STAY TUNED FOR 2027 DATES
Discover the peaceful island community of Sointula, a hidden gem off the northern tip of Vancouver Island on the traditional territory of the ‘Namgis First Nation. Meaning “place of harmony” in Finnish, it was founded by settlers seeking a utopian commune rooted in cooperation and equality. Though the commune itself has faded, its spirit of community remains. Today, this welcoming village, where residents have embraced a slower, more connected pace of life, offers stunning scenery and a vibrant creative culture.
During our week together, you’ll learn the bookbinding and woodworking techniques needed to create your own one-of-a-kind sculptural book using locally sourced driftwood.
You’ll arrive on Malcolm Island Sunday to settle in, and we’ll begin with a welcome dinner; an introduction to each other, our workspace, and the community of Sointula.
Over the next five days, I’ll guide you through the fundamentals of making a book, leading into the paired station method of Coptic binding. We will explore a range of paper treatments including paper dyeing, momigami, image transfer, and photo/image embroidery. With these techniques in hand, you’ll have the creative freedom to design and shape your own unique driftwood book.
Our workspace for the week will be the Sointula Boathouse, a historic building from 1920 located just steps from the ocean. The Boathouse’s large doors open onto the beach, filling the space with fresh air and natural light. Inside, stained glass windows, gallery lighting, and walls filled with cultural artifacts create an atmosphere that encourages focus and creativity. Artist and owner Rebekah Pesicka has carefully restored both the Sointula House and the Boathouse, preserving their original Finnish architecture and craftsmanship.
We’ll begin with simple book structures that incorporate our various paper treatments, giving you a variety of techniques to incorporate into your driftwood book. From there, you’ll move on to wood-cover books, where you’ll learn the paired station method of Coptic bookbinding. Finally, you’ll apply these skills to your driftwood books, creating custom templates that follow the unique contours of your chosen pieces. Along the way, you’ll be introduced to approachable woodworking techniques using basic hand tools, preparing you to continue exploring sculptural bookmaking beyond the retreat.
Instruction will run daily from 10 a.m. to around 4 p.m.
Be sure to set aside some free time to explore the island — the Beautiful Bay and Mateoja trails offer stunning hikes, and adding an extra day or two before or after the retreat is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the surroundings. Strolling the shorelines in the early morning to forage for driftwood is one of my favourite Malcolm Island rituals, and I imagine it will become an integral part of your own daily routine during the retreat.
We will wrap up our retreat on the last day with an open house, where the community is invited to view the books we’ve created, followed by a farewell pizza party.
Plan to depart the island anytime after that day at your leisure.
Cost: $1795
This includes welcome and farewell dinners, five full days of hands-on instruction, and all materials and tools.
A $500 deposit (+5% GST) secures your spot.
REGISTRATION DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED
Balance will be due three months ahead of the retreat
GETTING TO SOINTULA
Getting to Malcolm Island
Malcolm Island is reached by BC Ferry from Port McNeill, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
By car:
Drive north on Highway 19 to Port McNeill and take the BC Ferry to Sointula. The drive from Comox takes approximately 3 hours.
By air:
You have several options:
- Fly into Comox (my recommended option), rent a car, and drive approximately 3 hours to Port McNeill.
- Fly into Victoria or Campbell River, rent a car, and drive to Port McNeill.
- Fly into Port Hardy via Pacific Coastal Airlines (connecting through Vancouver, Victoria, Comox, or Campbell River). From Port Hardy you can take public transit to Port McNeill on weekdays or rent a car.
If you book accommodation within walking distance of the studio, you won’t need a vehicle once you arrive on Malcolm Island.
BC Transit scheduled routes to Port McNeill. Keep in mind there is no bus service on Sundays and Saturday has limited service.
BC Ferries scheduled routes between Port McNeil and Sointula
ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS ARE NOT INCLUDED
Following is a list of options:
Room above Coho Joe’s short walk to the boathouse studio
Dunroven Air BnB short drive to the boathouse studio
Island Alchemy Air BnB 30-45 minute walk to the boathouse studio
Nanshands Air Bnb short walk to the boathouse studio
Oceanfront Hotel short walk to the boathouse studio
Utopia Cotages short drive to the boathouse studio
If you would like to camp there are two campgrounds, all with stunning views of the ocean
Bere Point Regional Campground 15 minute car ride to the boathouse
Registration for this campground opens February 1st and fills up very quickly!
Harmony Shores Campground within walking distance to the boathouse studio (approximately 35-45 minute walk)
The welcome and farewell dinners, as well as tea, coffee and snacks are included but other meals will be the responsibility of the individual. Many of the accommodations listed have access to a kitchen and groceries can be picked up ahead of time in Port McNeil or while on the island at the Sointula Co-op (closed Sundays and Mondays). There is also a charming community garden cupboard which offers fresh local produce. Following is a list of food options on the island:
Burger Barn delicious burgers, fish and chips
Coho Joe’s Cafe fresh baked goods, espresso based drinks and smoothies, homemade soups and salads, gourmet lunches
Malcolm Island Food Company family run market offering fresh and frozen prepared meals, daily baked goods and specialty grocery items
View past retreats HERE
I respectfully acknowledge that this retreat is taking place in the unceded Kwakwaka’wakw Territory of the ‘Namgis, Mamalilikala, and Kwakuitl Nations.