Leader
Kathie MacDuff - BiographyKathie MacDuff is an artist, graphic designer and journalist who captures her artistic passions within her signature program, Creative Journaling. For the past 30 years, she has been teaching creative journaling as well as courses in watercolour, mixed media and a wide assortment of paper arts.
She is the Expressive Arts consultant for Wellspring Alberta, where she’s been a regular facilitator offering varied courses over the past sixteen years in person and on Zoom. She was a forerunner instructor with the Tom Baker Cancer Center, leading to the establishment of their Medicine in Art initiative and was involved in a year-long research program with the Primary Care Network Pain Clinic studying the effects of creativity on pain and depression.
She facilitated classes at the Good Shepherd Art Studio in Calgary since its inception in 2006 to 2022, when she relocated to Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre in British Columbia to become the Associate Director.
Her vision is to facilitate creative experiences that encourage connections, validate emotions, and nourish the soul. She finds fulfillment of these goals thanks to the wonderful people she gets to hang out with!
Creative Journaling: Courage To Be Kind (2026 Summer Week 1 adult program)
Summer at Sorrento Centre – Week 1, July 26 – August 1
Your summer week features an array of activities, including The Welcome BBQ, The “Courage To Be Kind” Creative Journaling program, Continental Breakfast, Day and Evening Activities, Worship and Music, Yoga, and Beach Access. Additionally, we will conclude the week on Friday with an afternoon Eucharist and a Farewell Dinner.
Check-in is available from 4:00 pm on Sunday, July 26, followed by the Welcome BBQ at 5:30 pm. The “Courage To Be Kind“ Creative Journaling program runs weekdays from 9:45 am to 12:15 pm. Check-out time is 10:00 am on Saturday, August 1.
Space is limited!
Creative Journaling: Courage To Be Kind
Given the current state of the world, a focus on kindness seems like an ineffective gesture. But kindness is a universal language that can bring people together regardless of age, race, ethnicity, religion, status, and identity.
I don’t think the saying “kindness makes the world go ‘round” came about without reason. Kind people know that life is hard, messy, and complex. Yet they understand that people are doing their best with the tools, resources, and experience they carry.
Charles Glassman captured this by saying, “Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.”
Let’s explore the possibilities kindness affords us. We may never know just how big an impact our acts of kindness have on someone else. But we know that kind humans doing kind things are exactly what this unwell world needs more of.
Kindness is Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre’s theme! We will explore it over the two weeks. These classes are not hinged, nor do they repeat the same material so come to Week One or Week Two or both!
Kathie MacDuff is an artist, graphic designer and journalist who captures her artistic passions within her signature program, Creative Journaling. For the past 30 years, she has been teaching creative journaling as well as courses in watercolour, mixed media and a wide assortment of paper arts. As the Expressive Arts consultant for Wellspring Alberta, Kathie has been a regular facilitator offering varied courses over the past sixteen years in person and on Zoom. A forerunner instructor with the Tom Baker Cancer Center, leading to the establishment of their Medicine in Art initiative, and Kathie was involved in a year-long research program with the Primary Care Network Pain Clinic studying the effects of creativity on pain and depression. She facilitated classes at the Good Shepherd Art Studio in Calgary since its inception in 2006 to 2022, and then relocated to Sorrento Retreat and Conference Centre in British Columbia to become the Associate Director. Kathie’s vision is to facilitate creative experiences that encourage connections, validate emotions, and nourish the soul. She finds fulfillment of these goals thanks to the wonderful people she gets to hang out with!
