49 Degrees: Canadian Pagan Perspectives
Canadian Paganism has a style all its own. Have a look at events, issues, celebrations, people, trends and events north of the border from the eyes of a Canadian Wiccan and Witch.
ALL the Canadian Pagan Festivals!
It seems that festival season is upon us once again, and lots of other folks are listing Pagan festivals you can go to (thanks Jason Mankey and Heather Greene)! Both of them mentioned some of the stuff going on up here north of the 49th Parallel, and I would like to thank them for that! But this blog is about Canadian Paganism, so I'm giving you a list of ALL the Canadian Pagan festivals I know about, whether I've been there or not. Contrary to popular belief there's lots going on and not all of it is in Ontario or Alberta! If you know of a Canadian Pagan festival I'm missing, please let me know in the comments and I'll be happy to add it to the list, no matter how small. Share the list around!
As you can see, I'm not committed to anything this year except Gaia Gathering, which is already passed. So if anyone wanted me to come . . . Just sayin'. ;)
Notes:
- Some events are geared towards specific traditions. If I know that, I've included it. Also, if I happen to know that the event organizers are strongly influenced by a particular tradition but all are welcome, I will include their tradition in brackets ie. all (Odyssean Wiccan).
- Names refers to Pagans you might have heard of in the broader community who are either associated with the organization of the festival routinely, or who are scheduled to appear this year. They're not more important than anyone else of course; it's just to give you a feel for the festival and what's happening there. Heather Dale often appears at festivals in Ontario but I don't know which ones, if any, she's making this year. Heather's schedule has her in the US for the next little while.
- If I've been to the event, I'll list something I think is a highlight about it at the end of the listing.
* Update May 26: Delightfully, people from all over the country are contacting me to add their festivals and update my info. If you have an event to share please post it in the comments below, message me, Tweet me or email me with the same sort of info I have here and I'll be happy to include you! Please note I'm only including events that last a few days (there's tons of Pagan Pride gatherings but they are one-day events, for example.) Big or small events welcome and thanks for taking the time. And keep checking back because the info keeps coming in!
BC Residential Shamanic Conference & Gathering*
Traditions: all (European and core shamanism)
May 4 to 8
Location: Squamish, BC
Cost: $300 all-inclusive
Names: Christina Pratt, Tom Cowan, Michael Dunning, Christiana Harle
Website: http://circleofgreatmystery.org/conferences/
Gaia Gathering: the Canadian National Pagan Conference
Traditions: all
Victoria Day long weekend
Location: varies (Edmonton, AB this year)
Cost: $110 plus accommodations; early bird rates available; Banquet $35
Names: Kerr Cuhulain, Hobbes, Kriket, Sable Aradia
Website: http://www.gaiagathering.com
Highlights: Most diverse collection of knowledgeable Pagans you'll find at any Pagan event in Canada.
The Gathering for Life on Earth
Traditions: all
Victoria Day long weekend
Location: Vancouver, BC
Cost: $275 all-inclusive; early bird rates available
Names: Sarah Anne Lawless, Fritz Muntean
Website: http://gfloe.org/
Highlights: Sometimes Fritz does a variation of the Eleusinian Mysteries. And he always does an awesome Hellenisimos ritual. Everyone is required to volunteer for a job so no one ends up doing all the work, but you can choose what you'll do and when, and even a quadriplegic can find a job to do (I know because of my husband.)
Traditions: Traditional Witchcraft, Hedgewitchery, Non-Wiccan Witchcraft
May 29 to 31
Location: Raven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)
Cost: $60 (camping plus events); optional $30 workshop
Names: Juniper Jeni, Sarah Anne Lawless, Linda Demissy
Website: http://walkingthehedge.net/witchessabbat/
Traditions: all (Odyssean Wiccan)
June 10 to 14
Location: Mansfield, ON
Cost: $224 to $240 (events plus accommodation); meal passes and early bird rates available
Names: Richard & Tamarra James, Cora Flora, Anne Marie Greymoon, Prudence Priest
Website: http://wiccanfest.com/wiccanfest/
Traditions: Reclaiming
June 17 to 21
Location: Honeywood, ON
Cost: $350 to $475 sliding scale (partial work exchange and scholarships available) all-inclusive; children $175
Names: ?
Website: http://wildgingerwitches.org/
Women's Summer Solstice Body, Mind and Soul Retreat
Traditions: Dianic
June 19 to 21
Location: Brocket, AB
Cost: $600 all-inclusive; early bird rates available
Names: ?
Website: http://www.edmontonpagan.com/event/womans-summer-solstice-body-mind-soul-retreat/
Traditions: all
June 19 to 21
Location: Saskatoon, SK
Cost: $90 all-inclusive; early bird rates available
Names: ?
Website: http://toontownspagansummerfest.yolasite.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/toontownspagansummerfest/
Traditions: Voodoo, Hoodoo, Conjure-workers
June 26 to 28
Location: Milton, ON
Cost: $50 (includes admission and camping)
Names: Rev. Tim Shaw, Houngan Asogwe Andrieh Vitimus, Dragon Ritual Drummers
Website: http://www.facebook.com/events/387372168129378/
Traditions: Heathen
June 26 to 29
Location: Raven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)
Cost:* $120 adults; $50 youth; $25 children;ankle-biters free (includes husél feast). You can also come to just the feast for $30. Trailers, shared accommodation and electrical hookups available with pre-registration.
Names:* Erik Lacharity, Linda Demissy
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hail-and-Horn-Gathering/385613614834055
Highlights:* I'm told that each year a god-pole is raised; this year it will be in honour of Freya.
Traditions: all
July long weekend
Location: Drayton Valley, AB
Cost: $175 (admission and on-site camping only); early bird rates available
Names: Sora, Mo Jo & Sparrow, Arthur Hinds, Kellianna
Website: http://www.sunwheelfestival.com/
Highlights: The only Pagan music festival in the country. And they'll fly in people from other places too. Some great artists have been spotlighted here and it's a lot of fun.
Traditions: all (ATC)
July 2 to 5
Location: Duncan, BC
Cost: $46 (camping and admission only); early bird rates available
Names: ?
Website: http://www.pagansontherock.org/
Traditions: Kemetic
July 11 to 12
Location: Raven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)
Cost: $60 (not sure what this includes)
Names: Juniper Jeni
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/565683720201681/
PaganFest: A Lughnasadh Experience
Traditions: all
July 16 to 19
Location: Barrie, ON
Cost: $90 to $120 (not sure if this includes food or not, but does include registration & accommodations)
Names: Tamarra James, Hobbes
Website: http://www.earthandskyconnection.com/paganfest/
Traditions: earth-centered
July 21 to 26
Location: Malahide, ON
Cost: $180 (not sure what this includes); early bird rates available
Names: ?
Website: http://www.spiritsfest.com/
Traditions: all; Theme: "Bone Dance"
July 29 to August 3
Location: Raven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)
Cost: $140 for the week or $100 for the weekend; indoor camping extra
Names: Hobbes, Juniper Jeni
Website: http://ravensknoll.net/kg/
Highlights:* I am told that the largest Pagan gathering in Canada and is extremely diverse drawing a wide range of traditions.
Traditions: all (Wiccan)
July 31 to August 3
Location: Fruitvale, BC
Cost: $50 for the weekend (includes accommodation & admission; some food)
Names: the Ancient Gods
Website: http://earthspiritgathering.webs.com/
Highlights: A fun, intimate little Pagan festival in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Traditions: all; Theme: "Spirit Enchants Us"
July 31 to August 3
Location: near Edmonton, AB
Cost: $150 all-inclusive; early bird rates available
Names: Brendan Myers
Website: http://panfest.ca/
Highlights: Run by a dedicated group of old-school Pagans from a wide range of traditions. Like with GFLOE everyone is required to volunteer for a job so no one ends up doing all the work (which I think is a fabulous idea!)
Aegis Pagan Festival & Spiritual Retreat
Traditions: all
July 31 to August 3
Location: Karsdale, NS
Cost: $30 minimum donation adults; $15 minimum donation children; volunteer work-shift required (like the GFLOE and PanFest)*
Names: ?
Website: http://aegisgathering.webs.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/AegisGathering/
Traditions: all
August 14 to 16
Location: Curran, ON
Cost: $40 adults; $20 youth; children free; day passes and one overnight also available; vending $50
Names: Hobbes
Website: https://firelightgathering.wordpress.com/
Highlights: I've never been, but it describes itself as "a Pagan relax-athon" with "minimal programming and maximum relaxation." I have to say, that sounds like a great event to go to in the middle of the busy summer event season!
Traditions: Reclaiming
August 24 to 30
Location: Evans Lake, BC
Cost: $675 to $950 all-inclusive; scholarships available
Names: Starhawk
Website: http://bcwitchcamp.ca/
Traditions: Reclaiming
September 3 to 7
Location: near Edmonton, AB
Cost: ?
Names: Synnove Sunlokken, Jason Scarecrow, Donald Englestrom-Reece, Gwion Raven, Jana Sacco-Smit, Jane Aroon Lakemoon Pawson
Website: http://www.abwitchcamp.org/
Traditions: all
September 19 to 20
Location: Raven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)
Cost:* $75 adults; $30 children, and sproglings are free (6 and under). A day pass for adults is $30 and for children is $15.
Names: Juniper Jeni
Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KornuKopia-Gathering/372611269478145
Highlights:* I'm told the main event is the burning of the Wickerman!
Mabon: Autumn Equinox Festival
Traditions: all
Autumn Equinox weekend
Location: Bird's Hill Park (just north of Winnipeg, MB)
Cost: $20 camping and admission (best deal I've ever seen!)
Names: Dodie Graham McKay
Website: http://winnipegmabonfest.wordpress.com/
Snakes and Ladders Fall Retreat*
Traditions: all (European and core shamanism)
May 4 to 8
Location: Squamish, BC
Cost: $300 all-inclusive
Names: Kat Naslas
Website: http://circleofgreatmystery.org/2015-snakes-and-ladders-fall-retreat/
* Updated thanks to input from our readers! (And thank you!)
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