Embers of Grief

Honouring the Wisdom Within October 6–9, 2025

The Lodge at Pine Cove, French River, Ontario

October 6–9, 2025

Grief isn’t something to get over. It’s something we learn to live with, and sometimes, that learning needs space.

Embers of Grief is a three-night retreat for anyone navigating loss. Whether your grief is recent or decades old, named or not, you’re invited into a quiet, supportive setting where your experience is welcome, and your story is held in good company. Hosted by Cristin Talentino of Birch + Bloom and Melissa Sulley of josiah+co., this retreat is a gentle invitation to slow down and tend to your grief with care, in community.

There is something deeply powerful about being with others who understand. Over the space of our time together there will be no fixing, no comparing, simply shared presence. This is a place to feel what you feel, without judgment or pressure to explain.

You’ll also have time to rest, read, journal, or simply be. Nourishing meals, warm drinks, and quiet moments by the water will be part of the rhythm of our days. This retreat is about making space for your grief, not alone, but in community. It’s about remembering that you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.

Through conversation, shared silence, and connection with the land, we’ll explore what it means to honour the wisdom within our grief, and how it can shape us with tenderness, courage, and clarity.

Your instructors

Cristin

Cristin Talentino

Cristin Talentino (she/her) is the Principal Coach and Facilitator behind Birch + Bloom (Birch + Bloom, Instagram: @birchandbloom), a practice dedicated to guiding people through life’s transitions with honesty, care, and respect, while honouring the complexity of being human. Her work is grounded, relational, and intentionally different from much of the mainstream wellness space. She does not prescribe quick fixes, just space to pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity and integrity. With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, facilitation, and community engagement, Cristin brings a thoughtful mix of structure, curiosity, and presence to every space she holds. She’s known for creating environments that feel both steady and expansive where people can be fully themselves without pressure or performance. Cristin’s understanding of grief is shaped by her lived experience. In recent years, she has navigated the deaths of both parents, multiple pregnancy losses, divorce, and the unraveling of a life she worked hard to build. These experiences deepened her capacity to sit with what is hard to hold, and strengthened her commitment to creating spaces where people don’t have to carry it all alone. At Embers of Grief, Cristin offers clear guidance, gentle rhythm, and a steady presence. She believes in the wisdom of slowing down, the power of being witnessed, and the quiet transformation that can emerge when we’re allowed to be exactly who we are.

Melissa Sulley

Melissa Sulley (she/her) is a Certified Grief & Loss Coach, Bereavement Doula, educator, and founder of josiah+co, a practice dedicated to supporting individuals through the raw and complex realities of loss. With a trauma-informed, heart-forward approach, Melissa offers one-on-one coaching and community support for those navigating grief in all its forms—whether it’s pregnancy and infant loss, divorce, religious deconstruction, identity shifts, or any life-altering heartbreak that turns your world upside down. Her work is grounded in both lived experience and professional training. Melissa is a mother to three living children and seven who live on in the stars. Her first encounter with loss came in 2015 with the death of her son Josiah at 20 weeks—a loss that would become the catalyst for her journey into grief work. Since then, she has walked through recurrent miscarriage, the end of a marriage, the unraveling of her faith, and the ongoing realities of co-parenting—each experience expanding her ability to hold space for others navigating the unthinkable. Melissa brings a unique mix of emotional intelligence, practical tools, and deep empathy to the spaces she creates. Her coaching isn’t about fixing or forcing a silver lining—it’s about co-creating space where grief can breathe, be witnessed, and eventually transform. Her clients often describe her presence as both grounding and expansive, a place where they can show up fully—messy, tired, hopeful, angry, lost—and still be held with compassion. In addition to her personal journey, Melissa holds a B.A. in Psychology and Education, alongside several certifications in grief support. She has spoken at community events, led support groups, and collaborates with organizations to increase awareness and education around the real, lasting impacts of grief. She believes in meeting people where they are—whether you’re grieving a person, a relationship, a former version of yourself, or a life that no longer fits. Her work is a soft landing place in a world that often expects you to move on far too quickly
Lodge in the summer

A Note from Cristin + Melissa

We created this retreat because we know grief can feel isolating, and also deeply human. Between us, we’ve lived through many losses that have entirely reshaped our lives. And in our work, we’ve walked alongside others doing the same. What we’ve seen, again and again, is how grief softens in the presence of empathy, community, and time. And how much we all need places where we can be real about what we’ve lost, and who we’re becoming in the process. We’re offering this retreat now because so many people are carrying grief silently, in a world that often wants them to “move on.” We believe grief is wise. We believe it deserves a seat at the table. And we believe it’s possible to be with grief in ways that feel grounded, gentle, and yes, sometimes even joyful. You don’t need to explain your grief to come here. You don’t need to be “ready.” You simply need to arrive as you are. We’ll meet you there.

~ Cristin + Melissa

2025 Package Options and Fees

1) Private bedroom in a shared cottage package:

$1886 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%)

Based on having a private bedroom in a two- or three-bedroom (first-come, first served) shared cottage with a shared 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, private bedroom , screened in porch overlooking the water.

2) Private cottage package:

$2318 + service charge (15%) + HST (13%)

Based on having a private cottage (first-come, first served), private 3-piece bathroom, fully equipped kitchen, screened in porch.

All cottages include:

• Complimentary fine teas and Ashanti coffee
• Natural soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion

What’s Included:

• A pre-retreat call with either Cristin or Melissa to ensure you know what to expect, and for us to get to know each other
• Three nights of private or shared accommodations at the stunning Lodge at Pine Cove, tucked into the shoreline of the French River
• All prepared meals and snacks, beginning with dinner on arrival and ending with breakfast before departure
• A customized grief journal, designed to gently guide reflection and integrate the retreat experience
• Daily facilitated sessions and embodied practices with Cristin and Melissa
Land-based activities that invite connection to the natural world and the grief it knows how to hold
• Evening fire circles with warm drinks and meaningful connection
• Access to canoes, forest trails, and quiet places to rest and reflect
Morning reflections to help you connect with where you are
Restorative practices like breathwork, guided rest, or gentle movement to support your body and nervous system

Cancelation policy

Full payment is required upon registration.  If an applicant is unable to attend the retreat due to illness or other health problems, he or she will receive a refund for the amount paid, minus a $245 application fee, ONLY if we can fill their spot at the retreat. We will endeavour to fill a spot left vacant due to illness or other health problems, but we are not able to guarantee it. You may consider purchasing trip insurance with a service such as: Trip insurance store.

Sample Schedule

Below is a sample of what a day at Embers of Grief may look like. The final retreat schedule will be shared with participants ahead of the retreat, once we have a clearer sense of who is coming and what they are carrying. This allows us to thoughtfully shape the experience in a way that honours the needs and rhythms of the group. 

Mornings – Slow & Reflective 

  • 8:00 AM – Breakfast Hampers Delivered. A quiet start to your day. Enjoy a fresh, locally prepared breakfast in the comfort of your own cottage. No rush. Tea, coffee, fruit, fresh baking, and warm touches to ease into the day.
  • 9:30 AM – Morning Reflection Circle. A grounding group session in our shared gathering space. We’ll explore gentle prompts, check in with where we are, and set the tone for the day ahead.
  • 10:30 AM – Restorative Practice. Breathwork, guided rest, or gentle movement to support your body and nervous system. No experience needed—simply come as you are.

Midday – Nourishment & Integration

  • 12:00 PM – Lunch Together. A nourishing meal served communally. Quiet conversation or companionable silence—everything optional.
  • 1:00–3:00 PM – Solo Time + Optional Integration Activities. Space to journal with your custom grief journal, nap, walk the land, paddle, or simply be. Optional invitations may include creative reflection, land-based practices, or quiet contemplation. 

Afternoons – Land-Based Learning 

  • 3:30 PM – Nature as Witness. A lightly guided outdoor experience: forest walks, riverside reflection, or gentle land-based learning drawn from the wisdom of the natural world. 

Evenings – Connection & Fire 

  • 5:30 PM – Dinner Together. A warm, shared meal to close the day. Seasonal, comforting, and made with care.
  • 7:00 PM – Fire Circle Gathering. We gather around the fire with warm drinks, shared stories, and soft presence. Some nights may hold conversation, others, quiet companionship. In the spirit of co-creation, if you have a musical instrument you would play for the group, you are welcome to bring it.
  • 8:30 PM onward – Return to Cottages for Rest. Wind down at your own pace. Stargaze, journal, or simply rest.

Useful information

Upcoming Events

October 16th - 20th

Body & Soul Retreat

Relax, re-boot and restructure your body and your mind at this 5-day and 4-night yoga and nature retreat.

May 26th, May 31st 2024 season

Write on the French

A Creative Writing Retreat at the Lodge at Pine Cove

Early Spring - Summer

Paddle the Canadian Shield

Arrange a kayaking or canoeing event with Lodge at Pine Cove, on the French River.

Embers of Grief

October 6th – 9th, 2025

Embers of Grief

Grief isn’t something to get over. It’s something we learn to live with, and sometimes, that learning needs space.

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