Naramata Centre as a Place of Transformation

Our Founder, Bob McLaren, late 1940’s

Below is a beautiful letter we received from one of our members, who was generous enough to allow us to share it with all of you:

While Naramata has occupied a place in my life since the first of September 1960, seeing the pictures of BM (with the CLTS Sign along with his Vision & Legacy) and Cottage Court in your July News Letter brought back wider memories of not only my time there, but of the many ways that experience has assisted and support me in the subsequent years.

Those six months at CLTS opened a wider world to me and literally changed my life.

Winter Session Cohort 1975-76

Until then, aside from a couple short holidays outside my isolated rural community in northern Alberta I had not lived more the 50 miles from home. At CLTS I became part of a very diverse community of about 100 persons of all ages and a great diversity of backgrounds. The Year Book says I turned Naramata upside down, for me it was the other way around. As the McLaren doctrine indicates, the things the CLTS staff, my fellow students and the wider community passed on to me changed my life.

It all started when Don Frame, the Minister at the UC Church called me at work one afternoon in the Spring of 1961 and said there was someone in his office he’d like me to meet. I was one of the Church Members who was part of a very active UC Young Peoples Group so perhaps the reason he called me. That person was Roy Stobie, in town to promote CLTS, which he did, and with hindsight must have done it well. I said I would think about it.

I don’t recall the sequence but at about that time I had asked myself if I really wanted to be in this job for life, and that may have been the spur to think, ‘why not’ and a month or so later. I sent in an application and being accepted I resigned and joined the Winter CLTS programme.

When I finished High School I didn’t see the need to go on to University as some of my classmate colleagues did, but while at Naramata I began to see the possibilities such would open, and so I started to attain that objective – further widening my horizons. This led to a lifelong involvement in Rural Development in Canada and abroad, and a very satisfying career – more a way of life than a career.

I don’t have any proof that I have managed to pass anything of value on to anyone, so can’t confirm the forever and ever part of the McLaren doctrine, but I’d like to think that I did something that has made life better for at least one person that I have worked with as I wandered the world. I know that I have been richly blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know people from a wide range of cultures in their environments.  

Great to hear you are doing you best to keep up the tradition!

Let Naramata Centre contribute to your transformational experience - you belong here!

A Poetic Connection Through Zoom

With Tim Scorer

Tim Scorer

Tim speaks on his experience with hosting programs online:

“The limitations of Zoom have proven to be an expansive gift for me as I’ve facilitated three online Naramata programs over the last nine months. The life circumstances of many of the people who attended would not have allowed them to come to the Centre. They loved the opportunity the pandemic provided!

I kept the number of participants in each group at sixteen and under, knowing that, even online, an intimacy of connection is achievable when people surrender to the power of the poetic line and speak together about what it means to be human.”

Relaxing From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Nicole St. Michel speaks on the transition online.:

“Moving the Sound Meditation online has been an incredible process. It was a learning curve to begin as I equipped myself with a new world of knowledge in audio and technology. Now that the program is well established, attendees are thrilled that the soothing sounds, guided relaxation, and supportive community can meet them all in the comfort of their own home.”

Connections at the Centre

Kerr describes the ongoing connections of the Centre.

"As someone who used to live and work onsite at Naramata, I've missed my connection to this amazing community. It's been a delight to get to reconnect with Naramata by leading online programming. Getting to know participants from all over the continent has been such a joy, and the spiritual communities we have formed in each workshop have been a gift."

Shifting From In-Person To Online

Since 1990, Lori has attended summer weeks at the Centre every year and has been one of our most dedicated supporters. As the pandemic created restrictions for traveling from Alberta in the summer, Lori was relieved to continue to stay connected through Online Programs as she couldn’t be onsite. This presented an opportunity to extend her “stay” with the Centre beyond the usual summer weeks as she was able to take programs all throughout the year.

She was delighted to find that the ethos of the Centre was still prevalent virtually as she felt like she was on the grounds. She found that the facilitators created a respectful and wholesome community that ran deep as her online experiences allowed her to integrate her teachings into other aspects of her life.

From Ontario to the West Coast

Originally from Ontario, Shirley Vollett’s first encounter with the Naramata Centre began at the age of 22 when she attended the Winter Session Program.

Having such an impact, Shirley moved to Vancouver soon after and called the West Coast home. Over the past 30 years, she has been attending annually with her family, enticed by the beautiful location, and experience of community at the Centre. As a catalyst in her spiritual life and growth, she returned in 2020 in spite of the pandemic and continued to enjoy the aspects like community life and spiritual programs while feeling safe. Alongside the memories with her family, she truly treasures the deep friendships she’s made over the many years.

Volunteering in Community

Anabel-Naima M Schiesser

Originally from Barcelona and a resident of Golden, BC, Naima heard of the Naramata Centre from a friend for the first time last year. Upon walking through the grounds, she immediately felt a sense of peace. She described the energy of the Centre as wonderful, and she knew she wanted to stay.

On her drive back to Golden, she set up a meeting with the staff to discuss volunteer opportunities, seeking the next chance to return. She felt she was welcome unconditionally as she found that volunteering was a great way to join a community. Gaining a sense of belonging, she believes the energy of the Naramata Centre exists everywhere, “When it’s inside of you, you can find it elsewhere and carry it with you everywhere”.