Island Writers Retreat at Gibraltar Point
Program Dates: May 19-25, 2026
Application Deadline: January 9, 2026
Applicants can expect to hear back by January 15, 2026
Application Form: https://forms.gle/ebNbTbY1s1tnn59w7
Residency Cost: $900 plus HST on accommodation costs
The Island Writers Retreat will bring together a small group of writers at Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts from May 19-25, 2026. The retreat will provide time and space for rest, reflection, deep focus and community in a beautiful, peaceful natural setting.
Programming will include workshops, guided walks, optional editing/coaching sessions, nightly salon-style gatherings and a final evening of readings. Participants will be encouraged to go “low tech” for the duration of their residency and to spend time exploring the beaches, forests and paths of car-free Toronto Island. Open to a maximum of eight participants, this retreat is designed to balance independent writing time with opportunities to spend time with other writers in a vibrant, inspiring artist community.
The fee for the Island Writers Retreat covers a welcome dinner, themed programming, shared studio space, private bedroom, a fully-equipped communal kitchen and a shuttlebus to and from Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts. Note: Residency participants are responsible for buying and preparing their own food, and for travel to/from Toronto Island via the ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, which is a 10-minute walk from Union Station in Toronto. Packing lists and tips will be supplied to all participants.
Open to writers of any genre with at least two publications and/or a book-length project in progress. Applicants must submit a non-refundable $25 application fee by e-transfer to complete their application, although this fee can be waived for BIPOC applicants. If writers intend to apply for grants or bursaries to cover the cost of this residency, the facilitator would be happy to provide letters of support.
Please see the Gibraltar Point website for information on location and accommodations for this retreat. If you have any questions about programming or concerns about accessibility, please email rebecca.atkinson.morris@gmail.com.
Rebecca Morris 