workshops, see the list below. Participants are reminded to bring a brown bag lunch to all events and don’t forget to bring a bathing suit.

Mid-Summer Retreat
Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1
Breath of Fire Yoga with Kele Redmond, Introduction to Infinity Dance & Fire Dancing with Jaime Constable, and Seaweed Spa with Irene Novaczek. Call 902-314-3678 or email redmondka@yahoo.ca.

Sound Yoga & Vocal Technique with Teresa Doyle
Friday, August 6 at 7:00 pm until noon Sunday, August 8 | Cost: $160

Our annual magical weekend of singing at Rock Barra will see a couple of very special guests joining us this year. Returning this year is October Browne, an amazing guitar player and singer—not to mention funny…great Irish wit. And my buddy Shivon Robinsong, another Irish lass, will be there too. She has a three hundred member choir in Victoria and is coming east to give a workshop at Tatamagouche. Check their website for details.

A number of you will be coming for a second or third time. There are still some spaces, so tell your friends. As always we will be exploring vocal technique, sound healing and The Yoga of Sound which I've been studying for two years now with South Indian Russill Paul.

And yes, we will be jamming, making fires on the beach, swimming, cooking, laughing, hanging out. The cost is $160. It's helpful if you could send an $80. deposit to me at R.R.#3 Belfast, PE. C0A 1A0.

Can't wait to see you all again, and meet some new folks too. For more info call me at 902-838-2973 or email teresa@teresadoyle.com. And just a reminder that total beginners are always welcome.

Creating Heaven on Earth with Martin Rutte
Sunday, August 15, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | Cost: $100
There is a desire in each of us for a world that works. There is a longing for the recurring problems of the planet like: war, hunger, disease, hatred, senseless suffering, poverty and environmental degradation, to once and for all end.

We feel we want to do something, deep in our hearts, deep in our souls, which will actually take our planet to its next evolutionary level. What we want is a new context, a new story for the Third Millennium—one that inspires us all, one that enlivens Humanity. What are we, Humanity, here for? What is our common collective work?

Creating Heaven on Earth provides a global framework within which your work and the work of others can be aligned to build a much better world. While affirming our individual and unique gifts, it also establishes a new global narrative from which we can experience our actions actually making an impact on the common good of the planet.

Come and hear what others are doing, all around the world, as their contribution. Come and discover your own ability to contribute to a planet that works.

Martin Rutte is the founder of Project Heaven on Earth, an initiative that encourages people to get involved to make the world the kind of home they dream of. He is a dynamic speaker, consultant and co-author of the New York times business best-seller, Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work.

As president of Livelihood, a management consulting firm in Santa Fe, NM, Martin has worked with such organizations as the World Bank, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Virgin Records. He was the first Canadian to address the Corporate Leadership and Ethics Forum of the Harvard Business School.

To register, email martin@martinrutte.com or call (902) 675-2538.

Directions
Take highway #16 east from St Peter’s. When you enter the district of Rock Barra watch for Big Pond road on the left. Go down Big Pond Road for a kilometer. The Road turns sharply to the left. Do not go left. Continue straight and take the second driveway on the left #211. If you are traveling from Souris take the Souris Line Road to hwy #16, turn right, travel two kilometers and watch for the Big Pond Road going down to the shore.

For questions and additional information, email teresa@teresadoyle.com or call 902-838-2973.