Together We Are One
“We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Dear friends,
We invite you to join us November 27–29 for Together We Are One, a non-residential retreat rooted in the teachings of the Plum Village Tradition. Held at the FCJ Centre in Calgary, the retreat will offer an opportunity to come together in mindfulness, community, and practice.
Our Dharma teacher for the retreat is Tracey Pickup, and we are delighted to share that the weekend will also include a transmission ceremony of the Five Mindfulness Trainings.
We may feel alone in our lives, our identity, or in our values. There is a place beyond this separateness. We sense it in glimpses throughout our lives. Sometimes we see ourselves in another and a feeling of profound connection occurs.
When community comes together in mindfulness, we generate a space where we transcend dualities and differences. This is true togetherness and a profound awakening. This retreat will allow us to taste this oneness through silent smiles, shared footsteps, and restful kindness.
Dates & Times
Friday, November 27 · 4:00–9:00 pm
Saturday, November 28 · 9:00 am–9:00 pm
Sunday, November 29 · 9:00 am–2:30 pm
Registration and check-in begin at 2:00 pm on Friday, with our first activity beginning at 4:00 pm.
Retreat Activities
The detailed schedule will be shared closer to the start date.
Depending on the weather, we hope to enjoy time outdoors and indoors. The retreat will include mindful activities such as:
- Seated meditation
- Walking meditation
- Dharma talks
- Group sharing
- Mindful eating
- Touching the earth
- Deep relaxation
- Transmission ceremony of the Five Mindfulness Trainings
The Five Mindfulness Trainings offer us a path to cultivate and develop actions of body, speech, and mind that can create a more healthy and compassionate world. As part of the transmission, you will receive a lineage name that reflects and nurtures your deepest aspiration in the practice. Those who have previously received the Trainings are warmly invited to renew their commitment.
Meet the Teacher
Tracey Pickup (True Fragrant Field) is the founder of the Wild Rose Sangha and the Western Canada Order of Interbeing. She was ordained into the Order of Interbeing in 2010 and lived as a Temple Keeper for Mountain Lamp, a Zen practice community.
In March 2026, she received Lamp Transmission in Plum Village, continuing the lineage of teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh.
She is a registered Social Worker focused on the prevention of suicide and the promotion of mental well being. In her spare time, you can find her wandering in the mountains or practicing tai chi in the park. She loves building mindful community and creating togetherness in stillness and silence. She believes that transformation is possible for anyone.
Registration & Pricing
Standard Rate: $200
The Standard Rate covers the cost of the retreat which includes food and food prep, retreat space, and use of the beautiful grounds. Traditionally, Dharma teachers in the Plum Village tradition do not charge a fee. Dharma is freely given and teachers rely on the generosity of those attending for support. D?na for the Dharma teacher will be requested during the retreat.
If you are not able to pay the full amount, you are encouraged to request financial assistance when filling out the registration form.
About the FCJ Retreat Centre
Land Acknowledgement
We wish to appreciate and acknowledge that the FCJ Christian Life Centre is situated on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot confederacy, made up of the Siksika, Piikani, Amskaapipiikani and Kainai First Nations; the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation.
Location
FCJ Retreat and Conference Centre
219 19 Avenue SW
Calgary, AB
View on Google Maps
Meals
The following meals will be provided by the staff at the retreat centre. All food is vegetarian. When filling out the registration form, please let us know if you have any allergies.
Lunch is at noon and dinner is at 5:30 pm.
- Friday, Nov 27: Dinner
- Saturday, Nov 28: Lunch and dinner
- Sunday, Nov 29: Lunch
Questions
If you have questions about the retreat, please email us at wildrosesanghacalgary@gmail.com.
If you have not already done so, join our community mailing list for the easiest way to be notified of retreat updates. Then you can also practice with us, both online and in-person, leading up to the retreat, which is a great way to meet new people beforehand.
