Come Alive

An invitation to make the most out of your life.

Come Alive is our most popular core program and the perfect place to begin or continue your journey in personal or professional growth and transformation.

People from all walks of life, backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, and locations join us in Come Alive and often experience something profound.

The magic of Come Alive is in our unique history, renowned communication and relationship models, community dynamic, and oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island. With support and guidance, you will learn and practice the Haven models of communication, relationship and self-responsibility, through a range of opportunities for personal learning. Group activities, discussions and experiences take place in both large and small group settings.

Come Alive is for you if…

• I want to deepen my self-awareness and move beyond self-imposed limits
• I’m ready to develop greater self-compassion and self-acceptance
• I want to experience the freedom of being my whole and authentic self – mind, body, and spirit
• I’m open to learning and practicing a transformative model for communication 
• I want valuable insights to strengthen my health and well-being
• I want to break through self-limiting patterns and live the life I want
• I’m curious about myself and my place in relationships, community, and the world
• I want to rediscover joy and meaning in life
• I want more harmonious, loving and fulfilling relationships; I want to know what intimacy really is 
• I am looking to improve my professional skills; to be more authentic as a leader, bolster my ‘soft’ skills, and develop better relationships with my co-workers.
• I want to shake things up and try something different… 

“For the first time, I felt comfortable in my own skin…”

Program highlights:

• 5 days in a serene oceanfront setting on Gabriola Island to focus on yourself.
• Opportunity to learn from, relate to, and deeply connect with others.
• A unique East meets West approach developed by a psychiatrist (Ben Wong) and a medical doctor and acupuncturist (Jock McKeen).
• Experiential learning through diverse methods: bodywork, breath, visualization meditation, movement, and cognitive skill development.
• A powerful approach to developing self-compassion and deeper self-awareness.
• 40 years of continued success with thousands of participants from around the world.
• Select expert program leaders, who are highly trained at The Haven and in their various professions. 
• Unparalleled support and a high ratio of team members to participants. 
• Opportunities to further heal and explore mind-body-spirit connection with onsite bodyworkers.
• A full schedule, complete with daily breaks for introspection, connecting with others, rest, relaxing in the oceanfront hot tub, exploring nearby trails, and more.
• Support to integrate your learning beyond The Haven through one-on-one coaching, online video meetings, and various local groups. 
• A $1000 discount off Living Alive after you have completed Come Alive

See what writer, mother, and school teacher Tracy Peternell shares about her experience in Come Alive in alive magazine’s February 2023 print and digital publication here. We hope this window in helps you imagine what Come Alive could mean for you! 

Investment:

Our Earlybird tuition price of $1490 is available specifically for this session to those registered and paid in full one month prior to the program start.  Full tuition is $1590.

We are offering private and shared room options.

You can find our cancellation policy here

Schedule:

• Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00am
• Morning session 9:15am to noon
• Lunch noon to 1:00pm
• Afternoon session 3:00 – 6:00pm
• Dinner 6:00 – 7:00pm
• Evening session 7:30 – 9:30pm

Afternoon and evening sessions can vary.  Your program finishes with lunch on the last day

Transportation:

If you are travelling to Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry a shuttle to The Haven can be requested.  Information on this option will be included in your pre-arrival email.

Professional Development & Employer Sponsorship

Many employers sponsor their employees for professional and even personal development. As a registered educational facility with the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB), employers are able to claim all program-related costs as a business operating expense.

If you would like to approach your employer about supporting you to attend Come Alive, you can download this letter to send them more information.

Related resources

• Ideas in Action – a summary of the models and ideas presented in Come Alive.
• Being: A Manual for Life – book by Bennet Wong and Jock McKeen
• Joining: The Relationship Garden – book by Bennet Wong and Jock McKeen