OVERVIEW STAY PROGRAM NOURISH ME EMBODIMENT SEASONS

Step into an ever-changing landscape of soaring trees and sparkling waters.

Immerse yourself in the pure pleasures of the great outdoors at Dimensions Algonquin Highlands. Situated along the shores of Maple Lake, where it spans nearly 16 hectares of lush woodlands and tranquil glades, our all-season Retreat responds to nature’s rhythms, offering a deep connection to yourself, others and the land.

Every window frames a spectacular view.

Dotting the edge of a forest or overlooking the water, our 15 cabin suites each have a footprint of about 450 square feet. Conceived by DesignAgency – the acclaimed studio behind many notable international hotels and resorts – the cabins feel modern and forward-thinking while remaining rooted in their context and a sense of wholesomeness. Each interior is simple and light-filled, with a window seat and private deck that encourage you to immerse yourself in nature, quiet your mind and rest your body.

Respecting Place

Algonquin Highlands is Anishinaabeaki -
Ancestral Territory of Anishinaabeg Peoples.

“As settlers, it is extremely important to acknowledge the land that we are on and the Indigenous Peoples we displaced, severely harmed, and forced to assimilate into settler colonial culture. "

Andrew Galloway, Co-Founder + COO

Anishinaabeaki:
Algonquin Highlands

This Land

Dimensions Algonquin Highlands is located in Treaty 20 Michi Saagiig (“Mississauge”) Territory and in the traditional territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Nations, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include: Curve Lake, Hiawatha, Alderville, Scugog Island, Rama, Beausoleil, and Georgina Island First Nations. Source: https://mbclakes.ca/our-lakes/lake-history

Building Relationships

As a non-Indigenous organization, Dimensions Algonquin Highlands occupies space in Treaty 20 territory. As such, we must remain conscious of the deeper history of the land where we operate. Dimensions is committed to being a genuine ally to Indigenous Peoples and place, with an emphasis on the communities where Dimensions Retreats are located. We are in the process of establishing relationships in Algonquin Highlands with Indigenous Elders, individuals, and communities. Over the past few months, Dimensions has:

  • Entered into a formal contract partnership with Waaseyaa Consulting, an Indigenous consulting company. Waaseyaa Consulting will guide us through best practices related to Indigenous engagement and meaningful relations at our Algonquin Highlands location.
  • Met with a local Indigenous Elder on the Algonquin Highlands property to introduce our vision and commitment to the community.
  • Begun working to support and develop commercial partnerships with Indigenous businesses.
  • Dimensions team to continue to learn about professional responsibilities and educate ourselves on the history of the land and Indigenous peoples.
  • Developed initial engagement strategies to meaningfully involve Indigenous communities including:
    • Creating a Diversity and Inclusion policy for hiring purposes, with guidance from neighbouring Indigenous communities.
    • All Dimensions therapists will be trained in Indigenous cultural safety training to enhance self-awareness and strengthen the skills of those who will provide care and work directly with Indigenous people.
    • Dimensions is committed to donating a portion of its revenues to local Indigenous communities and organizations.
    • Dimensions has established formal considerations and protections for Indigenous cultural heritage sites during all construction projects. Dimensions will work with Indigenous communities and those archaeologists they recommend on construction projects. We commit to surface work on hiking trails to ensure as little disturbance to potential cultural heritage sites as possible.
    • Dimensions has begun discussions about how to honour Indigenous Peoples and knowledge appropriately and meaningfully, through relationships and Indigenous-led initiatives, specifically in the areas where we will operate.

    In addition to continuing work around the above initiatives, we commit to the following next steps:

  • Commenced recruiting Indigenous representation on our Advisory Board. We encourage individuals from Indigenous communities within Treaty 20 and all Indigenous candidates with professional or lived experience to contact: [email protected]
  • Relationship building with Indigenous communities connected to the land now known as Algonquin Highlands
  • To non-Indigenous people in the Dimensions community, we strongly encourage you to enter into a long-term commitment to learn about the deeper history of the land that you’re on and to develop respectful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples in your area. Learn from them. Support them – support artists, craftspeople, knowledge-holders, and events. These actions are specific and local – so you have to do your own homework to get connected.We promise to remain open and committed to working with Indigenous individuals, communities, and nations to determine ways that Dimensions can best support Indigenous communities in the Algonquin Highlands region and all other places where Dimensions is located.We don’t have all of the answers. If you have any suggestions as to how Dimensions can continue to support Indigenous Peoples, we are open to all feedback.

Our Commitment

Land acknowledgements have become like financial disclosures – something that most companies have but many skim over. Dimensions is conscious to go beyond land acknowledgements; we know that it’s more than just stating whose land we are guests on and that we must continuously recognize and dismantle the ways that settler colonialism continues to attempt to cripple Indigenous communities, territories, and cultures.

I have learned that the land now known as Algonquin Highlands is Anishinaabeaki, the ancestral territory of Anishinaabeg People, where many Indigenous communities still remain. I have also learned that this area is a place where Indigenous Peoples travelled, traded, and harvested on the land, lakes, and river systems that are scattered throughout the region until settler colonialism interrupted their traditional lifeways.

As a descendant of settlers, I have learned that it is unacceptable that many people do not understand how colonialism has shaped the history of the land now known as Canada. Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have had connections with land that are deeply rooted in reciprocal relationships, and a deep understanding of the land was of the utmost importance for survival.

In our arrogance and ignorance, settlers and further generations of their descendants took the land and attempted to decimate Indigenous existence through genocidal actions. European settlers came to this land with the belief that they were civilized and knew better than those who have thrived here – with complex and sophisticated trade-based economies and spiritual systems – for thousands of years.

As you read this, I encourage you to think and reflect on the history of the land you are on right now and to learn of those Indigenous peoples who remain the original stewards of that land. Do you know whose ancestral territory you’re on?

For settlers, it is extremely important to acknowledge the land that we are on and the Indigenous Peoples we have displaced, severely harmed, and forced to assimilate into settler colonial culture. It is our responsibility to try and rectify this situation through open communication, honesty in our school classrooms, diversion and inclusion policies, supporting the Indigenous Peoples in our community by building authentic relationships and, finally, reciprocity.

We must acknowledge and understand that genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, land theft, and many other atrocities continue to take place. Further, we must alter our own existence on this land that we now share in order to form respect-based relationships with Indigenous Peoples and the lands that we now call home.

To become a better relation to Indigenous peoples I strongly encourage you to take action around the question: “What can I do to become a better relation to Indigenous Peoples where I live, work, and visit?” If you need a place to start, look to Native-Land.ca to find out whose territory you’re on. Then you can begin researching the deeper history of your area.

Though I still have so much to learn, some very surface-level research has taught me that two treaties cover the Algonquin Highlands area: the Williams Treaties and the Robinson-Huron Treaty. The Williams Treaties were signed on October 31 and November 15, 1923, by seven Anishinaabe First Nations and representatives of the Crown. A commission was established by Canada and led by treaty commissioner A.S. Williams to address lands that had not been surrendered via treaty. The territories covered by the Williams Treaties stretched from the northern shore of Lake Ontario to Lake Nipissing, and together cover approximately 52,000 square kilometres. The geography of the Treaties overlaps with several previous treaties.

The Robinson-Huron Treaty was signed on September 9, 1850, in Sault Ste. Marie. Treaty commissioner William Robinson signed on behalf of the Crown, and several chiefs signed on behalf of First Nations, including noted Anishnaabeg Chief Shinguakonse (1773-1854), also known as “Little Pine” and a veteran of the War of 1812.

Though these are some of the facts surrounding the treaties that cover the area now known as Algonquin Highlands, I have yet to learn directly from Indigenous Peoples who are included in these treaties exactly what impact of these treaties have on their lives today, and how I can step into my role – as a settler on this land – to uphold up my part of the agreement.

It is my hope, that in sharing this information with you, we are encouraging greater settler consciousness. We seek to participate in a longer, deeper understanding of Indigenous history. For us, it is the only path to developing genuine, respectful relationships.

With gratitude,

Andrew Galloway, Co-founder + COO

Your Stay

Reset in comfort from any one of our private cabins. Our serene accommodations and thoughtful amenities allow for complete relaxation.

“We anticipate the diversity of your needs with intuitive hospitality, personalized in every way, and a harmonious design that supports your well-being.”

Laura Banyai, Lodge Manager

Forest View Cabin

Tucked under the boughs of majestic poplar, maple and oak trees, our 12 forest view cabins feel like hidden havens. Their traditional forms echo local architectural vernacular but are rendered absolutely modern through their cedar cladding, porches and minimalist detailing. Skylights and large picture windows fill each cabin with natural light and open them to late-night stargazing. At once minimal and sumptuous, our forest view cabins bring contemporary comfort to the doorstep of nature.

Lake View Cabin

Watch the sun rise and set from our four south-facing lake view cabins nestled along the shoreline of Maple Lake. Designed to sit discreetly within the landscape, each cedar-clad cabin has a gently sloped roof that rises to allow for sweeping views through a large lake-facing window. Quietly beautiful interiors keep your focus on yourself and your surroundings.

Your Program

The ASCEND program features an all-inclusive Retreat environment over four nights. The program’s psychotherapeutic intensity is a ground-breaking opportunity to leave the everyday behind and begin your journey to self-betterment.

Pre-Retreat/ One Week Guided Preparation

  • Virtual group meeting
  • Dietary advice
  • Videos
  • Worksheets
  • Meditations

Through psychotherapy, we will guide you in connecting to your intentions for healing. Education on polyvagal theory will empower you, teaching you how to self-regulate your nervous system. Mindfulness-based practices provide a foundation for you to navigate challenging experiences that may surface during ceremony. Discussions on plant medicine and its psychopharmacology will help you to develop a deeper understanding of the wisdom and intelligence of these natural medicines.

On Retreat/ At Dimensions Algonquin Highlands

  • Private cabin accommodation with en-suite bathroom (soaker tub + walk-in shower)
  • All meals, drinks, and snacks (healthy and organic)
  • One psychedelic Plant Medicine Ceremony
  • One Ceremony preparation, group
  • Five individual Body Work and Wellness selections (acupuncture, massage, Thai massage, individual breathwork, reiki, sound healing, cranial sacral therapy, hot stone massage, mindfulness meditation)
  • Choice of either BioSound therapy or Floatation therapy (float tank sensory deprivation)
  • One individual psychotherapy session (1 hr)
  • One group psychotherapy session for integration (2 hrs)
  • Daily morning group movement and/or meditation (yoga, Qigong)
  • Daily nature group (forest therapy)
  • One evening group Sound Bath
  • One evening group breathwork
  • One evening cacao Ceremony, followed by ecstatic dance
  • Optional seasonal cold-exposure therapy (cold plunge)
  • Seasonal outdoor activities

Pause, reflect, and connect to an enhanced sense of purpose during this immersive Retreat experience. It is the coming together of community in a sacred and ritualist gathering. At Dimensions we draw from Indigenous cultures that have worked with Plant Medicines in a ceremonial context. Guided by experienced facilitators who will navigate our group through music, song, and personal healing work in a safe protected environment.

Post-Retreat/ Two Weeks Guided Integration

  • Virtual group discussion
  • Videos
  • Meditations

The process of ceremony continues long after the session is completed. Integration is the process you go through in the days and weeks after the ceremony. During this time, through group psychotherapy, we guide you in making sense of the content of your experience, process the profound insights that came up, and reprocess any significant memories and emotions that surfaced. Body- oriented therapies support your integration by resolving things on a somatic level and work to create greater alignment with the mind and body. After you return home, you will continue to receive online support that will guide you in bringing your external lives into deeper alignment with the changes and discoveries you have made during your retreat.

Food + Nourishment

Our Culinary Team's artistry caters to your bio-individuality and shares the best our local ecosystem has to offer. Our menus nourish the soul, and cleanse and prepare the body for Ceremony.

“I approach cooking with my eyes wide open and the curiosity of a child. My ever-evolving food philosophy is equally unguarded. At my very core I am an environmentalist and I strive to maintain a waste free kitchen, while always supporting the seasonal bounty of our local artisan farmers.”

Nazanin Arabani Sous Chef

Dining

Gather tableside in the Maple Lodge Dining Room, relax and refuel in the Lounge, or pick up food at the Chef's Pantry and wander. We cater to all dietary and nutritional needs.

Our dining room is the culinary centre of Algonquin Highlands.

Table service begins with an early breakfast and early evening dinner service,  and warm beverages available at every hour. At breakfast, a communal table is set to nourish and satisfy. A hearty lunch is served family-style or a lighter grab-and-go is available at mid-day. Dinner features a nightly three-course menu. All menus cater to a range of raw, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, keto and animal protein dietary inclinations.

Relax and enjoy a midday snack overlooking Maple Lake.

Our lounge is the ideal setting for an impromptu wellness snack and flavourful smoothie. From protein-packed powerballs, to fresh crudites with house-made dips, to seasonal fruits and nuts, we make sure the range of healthy snacks available keeps guests satisfied. And when it comes to nutrient-rich beverages, we can tailor our offerings to suit each person’s bio-individual needs and dietary preferences.

Eat deliciously – anywhere, anytime.

When we are away from home, our appetites and cravings may grow, retract or generally change in a multitude of ways. At Dimensions, we aim to help feed and hydrate your body whenever you may wish, and in any place you might choose to wander within our grounds. Chef’s ready-made food and healthy drink options are available at all times by way of the kitchen counter, located at the chef’s pantry.

Embodiment

Build a stronger connection to your body and integrate the knowledge gained from your Dimensions Retreat plant medicine Ceremony. Develop a deeper kinship with your physical intuition and improve self-awareness, resilience and self-worth.

“Feeling safe and at home in our bodies allows us to live in the present without dwelling on the past or fearing the future. We teach our guests how to tune in and listen for the answers their bodies hold.”

Donald Currie, RP, Clinical Director

Body, Mind, Spirit

Explore the wisdom of the body and allow yourself the quiet luxury of these deep healing treatments.

Align the body and the mind with their surroundings.

Restore a sense of balance with such modifying practices as somatic experiencing, biofeedback, breathwork, yoga and mindfulness-based nature walks. Our wellness therapies support the deep healing effects of your journey.

Cultivate a new-found sense of calm.

Infused with the energies of nature, our restorative wellness program offers an invigorating and regenerative sanctuary. Relax in our tranquil environments as you move between our indoor and outdoor lakeside amenities.

Keep your energy flowing.

Metaphysical therapies focus on the spiritual and energetic aspects of human experience. Reiki and healing touch, meditation and bioenergetic clearing address holistic needs and balance the body’s energy fields. Together with complementary spiritual guidance and counselling, treatments such as these guide you toward better understanding of the meaning and significance of your journey.

Year-Round Discovery

Dimensions Algonquin Highlands unfolds below a forest canopy where two biospheres meet. The land’s extensive flora and fauna are influenced by the region’s elemental forces, and summer, autumn, winter and spring are all spectacular in their own ways.

“The transformation that we seek within ourselves cannot be separated from our environments. The rocks, the trees, and all of Earth’s elements in nature guide us to peaceful spaces for growth.”

Eric Dawson

Seasons

Explore the wonders of the natural world, all year long. On self-guided adventures or during expert-led excursions. After sunset, our secluded location lets the night sky shine, affording visitors the chance to spot a shooting star among the constellations.

Join nature’s annual cycle of regeneration and renewal.

Spring is when the sugars in the roots of trees turn into sap, stimulating new leaves, new life and new beginnings. Hiking trails are lined with wildflowers, and deer are commonly seen grazing in the early dawn. As the land awakens from winter’s slumber, our vegetable gardens sprout a bounty of fresh delicacies, which our chef turns into nourishing meals that fuel mind and body.

Let the golden days of summer energize your soul.

After the summer solstice, lingering rays of warm sunshine encourage life to flourish. Enjoy the restorative properties of a gentle walk around wetland marshes or challenge yourself with an invigorating hike along wooded trails. The still, pristine waters of Maple Lake entice guests to kayak, canoe, paddleboard or simply cool off with a refreshing swim. Learn the art of forest bathing and connect with nature on a whole new level.

Immerse yourself in dazzling fall colour.

Observe the forest canopy as it transitions from deep greens to vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and coppers courtesy of the area’s towering maple, oak and poplar trees. It’s harvest time and wild mushrooms sprinkle the forest floor, offering the chance to hone your foraging skills. End the day by the blaze of a crackling campfire.

Step into a winter wonderland experience.

An average snowfall of close to two metres promises a landscape blanketed in pristine white drifts at winter’s peak. Trek into the forest, where frost-tipped evergreens tempt adventurers to snowshoe, or cross-country ski along trails criss-crossed with the footprints of local wildlife. Follow a relaxing sauna with a polar plunge in the ice-capped waters of Maple Lake invigorate
body and spirit.

How to get here

Dimensions Algonquin Highlands can be reached from Toronto by car, helicopter or private air. Driving from Toronto via Highway 400 North, to Highway 11 North, with a connection to Highway 118 West brings guests to our door in under three hours. If travelling by private air or charter, flight time is one hour from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport or Toronto Pearson International airport to our nearby Stanhope Municipal Airport (CND4). Land transfers from Stanhope are made in under ten minutes to our Retreat destination. The Muskoka Regional Airport (CYQA) is a larger Canada Customs Airport, rated for aircraft as large as the Boeing 737, and is a 55 minute drive from the Muskoka Airport to Dimensions Algonquin Highlands.

Address

1218 Canopy Lane Algonquin Highlands, ON K0M 1J1

Nearest airports

Stanhope Municipal Airport (CND4)
(5 minutes by car)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
(three hours by car)

Private car service

[email protected]

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