Join us for a June writing retreat in a timeless fishing town on Nova Scotia’s south shore
June 7-16, 2026
Ten days in the pristine, UNESCO World Heritage site of Old Town Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, on the East Coast of Canada, surrounded by colourful 18th and 19th century buildings, quaint shops, and the historic waterfront at your fingertips—just imagine.
We’ll stay at the Bluenose Lodge and take an optional harbour-front cruise on the hotel’s namesake, the Bluenose II schooner; enjoy a fresh lobster feast (or substitute, if lobster’s not your thing); and embark on a day trip to Mahone Bay as well as scenic Peggy’s Cove and that village’s iconic lighthouse.
All of this, with several meals and refreshments included, plenty of time for group writing sessions, individual meetings about your writing, and the solitude that’s critical for focused creativity.
Costs start at $5,195 CAD per person (approx. $3,700 USD) based on double occupancy. See below for details.
If you’re looking for an authentic experience in the Canadian Maritimes with lots of time to write, join us for a 10-day retreat in Old Town Lunenburg.
Join Canadian authors Dr. Gerard Collins and Janie Simpson from June 7-16, 2026, for a focused writing retreat in the East Coast Maritimes. We’ll spend ten days at the Bluenose Lodge, with all rooms booked for our writers’ exclusive use.
Come to Nova Scotia for the quiet beauty and peaceful charm that can only be found in Atlantic Canada.
As a Go and Write! participant, your only job is to focus on your writing, absorb the peaceful atmosphere of Nova Scotia, and make memories to weave into your storytelling once you’re back home. Our job is to create the conditions that will help you reach these goals.
About your hosts
A note from a recent retreat participant
“It is not an exaggeration to say this retreat changed my life! I have been struggling for years to finish a personal memoir draft. Just a few days on our retreat, and my writing and I turned a corner. I had the breakthrough that had eluded me for years. The combination of Gerard’s insightful guidance, the support of the other writers who became instant soulmates, and the Irish tradition of storytelling in an 18th century castle proved to be life-changing.
“I am close to finishing my memoir draft, and I give all credit to Go and Write! for providing the environment that enabled me to write and organize my thoughts. I have opened myself up to the possibilities ahead, and I’m feeling better about my writing than I have in years.
“My deepest thanks to Gerard and Jane…”
~ Gloria R.B., Go and Write! alumnus
Welcome to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, has long been a personal favourite writing location of ours, ever since Gerard lived in nearby Mahone Bay for a brief time more than a decade ago; every day, he made the short trek to Lunenburg to write in the quiet cafés and restaurants, and stroll around town.
With its brightly-coloured buildings, historic waterfront, museum, and a plethora of cafés, pubs, restaurants, and quaint shops featuring local art and artists, all within a one- to seven-minute walk from our venue, Lunenburg makes a fantastic home base for a writing retreat.
First, though, like all good Maritimers, let’s talk about the weather. The average temperature in Lunenburg in June is about 18°Celsius (64°Fahrenheit) during the day, and 11°Celsius (52°Fahrenheit) at night. It’s best to plan for the vagaries of late spring/early summer, including the chance of rain. And if we’re lucky, we’ll get some fog, too, which adds an air of mystery to the town and often burns off by lunchtime.
As with any East Coast region, it’s a good idea to think in layers when you’re packing your suitcase, and don’t forget that we plan to take a sail on the Bluenose II schooner, so you’ll want some warm clothing for that excursion.
History of Lunenburg
Like much of the Maritimes region, the history of Lunenburg is varied, complicated, and focused on the sea, and it all begins with the Mi’kmaq, long before the arrival of European settlers.
Located on Mi’kmaq traditional territory and settled by French, Swiss, and German immigrants, the town of Lunenburg was founded in about 1753 and named for the royal house of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Called E’se’katik, or “place of clams,” by the Mi’kmaq, the town was also known as “Merligueche,” and was settled by the Acadians beginning in the 1630s, when Isaac de Razilly established LeHave. Acadians remained there until the start of the forced deportation of Acadians from Nova Scotia by the British beginning in 1755.
~ AAMS (Association des Acadiens Métis Souriquois
The Town of Lunenburg has long had a strong connection to the sea. The Grand Banks fisheries in the 19th and 20th centuries gave rise to fortunes in shipbuilding, fishing, export, and processing. When the fish disappeared and the maritime-based economy foundered in the 1990s, Lunenburg diversified its seafaring history by focusing on heritage tourism, and in 1995, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Lunenburg is the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America. Established in 1753, it has retained its original layout and overall appearance, based on a rectangular grid pattern drawn up in the home country. The inhabitants have managed to safeguard the city’s identity throughout the centuries by preserving the wooden architecture of the houses, some of which date from the 18th century. ~ UNESCO World Heritage Convention
The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is housed in a former fish plant right on the water and tells the story of the fishery, starting with the early Mi’kmaq fishing traditions, moving through the age of sail, and on to the current day. We’ve spent a lot of time in this museum, ourselves, and it’s a treasure trove of inspiration and a great resource for research.
All breakfasts and two suppers at the Bluenose Lodge are built into your retreat registration, as well as a couple of meals associated with our group excursions. That said, many writers are introverts, so we deliberately leave plenty of room for writers to experience lunches and suppers solo, too. This balanced approach gives you the freedom to be lost in anonymity, to wander the town and enjoy an introspective meal on your own, dreaming and writing in pubs and cafés without the pressure of group/social interaction.
Some popular haunts in town include the Salt Shaker Deli for a great meal, as well as the No. 9 Coffee Bar and the Laughing Whale Coffee Roasters. If you’re looking to do some shopping, Lunenburg has lots to offer, including the Block Shop Books independent book store and the Bluenose II Company Store, where the proceeds go directly towards the maintenance and operations of the schooner. There are also several clothing stores, textile shops, and gift shops with Nova Scotia tartan and other classic must-haves.
A few steps away from the waterfront, you’ll find the Laurie Swim Gallery, showcasing the textile artwork of the nationally and internationally recognized, award-winning visual artist, alongside renowned artists from across the province of Nova Scotia.
If you have a hankering for local spirits, the Ironworks Distillery offers a range of guided tours and tastings, and they’re just a 10-minute walk from the historic downtown. They also have a great gift shop for those who might want to bring a taste of Nova Scotia back home with them.
In the other direction, a 10-minute walk from the Bluenose Lodge, you’ll come to Wildertools Forge, owned and operated by award-winning blacksmith Rick Marchand who offers tours and workshops.
And while we’ll enjoy several meals at our venue, the Bluenose Lodge, we’re also just across the road from one of our favourite watering holes, The Knot Pub, a beloved local hangout known for its cozy atmosphere and affordable and great-tasting pub fare, with a particular emphasis on local, fresh seafood.
Nova Scotia’s cultural landscape
While Nova Scotia is well-known for its great musicians that range from world-famous The Rankin Family and the Barra MacNeils, fiddling superstars Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster, to Lilith Fair creator Sarah McLachlan, and “Snowbird” singer Anne Murray, this most-eastern mainland province also boasts a thriving television and film industry.
Lunenburg, in particular, has been the setting for several movies, including the Stephen King movie Dolores Claiborne. Most recently, this pretty Maritime village has played a starring role in TV series’ such as Locke and Key, Haven, The Sinner, and We Were Liars. The town’s famous beauty has been increasingly used in Hallmark Christmas movies such as Christmas Island. You’re sure to recognize many of the locations from these TV and film productions on your daily walks during the retreat.
The writers of Nova Scotia comprise a genre of their own, and such notables as Alistair MacLeod (The Lost Salt Gift of Blood and No Great Mischief, which won the prestigious Dublin IMPAC Literary Award), his son Alexander MacLeod (Light Lifting), and the extraordinary Ann-Marie MacDonald (Fayne and Fall on Your Knees)—all of Cape Breton heritage—have captured the essence of what it means to live on the East Coast of Canada, as well as what it means to be human.
George Elliott Clarke (Saltwater Spirituals and Deeper Blues and Black), poet and playwright, is a self-proclaimed “citizen of the world” with roots in Nova Scotia. And for pure literary joy and talent, there are few Canadian writers as beloved as River John, Nova Scotia’s Sheree Fitch (Mable Murple and Sleeping Dragons All Around).
Ami McKay’s The Witches of New York and The Birth House as well as Lesley Crewe’s Spirit of Scatarie are all #1 National Bestsellers, Linden MacIntyre’s The Bishop’s Man captured the coveted Giller Prize, while Mi’kmaw poet shalan joudry (Waking Ground) and former poet laureate El Jones ( Abolitionist Intimacies) bridge multiple artistic and academic disciplines. These writers, among many others, continue to produce literary works to great acclaim.
Exploring on your own
We’ll incorporate a couple of group outings (more on that below!) into our Lunenburg retreat, but for those who are interested in exploring on your own, our Bluenose Lodge innkeeper, Mark Trask, recommends Seaweed Tours for an in-depth and independent small coach tour of the local region. He also suggested Lunenburg Walking Tours for guided tours through Lunenburg focused on the architecture and history, the culinary delights of the town, and there’s even a Haunted Lunenburg evening walk. And there’s also a company called Trot-in-Time (see photo above) that offers guided horse and buggy tours around the town.
For fans of the Curse of Oak Island television series, the island is just a half hour drive from Lunenburg and Oak Island Tours offers guided tours of the island, including iconic locations like the War Room, the Swamp, the Money Pit, Smith’s Cove, the Cave-In Pit, and the Wash Plant.
Group Adventures
Adventure #1: Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay
Wherever we go on a writing retreat, we make sure to include an opportunity to see the surrounding area so you gain some knowledge of both the local culture and the people. While we rightly place the emphasis on quiet, introspective time alone, we couldn’t bring you to the South Shore of Nova Scotia without also including a visit to Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay.
Peggy’s Cove
After breakfast at our venue, we’ll board our private coach and make our way to Peggy’s Cove, likely the most famous landmark in Nova Scotia. Typical of Atlantic Canada, it’s not a building or statue that draws the most people each year—it’s a unique rock formation that juts into the wild Atlantic Ocean and contributes to the sensation of standing at the edge of the known world.
Peggy’s Cove, with a population of 30 full-time residents, is among the most visited and photographed spots in Atlantic Canada. Both the old Peggy’s Cove lighthouse and the wide swath of granite are iconic Maritime sites. Despite its small population, Peggy’s Cove has all the amenities of a small Canadian town, including a restaurant named The Sou’wester where we’ll stop for a group lunch.
Of course, Maritimers love their stories, and one folk tale about Peggy’s Cove is that its name comes from a woman named Margaret who was the soul survivor of a nearby shipwreck. She was known as “Peggy,” and she settled in the area, so it became known as Peggy’s Cove.
Mahone Bay
Mahone Bay. Photo credit: Mahonebay.com
After our group lunch in Peggy’s Cove, we’ll board our coach and head to Mahone Bay for the rest of the afternoon. It’s only a few minutes’ drive from our Lunenburg venue, so once you’ve experienced Mahone Bay’s many pleasant shops and eateries, you might well decide to go and spend an entire day there later on your own, dining at a pub that overlooks the harbour or sipping tea at an outdoor table as you watch the world go by or scribble a new journal entry.
The Mahone Bay area was originally settled thousands of years ago by the Mi’kmaq people, before European settlers of the 17th century arrived. In the 1750s, Britain recruited people in Germany, southern France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands to move to a planned settlement in Nova Scotia where they would receive grants of land and food for a year. Most of the 2,200 settlers were brought to Lunenburg, including Mahone Bay. In the early part of the twentieth-century, the residents of Mahone Bay voted to form their own municipality, a town which thrived on shipbuilding but, these days, depends mostly on tourism.
If you’re looking to do some shopping, Mahone Bay has several great options: for clothing, there’s the Cosmic Hippie Boutique and Pearl’s Vintage and Thrift Shop. For fine housewares and bath and body products, check out The Oak and Fern and The Teazer. Then there’s Amos Pewter, a renowned shop and working art studio, as well as the Encompassing Designs rug-hooking shop and studio and the Northern Sun Gallery and Gifts.
For a quick bite or a draught of ale, step into the English-style Mug & Anchor Pub. And if you’d rather skip the meal and just have some great local craft beer and cider, you’ll want to check out the taproom at the Saltbox Brewing Company. If a café is more your style, there’s The Barn Coffee and Social House as well as the self-proclaimed Famous Town Pie Shop, a tiny bakery that serves coffee, espresso, and their signature hand-sized, savoury and sweet pies.
One of our favourite must-stop shops in Mahone Bay is Spill The Tea. It boasts a small tea room and features hundreds of artisan, loose leaf teas from all over the world, along with all of the tea-brewing accessories you might expect, and then some.
After we spend the afternoon exploring the beautiful Mahone Bay, we’ll board the coach for the quick drive back to Lunenburg in time to go our own way for supper.
Adventure #2: A harbour cruise on the Bluenose II schooner and a fresh lobster dinner
Harbour Cruise on the Bluenose II schooner
We try our best to incorporate meaningful experiences into our retreats, and we couldn’t imagine anything more iconic than a harbour cruise on the Bluenose II schooner.
After an early breakfast, we’ll make the 10-minute walk down to the harbourfront for our sailing. Before boarding, we’ll have a mandatory safety session, and then we’re off.
The ship will motor out of the channel, showing stunning views of the Lunenburg waterfront, and once past the Battery Point lighthouse, the ship will turn into the wind and the crew will set the sails.
We’ll sail for 60-80 minutes, either toward the coast of The Ovens or Blue Rocks, before the sails are struck and the ship returns to the Lunenburg harbour.
Our harbour cruise is included in your registration, but it’s not mandatory if sailing isn’t your thing; just let us know at registration if it’s not of interest to you. The cruise is also weather dependent, so if our outing is cancelled due to weather, we’ll do our best to reschedule or offer an alternative event.
The Original Bluenose Schooner
2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the launch of the undefeated world champion and pride of Nova Scotia, the Bluenose Schooner
Read more about the Bluenose Schooner below, quoted directly from the Bluenose II webpage.
A traditional Lobster Feed at the Old Fish Factory
We couldn’t go to sea without also experiencing the best she has to offer, and for us, that means fresh lobster. Janie’s family has deep roots in Nova Scotia and her grandfather was a lobster fisherman in her home province of New Brunswick, which shares a border—and the Bay of Fundy—with Nova Scotia. Every chance we get, we “have a feed,” as the fisher folk say, and we want you to have the same opportunity to experience the world-class taste of freshly-caught Nova Scotia lobster. There’s a real skill into getting the most out of a lobster meal, so we’ll also throw in a lesson on how to eat it!
With that in mind, after we dock following our harbour cruise on the Bluenose II, we’ll wander over to the Old Fish Factory for a traditional midday meal of lobster. And if lobster isn’t your thing, the Old Fish Factory has a fine selection of delicious alternative entrees which they can easily substitute for you, no worries!
Don’t forget to write
As with all Go and Write! retreats, while we try to incorporate some “going” into our time, our main emphasis will be on writing and helping you to get—and stay—focused and in the zone.
We’re writers, ourselves, so we get it; it can be tough to find time to write. But that’s what’s so great about our writing retreats, and why our Retreat to Old Town Lunenburg only has two excursions: besides our day trip to Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay, and our harbour cruise—all of which will provide inspiration and allow you to get a real taste of Nova Scotia and the South Shore—the rest of the time is spent focused on writing.
Writers appreciate the stimulation that comes from outstanding experiences, but we also need time to rest and think about it all, put distractions away, and settle down to some serious writing.
Participants
We host as many new or emerging writers as we do established writers who simply need time away from the daily grind and support to refresh their souls or kickstart their writing. There is no application process to attend our retreats, but we do meet with each new-to-us, potential participant by Zoom before accepting registration. This allows us to get to know each other a wee bit to help gauge if our retreats might be a good fit, and it’s an efficient way for you to ask us questions about specific retreats or how we shape our retreats in general.
Go and Write! retreat participants range from beginning writers who’ve never published and simply want to start jotting down their thoughts, to award-winning, experienced writers who’ve published extensively through traditional publishing houses. Previous attendees include playwrights, poets, children’s authors, novelists, television producers, romance writers, short story, travel, and memoir writers, and everything in between.
If you have a desire to be in the company of like-minded souls, some of whom have written only a little and others who have published extensively, and you’re a lifelong learner who understands and respects boundaries, our retreats may be a good fit for you.
Writers can register as individual participants or bring someone to share their room and costs, in which case, both parties would register as a “double” registration. This second person can also be a writer or a non-writing spouse or adult guest, and some bedrooms are equipped with two beds. We do not pair strangers on our retreats, so if you want to register as a double, you’ll need to bring a roommate, and our numbers will be limited to approximately 16 participants on this writing retreat to allow for a more intimate, connected, and focused experience.
We often have non-writers join us on retreats (as part of a “double” registration, accompanying a writer), and they’re welcome to participate in as few or as many of the writing activities as they wish. These folks are invited to attend all of the meals, readings, writing sessions, and any outings that are part of the program, as these elements are included in everyone’s registration.
Group writing sessions and individual feedback
We will host relaxed, private group readings on a couple of evenings throughout the retreat, where you’ll have the chance to share your writing aloud with your fellow participants, if you like, without pressure (we don’t do peer or group critiques on our retreats).
We will also have two group writing sessions guided by Gerard, an award-winning author and university educator, and each participant will have two one-on-one chats with Gerard as well, where you’ll have the opportunity to talk with him about your specific writing projects, goals, and challenges.
All registered participants will be invited to submit a short writing sample in advance of the retreat. We don’t ask potential participants to take writing “tests” or to have a minimum skill level to join us, but we do ask registered participants to be open to learning, and at a certain point before the retreat, we invite participants to submit a short writing sample for our eyes only.
Your sample stays with us and provides a foundation for your one-on-one discussion about your writing with Gerard, and it’s entirely up to you how and if you decide to implement any recommendations. Janie reads the samples to get an overall sense of your writing, and Gerard reads each sample multiple times and prepares his written commentary in advance, and he shares it with you—and only you—during the retreat. The writing samples also help Gerard customize the workshops for each retreat.
For those who are new to writing, you can trust that we respect the courage it takes to share your writing, and Gerard treats your submission with great care and respect as he’s preparing his written commentary. For those who are already experienced writers, Gerard is a multi-award-winning author who has taught writing for decades, and he’s also a professional editor and has privately mentored several authors who’ve gone on to win multiple awards; other published authors who’ve joined us in the past have said they got a lot out of his commentary and insights, and have applied them in their work going forward.
We invite you to have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
All participants—including those who have joined us in the past—are required to review and agree to abide by our updated Expectations, Rules, and Conditions before we will accept registration.
More about our host venue, the Bluenose Lodge
The Bluenose Lodge, built by William Morash in 1863, was the height of architectural fashion at the time, a Victorian Gothic home with a central tower, gables, peaked windows, and the first home in town to have a “widow’s walk,” where worried wives would watch for their seafaring husbands.
A few years later, William sold the home to Charles Morash, a prominent merchant and builder who owned the home and lived there with his family. Captain Carl Kohler purchased the home in 1921, prior to becoming a member of the Bluenose racing crew in the 1930s.
Following World War Il, pleasure travel resumed, was encouraged, and expected to grow. Lunenburg had little to offer in the way of overnight accommodation, and the provincial government ran newspaper ads suggesting that individuals open their homes to tourists, so in 1946—the same year that the lodge’s namesake, the Bluenose Schooner, sunk off the coast of Haiti—the Kohler family sold the home to Claude Vincent, a Halifax tailor, who added the kitchen and dining room, and the Bluenose Lodge was born.
Now under the ownership of Mark Trask, the Bluenose Lodge will celebrate 80 years of providing exceptional hospitality.
There are several common living and sitting rooms at the lodge, and there’s a collective energy that permeates these spaces when like-minded souls are quietly focused on creating.
Rooms at the Bluenose Lodge—upgrades available
All of the rooms at the lodge are unique, lovely, and tastefully decorated, in keeping with the historic nature of this fine house, and each room will be equipped with a table and chair for writing.
There are inexpensive room upgrades available at the Bluenose Lodge for those who wish to have additional luxuries for our ten-day stay, and rooms will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Below, we have incorporated some photos and general room descriptions from the lodge’s website.
Standard Rooms with two Double beds
*The starting price for your retreat is based on one of these standard rooms.
Full of charm, rooms 203, 306, and 307 have two double beds and include ensuite bathrooms with a shower, luxurious bath toiletries, hair dryer, air conditioning, and other amenities. These corner rooms are located on the second and third floors and decorated with a nod to the history of the lodge and feature large, bright windows. A smart television with multiple streaming services, a coffee and tea station, and Wi-Fi are also included.
These rooms with two beds are spacious and particularly well-suited for those who wish to bring a travel companion / fellow writer.
All rooms will include a table and chair for writing.
Upgraded rooms with one Queen bed
Rooms 205, 308, and 309 are Deluxe Queen rooms with three-piece, ensuite bathrooms. These bright corner rooms are located on the second and third floors and feature multiple windows. Room highlights include television with multiple streaming services, air conditioning, free WiFi, and luxurious bath amenities.
Carriage House room 21 (pictured below) is located on the second floor of the adjacent historic Carriage House and also has a Queen bed and a three-piece, ensuite bathroom, as well as television with multiple streaming services, air conditioning, free WiFi, and luxurious bath amenities.
All rooms will include a table and chair for writing. See below for upgrade costs.
Upgraded rooms with one King bed
Rooms 101 and 202 are Deluxe King rooms with three-piece, ensuite bathrooms. These bright, corner rooms are located on the ground and second floor of the main lodge and feature large windows. Room highlights include television with multiple streaming services, air conditioning, free WiFi, and luxurious bath amenities.
Carriage House Room 23 (pictured below) is located on the second floor of the adjacent historic Carriage House and also has a King bed and a three-piece, ensuite bathroom, as well as television with multiple streaming services, air conditioning, free WiFi, and luxurious bath amenities.
All rooms will include a table and chair for writing. See below for upgrade costs.
Carriage House 20 — offered at a discounted rate
Standard Two Double Beds with Private Bathroom (not ensuite)
This Standard Two Double Bed Room has a private, three-piece bathroom across the hall. The large, corner room is located on the second floor of the adjacent historic Carriage House. Room highlights include television with multiple streaming services, air conditioning, free WiFi and luxurious bath amenities.
This room will include a table and chair for writing, and with two beds, it’s particularly well-suited for those who wish to bring a travel companion / fellow writer.
The room and the bathroom are spacious and lovely, and the venue offers this room at a discounted rate due to the fact that the bathroom (locked and only accessible to you) is across the hall. See the discounted rate at the bottom of this webpage.
Join us on the South Shore of Nova Scotia for 10 days in June and experience a writing retreat that combines a little bit of touring with a whole lot of writing.
On a quiet June day in Lunenburg, the ocean laps against the dock and the hulls of fishing boats and schooners as the town awakens to early summer. It’s not quite tourist season yet, but the warmer weather has claimed the days.
For these ten days in Lunenburg, you can write every day while your mind, body, and soul rest for a while. Life in Nova Scotia—also known as Canada’s Ocean Playground—is still and peaceful, and while we’ll have a day of sightseeing as well as an optional harbour cruise, there will be plenty of solitary, quiet time to focus on your creative projects.
Well-known for its dazzling bright colours, Maritime cultlure, and East Coast serenity, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is the perfect place to find yourself in early summer as you seek solitude and respite from the world. There’s something different here beneath the big, blue sky and upon the surrounding waters that allows a person to breathe, to remember why you’re here, and to reconnect with your true self.
Nothing less than authenticity—that’s what you’ll find here in Atlantic Canada. And if that leads you to write, then don’t say we didn’t warn you. You might find yourself wanting to come back over and over because, if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past few years, when a writer finds a good place to write, it’s always best to go back there whenever you can. As any writer will tell you, in such places is where the magic dwells.
GO!
- 10 days/9 nights at the Bluenose Lodge with your own bedroom and bathroom, including porterage to help with your luggage
- All breakfasts as well as two dinners at the Bluenose Lodge, along with two complimentary drinks (non-alcoholic beverages also available) with both dinners
- Private day tour of Peggy’s Cove and Mahone Bay, including private coach
- Lunch in Peggy’s Cove with one complimentary drink (non-alcoholic beverages also available)
- Harbour cruise on the Bluenose II, including entry tickets*
- Lobster—or alternative—lunch at The Old Fish Factory, with one complimentary drink (non-alcoholic beverage also available)
- All applicable accommodation and meal gratuities and taxes are included in your registration
*The Bluenose II cruise is weather-dependent and we’ll do our best to reschedule if necessary, or offer an alternate experience. It’s also not required—just let us know at registration if you’re not comfortable taking part.
WRITE!
- Two group writing sessions
- Two one-on-one chats with Dr. Gerard Collins
- Professional, honest, and thoughtful commentary on your pre-submitted writing sample from an award-winning author and university educator—helpful regardless of your writing level
- The company of other writers
- Group readings and conversation on several evenings
- Non-writing participants are welcome to take part in as few or as many of the elements of the retreat as they wish
- Ample time and opportunity for writing, idea-gathering, and solitude
A major difference between Go and Write! and most travel companies or writing retreats is the personalized aspect of our tours. We ensure there’s both social time and alone time built into the itinerary, as well as plenty of time for wandering and gathering thoughts in a solitary fashion. We encourage writers to give each other space, although some social time is also guaranteed. Note, also, that we don’t compel strangers to share a room, as most writers prefer solitude or, at most, the company of a friend or family member of their own choosing.
In all, we pride ourselves on being open and inclusive and, being writers ourselves first and foremost, we imagine the best writing retreat possible and try our best to deliver on that ideal.
Kind words from one of our 2022 retreat participants:
“I am beginning to reflect on the joy the trip has brought me… The tenderness and care you showed us was so evident in the choices of lodging, the comfortable bus rides, and the knowledgeable guides. It was your day-to-day presence, while checking on all of us, that was especially meaningful. I am not certain I can explain the impact, but I feel it has awakened a longing in me and an understanding of something deeper that was not previously there.”
~ Ann K., Go and Write! alumnus
Cost
Costs include 15% tax and 18% gratuities for covered meals, as well as applicable accommodation gratuity. Rooms are allocated on first-come/first-served basis.
See below for the payment schedule and specific cancellation policy associated with this retreat.
Please note that there is NOT a surcharge for single travellers. The true cost of the retreat is based on the single price, but if you bring someone else, you share the room costs, which lowers the price per person. We do not pair strangers on our retreats, and numbers will be limited to approximately 16 registrants to allow for a more intimate, connected, and focused experience.
Standard Double rooms: Room 203, Room 306, Room 307
- Single occupancy: $6,495 CAD (approx. $4,630 USD)
- Double occupancy: $5,195 CAD (approx. $3,700 USD) per person, sharing a room
Upgraded Queen rooms: Room 205, Room 308, Room 309, Carriage House 21
- Single occupancy: $6,595 CAD (approx. $4,700 USD)
- Double occupancy: $5,245 CAD (approx. $3,740 USD) per person, sharing a room
Upgraded King rooms: Room 101, Room 202, Carriage Room 23
- Single occupancy: $6,745 CAD (approx. $4,805 USD)
- Double occupancy: $5,320 CAD (approx. $3,790 USD) per person , sharing a room
Discounted Double room (private bathroom NOT ensuite): Carriage House Room 20
- Single occupancy: $6,295 CAD (approx. $4,485 USD)
- Double occupancy: $5,095 CAD (approx. $3,630 USD), per person
Listed price is in Canadian dollars and includes tax. Meal gratuities for covered meals are included in your registration, as are accommodations gratuities; coach and tour gratuities are at participants’ discretion. Registration does not include beverages or meals not already specified, tours/excursions that participants arrange on their own, or transportation to and from the venue. We have estimated the price in US dollars for our American participants’ convenience, based on the rate of exchange at the time; the actual cost in American dollars will depend on the conversion rate at time of payment.
Rates shown do not include credit card processing fees. For those paying by credit card, we have to add 2.4% and the fee is non-refundable. For Canadians, we’re able to offer an e-transfer option to save you processing fees. For other registrants, we also accept international bank transfers; please research the processing fees charged by your bank as you’re responsible to pay those fees. Contact us for more information.
Some people choose to pay by credit card when it has an associated trip insurance policy. It is your responsibility to research and understand details around any insurance coverage associated with your credit card. Visit our Expectations, Rules, and Refunds page for more information about the importance of trip insurance.
Contact Us
For more information, or to register, please contact us.
Payment schedule
*Payment schedule can be adjusted for registrants who sign up after deadlines, and we can create an individual payment plan at no additional cost.
- At registration, to confirm your space: $1,200 CAD per person, non-refundable, non-transferable deposit
- On or before December 5, 2025: next instalment of $2,500 CAD per person is due
- On or before February 13, 2026: balance remaining is due
If you’re interested in paying in instalments within this schedule, please let us know so that can be arranged—we do not charge an additional fee for this service. Payment deadlines must be met or you risk forfeiting your space, and the cancellation and refunds policy and dates specific to this retreat apply. Registrants who run into difficulties meeting the payment schedule must contact us immediately to see if alternate arrangements can be made.
See additional details about missed payments, cancellations, and refunds below. We may extend these dates for later registrants.
Insurance, cancellations
You are responsible for arranging for trip insurance, including cancellation insurance! Life can throw curveballs at us: we HIGHLY recommend that all participants get travel insurance, including cancellation, interruption, and health insurance, as soon as they register for a Go and Write! retreat.
We have seen situations where participants who have NOT arranged for insurance lose all of their investment when they’ve had to cancel, and we’ve seen participants who HAVE arranged for insurance recoup 100% of their investment.
Participants are responsible to research and make arrangements for their own insurance.
Participants are responsible to research the implications of travel restrictions and requirements at home and abroad before and at the time of travel. Ensure you have everything you need so you aren’t turned away from establishments or airports.
Missed payments, cancellation, and refunds — please note this policy and these dates are specific to this retreat
We strongly encourage you to purchase the appropriate travel insurance, and to do so at the appropriate time.
Payment deadlines must be met or you risk forfeiting your space and the cancellation and refunds policy and dates specific to this retreat apply. If you run into difficulties meeting the payment schedule, you must contact us immediately to see if alternate arrangements can be made.
- Your deposit as well as any processing fees associated with retreat payment(s) are 100% non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of the timing or circumstances of your cancellation.
- If you cancel on or before December 4, 2025, any other payments you’ve made to us are returned to you, less the non-refundable deposit and any payment processing fees.
- If you cancel between December 5, 2025 and February 12, 2026, you forfeit 75% of all monies paid, in addition to the non-refundable deposit and any processing fees.
- If you cancel on or after February 13, 2026, no fees paid will be returned.
- You must notify us, in writing, of your intentions to cancel.
While we present our information in good faith, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control and circumstances may force us to change certain aspects of the retreat.
- If the retreat or any aspect of the retreat needs to be postponed or adjusted, we will make every attempt to reschedule or offer an alternative.
- We can only offer refunds if our providers also refund monies to us.
- Prices are subject to change due to provider and supplier changes and availability, unforeseen travel conditions, cancellations, and culpability.
Due to contractual obligations with our suppliers, we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy, regardless of the reason.
Expectations, rules, and refunds—required reading for all new and returning participants
We have updated our Expectations, Rules and Refunds page. All new and returning Go and Write! participants and travel companions are required to review and acknowledge agreement with the contents before registering for a Go and Write! retreat.
A few additional notes
Amenities and rooms
We are staying in a historic venue with no elevator; participants may be required to climb stairs to get to their bedrooms. There may be limited Wi-Fi and cell service. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first served basis, and not all rooms are the same.
Logistics
The retreat begins on June 7, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and ends on the morning of June 16, with checkout being at 11:00 a.m. Airfare is not included in your registration.
Located on Canada’s Atlantic Coast, Nova Scotia is a direct flight from Toronto, New York, London, Germany, and many European cities. The closest international airport is in Halifax, and we can help you arrange private transportation between the airport and our venue. The taxi cost starts at approximately $200 CAD one way—there may be an opportunity to share transportation and costs with other participants, just ask at registration.
Several ferries operate between the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, and there’s also a ferry from Maine, USA. Here’s a helpful link for more information: Nova Scotia Explorer. You’ll need to contact the individual ferry operator(s) for up-to-date / accurate information and to secure your own passage.
When planning your arrival time on the first day, June 7, please bear in mind that check-in at the Bluenose Lodge is at 3:00 p.m., though you’re welcome to arrive anytime after 12:00 p.m., drop off your luggage, and relax in the common areas or explore the town. We will gather for a welcome supper at approximately 5:45 p.m. on the first evening of the retreat.
All participants must plan to arrive for check-in by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the first day of the retreat so you don’t miss important retreat programming. If you wish to arrive a day or two earlier and stay at the Bluenose Lodge, please let us know so we can put you in touch with management.
The retreat will end the morning of June 16—there will be no formal programming that morning so participants can depart as their travel arrangements allow.