Ontario Presents’ annual Spring Retreat provides members with the opportunity for collaborative learning, reflection and study, mixed with the right proportion of R&R.
The 2024 Annual Spring Retreat consisted of two wonderful days of professional development, networking and fun! From June 12th - 14th, 2024, OP members, colleagues and friends gathered at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario to connect, learn from each other and engage in important informal sector discussions.
We began the retreat with two simultaneous sessions. The first was a Presenter 24/25 Seasonal Review during which presenters were invited to an opportunity to meet with colleagues to review the block booking process for the 24/25 season. The second was a Community Sector Conversation facilitated by booking agents Genny DeMerchant (owner, You Will Love It Live) and Nicole Rochefort (owner, AIM Booking Agency) where they reviewed a variety of current-day topics that are relevant to industry members across the sector. The evening concluded with a dinner at The Mill on Main.
The following day began with an opening of the event circle from local Indigenous leader Shawn Waters Corbiere and an introductory session in which we greeted and met with our friends, new and old. Following this was an inspirational session on the Slow Touring Project lead by Programs Associate Ceilidh Wood. The rest of the day was spent making new connections and soaking up the beautiful Deerhurst sun. We ended the day at Tall Trees restaurant for an amazing meal full of laughter and good conversation.
Our final day at Deerhurst consisted of productive roundtable discussions and a closing of the event circle presented by Hunter Corbiere.
We send a huge chi miigwetch to both Shawn Waters Corbiere and Hunter Corbiere for the lovely opening and closings they offered us and a heartfelt thank you to Dan Watson at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Deerhurst Resort for hosting us!
We are always keen to listen, learn, and understand how we can improve our gatherings and ways that we support you. Feedback for the event is encouraged. We invite you to send your thoughts and comments in the feedback survey here.
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From May 31st to June 2nd, 2023 OP members, friends, and staff gathered together at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario for two days of connection, professional development, and informal conversation.
We kicked off the retreat with a Respectful Workplaces workshop facilitated by Terri-Lynn Brennan, followed by dinner at the Hillside Farm and an evening performance from local band Tonic Lane. The event continued with the AFC facilitating a workshop focusing on Managing Workplace Anxiety, while the OP team shared event and programming updates. Attendees took the opportunity to network with familiar colleagues and build new connections throughout the afternoon and well into dinner at The Mill on Main. We wrapped up the retreat with a series of peer-led round table discussions where presenters, agents, and arts management professionals shared successes and current challenges in the touring performing arts sector.
We are always keen to listen, learn, and understand how we can improve our gatherings and ways that we support you. Feedback for the event is encouraged. We invite you to send your thoughts and comments in the feedback survey here.
We send a huge chi miigwetch to Hunter Corbiere who started our retreat off in a good way and closed the circle on Friday in sending those who remained off safely, and our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Dan Watson at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Deerhurst Resort for hosting us!
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In June 2022, OP gathered our friends and colleagues for our first Annual Spring Retreat in 2 years in beautiful Huntsville, Ontario!
From June 15th -17th, OP members, friends and staff gathered together at the Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. We kicked off the retreat with our AGM where our Board of Directors for this new term was announced. The event continued with two amazing concerts presented by the Huntsville Festival for the Arts and workshops with Sunfest’s Alfredo Caxaj and Theatre Direct’s Lisa Marie DiLiberto.
OP sends a special thank you to Dan Watson at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Deerhurst Resort for hosting us!
For a snapshot of a typical gathering, see our 2019 recap here, or 2018 recap here.