Join us and be inspired by The Way!
Whether you are planning your first Camino or have already made the pilgrimage (or two) and want to re-live the journey, join us and be inspired by The Way.
There will be a series of practical sessions focusing on the “outer” journey… where to fly, what to pack… not that there are any single right answers! And we’ll also focus on the “inner” journey… meditative and spiritual aspects of the Camino that many pilgrims experience. The inner journey will also include ideas related to the Camino, including exploring the spiritual teachings of navigating a labyrinth.
While we recognize that everyone ultimately crafts their own Camino magic, there’s nothing like hearing the stories of others to help craft one’s own. The weekend will be filled with Camino stories and recollections, and delicious Spanish-inspired food at every meal.
Sessions will include:
Why Are We Here?
Choosing a Route and Training for the Camino
Books and Guides
The Historical Journey
Packing for a Camino
The Inner Journey; A Labyrinth Exploration
ABOUT THE SESSION LEADERS
RENA UPITIS & ZINTA UPITIS
Rena and Zinta, mother and daughter, walked the Camino Primitivo in the summer of 2015. It was an unforgettable journey for them both, and they have enjoyed sharing their experiences with other Camino pilgrims and pilgrims to be. Zinta created a short film about the Camino experience, and has since shared it with participants at Wintergreen (fall of 2015) and graduate students and faculty members at Queen’s (winter 2016). Both Zinta and Rena managed to keep their pack weight to under 6 kilograms each! They will talk about books, what to pack, and routes to consider.
ROBERTO STEFANO
In 2013, Roberto embarked on a year long adventure overseas. A trip that began as a search for inner peace, evolved and shaped itself into a life changing journey. From volunteer work and climbing mountains in Tanzania, to helping a family in Italy, there were many different stops along the way. In September, Roberto’s journey led him to France/Spain where he embarked on the 1200 year old pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago. Along the way, he met many, many, incredible people and experienced the magic that is the Camino. After his adventure, Roberto returned to his hometown of Guelph, back to work at TD Bank, and has been very fortunate to share his experiences with others around him. Roberto will talk about what to pack and join in on the other sessions as well.
BEVERLY CHEN
Beverly is a certified labyrinth facilitator who has walked many labyrinths in Europe and North America as a pilgrim, including the Medieval labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral which was a pilgrimage destination on its own but was also a stop on one of the feeder pilgrimage routes joining up to the Camino de Santiago. She was invited to offer a labyrinth workshop at the North American Gathering of Camino Pilgrims held in Toronto in 2005. For our workshop, she will provide finger labyrinths and, if the weather cooperates, an outdoor labyrinth for walking.
PETER COFFMAN
Peter Coffman graduated from Ryerson University’s Department of Film and Photography with a B.A.A. in 1988. He has had solo photographic exhibitions at the ViewPoint Gallery (Halifax), Studio 22 (Kingston), the College of St. Francis (Joliet, Illinois), The Ryerson Gallery (Toronto), Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Michigan), and the McLaughlin Planetarium (Toronto), among others. He has also participated in group exhibitions in Ottawa, Halifax, Kingston and Toronto. His photography has appeared in publications ranging from Queen’s Quarterly to The Globe and Mail, and is in private collections in Canada, the United States, and Europe.
Peter also holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto, an M.A. from York University, and a Ph.D. from Queen’s University. He has taught at the University of Toronto, York University, Queen’s University and Carleton University, and is now an Assistant Professor and Supervisor of the History and Theory of Architecture Program at Carleton.
Peter’s Camino adventures with musician and composer Oliver Schroer have been documented in interviews and films, and Peter’s Camino photography has won several awards. For more details, see his website.