Spring Writers Retreat at a new location: Elm Hurst Inn & Spa

Spring Writers’ Retreat

At the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa

Friday, April 25 – Monday, April 28, 2025
Register ASAP to be sure of a spot!
Elm Hurst Inn & Spa
415 Harris Street, Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada (Map here)

Give yourself four days of writing time – a long weekend of instruction, inspiration and creativity. Award yourself with time away from distractions, with no dishes to do, delicious food at every meal, and with the leisure you need to sit with your feet up and write.

The retreat will feature both instruction and guided writing exercises, plus one-on-one critiquing and coaching from Brian.  You’ll also have lots of time to relax, rejuvenate, and reconnect with your creativity. All writing levels welcome. Whether you’re just beginning or have a novel in progress, please join us. 

The setting: Nestled on 30 acres of beautiful rolling countryside, the Elm Hurst mansion was built in 1872 as the personal residence of James Harris and family. A fine example of the Gothic Revival style, it remained a family home for more than a century.

The last Harris heir sold the property in the mid-1970s, and the house was transformed into a popular dining establishment that opened in 1979. An addition was added to the rear of the original structure five years later, with the 49-room Elm Hurst Inn & Spa being built in 1988.

The original mansion and its beautiful carriage house with its rustic wooden beams (often used for weddings) remain integral parts of the Inn.

James Harris made his fortune partly from the apple orchard planted on the grounds but mostly from the cheese business. He erected the James Harris Cheese Factory in 1865. To establish the area as the cheese capital of Ontario, he and other local cheese makers created a giant, 7,300-pound cheese ball. The Mammoth Cheese toured exhibitions in Toronto, Chicago, New York, Paris, and London (Yes, the cities in France and England, not the Ontario versions).

Ingersoll still boasts a cheese museum, which is a two-minute drive or twenty-minute walk from the Inn (here).

James McIntyre, a local poet, wrote an ode to the big cheese ball. McIntyre possessed a talent for writing poetry so truly awful that experts in the field of Good Bad Verse consider him one of the greats and cite his “Ode on the Mammoth Cheese” as a world-class example poetry so bad that it exhibits a certain genius. (For more on Good Bad Verse, see here and here.)  

Much later, the Town of Ingersoll created an annual poetry contest in McIntyre’s honor, though the object was to write good poetry, not bad. For many years Brian Henry had the honor of judging the children’s division of the contest.

Rates for the retreat include accommodation and meals. Each room has a king bed or two queens, an en-suite four-piece bathroom, and a desk for writing.

All meals are provided, from dinner on Friday through to lunch on Monday, including the Elm Hurst’s wonderful Sunday brunch. And of course, we’ll also have coffee service for our meetings. Alcoholic beverages are extra, as are Spa treatments – but you might want to check those out (see here).

All activities included. When you’re not writing, or for spouses who accompany you, the inn has an indoor sauna and steam room and an exercise room. The rural Oxford County setting offers idyllic opportunities for biking and hiking, with numerous trails in the area (here). The Inn itself has beautiful grounds – it’s a great place to get away and relax.

Check-in on Friday is 3 p.m. Our first writing get-together will be at 5 p.m. On Monday, we'll have our last writing get-together at 9:30 a.m. Check out is at 11 a.m. (though we may push the Monday schedule an hour later if the inn isn't full and they can accommodate a 12 noon check out).

Instructor Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, taught creative writing at Ryerson University (now known as Toronto Metropolitan University) and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get their first book published and launch their careers as authors.

Read about previous retreats here (and scroll down).

Fee, including both the writing retreat and accommodation, meals, coffee & snack service, tips, and all inn amenities, for all three nights: $1,699.12 plus 13% hst.

Not included: alcoholic drinks, spa services, or other extras.

Bring a (non-participating) significant other along for the weekend to share your room for an additional $448.67 plus hst for the three nights (includes accommodation, meals and all amenities, but not the writing part of the retreat).

Book early – space is limited! And this retreat may fill up quickly.

For more information or to register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Note: Bookings for accommodations for this retreat must be done through Brian (unlike our retreats in Algonquin, where you book your accommodations through the resort).

Should I bring my work in progress?

Yes! If you have an on-going writing project, bring it with you. Bring more than you expect to get to; you'll have lots of time for writing. Besides, you may want to switch projects or share a project that’s just started or one that’s all done, except for reading it to a small, appreciative audience. If you’re not currently working on anything, don’t worry, we’ll get you writing.

Should I bring my laptop?

Yes! Unless you only work on paper. Or bring both – your laptop and your writing pad. No sense being short of essential supplies.

Who can attend the retreat?

Everyone interested in developing their writing skills is welcome to attend, whether you're aspiring writer or an accomplished author or simply enjoy writing as a hobby. There is no requirement for you to have been previously published or even to have an intention to publish.

I'm a poet / playwright / other writer. Is this retreat for me?

The retreat is open to anyone who enjoys writing. Instruction will focus on narrative writing; i.e., stories, whether fiction or memoir. But if you’re an essayist or poet or whatever, you’re entirely welcome.

Can you cater to specific dietary requirements?

Yes. But you need to let me know ASAP, so I can let the staff know about your needs.

I want to stay longer or arrive early. Is that possible?

If you want to arrive early or stay longer, that’s fine. You’ll book the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night with Brian, and arrange any additional nights with the inn; just make sure they know you’re with Brian Henry’s writing group.

Is there cell phone reception and WIFI?

Alas, yes.

Can I use the spa at the inn or play a round of golf in the area?

Yes, you can certainly book a spa treatment (here) though that’s extra, and you book that directly with the inn (not through Brian). As for golf, yes there’s a nearby course (see here).

Can I bring my spouse (or partner or friend)?

If you want to share your room with a partner, they’re very welcome. Just let them know you’ll be spending most of your time writing, (though you will have some free time every day).

For more information or to register, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca 

See all of Brian’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.