Hollyhock Lifelong Learning Centre is a not-for-profit educational institute in
British Columbia,
Canada. It offers programs in "health and wellness" "creativity", "wisdom teachings" and "leadership development" on its
Cortes Island campus. It also offers programs at various locations in Vancouver throughout the year.
Hollyhock was founded in 1982 by
Rex Weyler, Siobhan Robinsong and Lee Robinsong who met at
Greenpeace. While beach walking on Cortes Island, they saw the abandoned hand-crafted buildings of the former Cold Mountain Institute. Siobhan drew Rex's attention to crimson hollyhocks peeking over a hawthorn hedge. Days before, Rex was given that same vision by an intuitive seer at the
Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Friends Peggy Taylor, Rick Ingrasci, Torkin Wakefield, Charles Steinberg, Yvonne Kipp and Michael Moore joined to purchase the land. Many others invested over the years, and in 1982, this group of 30 'founders' purchased the abandoned Cold Mountain Institute. Dana Bass Solomon joined in the late 1990s as board member, soon as CEO. With Joel Solomon, Board Chair, (whom she later married), together they have led two decades of mission advancement. In 2008 the partner group donated full ownership and Hollyhock Leadership Institute became a registered charity.
Hollyhock operates a renowned one-acre
French-intensive garden on the property. Flowers and food from the garden are used in the retreat centre's meals.[24][25][26]
Political links
The CEO is Dana Bass Solomon,[27][9][28][29] and the board chair is her husband, Joel Solomon,[9][10][30][31] both of whom have connections to
Vancouver Mayor
Gregor Robertson.[32][33][34][35][36][37] Robertson was the treasurer of Hollyhock Centre Ltd. in 2003 and 2004,[38] and served on the board.[6] A number of connections have been drawn between
Vancouver City Hall and Hollyhock, in part due to the number of people hired by the City of Vancouver who have connections to the retreat centre.[30][39][40] Board chair Solomon has responded to such claims stating that Hollyhock provides space to network for like-minded people around social and environmental topics, and have the possibility of making business connections. He has also stated that Hollyhock's programs attracted attendees from across the political spectrum.[1]
^Marion S. Goldman 2006. "Cults, New Religions, and the Spiritual Landscape: A Review of Four Collections", Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45(1):87-96.
^Shannon Rupp, "Hollyhock Blends Salt air and Spirituality Lite", Georgia Straight, March 28, 1996.
^M. Kathleen B. Lustyk, PhD; Neharika Chawla, MS; Roger S. Nolan, MA; G. Alan Marlatt, PhD. 2009. "Mindfulness Meditation Research: Issues of Participant Screening, Safety Procedures, and Researcher Training" Advances, 24(1):20-30.
^
ab"Spiritual retreats on Vancouver Island respond to life's challenges", Canadian Press, May 12, 2009.
^Sameet M. Kumar. 2010. The Mindful Path through Worry and Rumination: Letting Go of Anxious and Depressive Thoughts. New Harbinger Publications.
^G. Alan Marlatt 2006. "Mindfulness meditation: Reflections from a personal journey", Current Psychology, 25(3):155-172.
^Derrick Penner. "Hollyhock Board Chair Joel Solomon and Hollyhock Sharegiver Carol Newell Inducted To Social Venture Hall of Fame", Vancouver Sun, November 20, 2012.