Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre: 3-Day Silent Retreat in Cochrane
3-Day Silent Vipassana Retreat
with Yoga & Sound Healing
A silent weekend retreat at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alberta — 30 minutes from Calgary. Phones off, meals cooked for you, a private room of your own, and two teachers with you the whole time.
Registration for December 17–20, 2026 opens soon. Write to us and we will hold a place for you.
December 17–20, 2026 is sold out. Join the waiting list: if a place frees up, we will write to you first.
No experience needed · Private single room · Free transfer from Calgary & Edmonton · Refundable until Nov 17
“Great instructors and a very enjoyable experience.” — Dave P.
At a glance
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane hosts our 3-day silent Vipassana retreat: a weekend retreat from Thursday evening to Sunday midday with guided meditation, hatha yoga, pranayama and sound healing, a private room and all meals included, 30 minutes from Calgary.
- Dates
- Nov 12–15, 2026 · sold out, waiting listDec 17–20, 2026Feb 18–21, 2027 · registration opens soon
- Length
- 3 nights: check-in Thursday from 5 pm, ends Sunday around midday
- Price
- Dec 17–20: $749 early-bird price until October 31, then $849Deposit $449 at booking, balance at the centre
- Room
- Private single room with a washbasin; showers and toilets down the hall
- Meals
- 3 vegetarian meals a day + tea, fruit and snacks
- Group size
- Up to 30 people
- Where
- 41160 Retreat Road, Cochrane, AlbertaAbout 30 minutes from Calgary, 3 hours from Edmonton
- Transfer
- Free organised transfer from Calgary, YYC and Edmonton
- Teachers
- Artem Rusinov and Valerii Bandurko, Mahāsi Sayadaw tradition, Yoga Alliance RYT-200
- Cancellation
- Deposit refundable up to 30 days before the start
each
vegetarian
with you
retreats
What three days actually give you
The problem isn't that you don't meditate. It's that nothing ever stops.
Your phone starts the day before you do. Work follows you home. Even rest gets scheduled around something. For three days here, all of that is taken out of your hands — nothing to plan, nothing to answer, no one needing anything from you.
- Notice the reaction before it becomes an action
- Notice the emotion before it takes you over
- Notice the urge to reach for your phone before your hand moves
- Notice the thought before it turns into words
You are never left alone with it. Every practice is guided out loud, both teachers are in the room, and you can ask a question privately or in writing at any time. What stops is the small talk — not the support.
What happens at the retreat
Mount St. Francis silent retreat: everything you'll do over three days
Twelve kinds of practice, and you don't need to know a single one beforehand. Every one is introduced, demonstrated and guided by a teacher in the room.
The bell, then mindful breathing before the day begins.
A full-body morning practice that wakes the body and the attention at once.
Attention resting on the breath — the core practice of the retreat.
Slow asanas that open the body before the longer sits.
Conscious breathing paired with Surya Namaskar in the morning.
Every step observed deliberately, indoors or on the grounds.
Sound meditation in a group — and one private session for each participant.
A grounding meditation for steadiness when the mind gets loud.
Optional, and a very direct lesson in staying with what you feel.
Free blocks for reading, journaling or sitting on your own.
Optional evening session — speak, or stay silent and listen.
The one sound the whole group makes together, closing each day.
No experience needed · every session guided by a teacher in the room
The shape of a day
Mount St. Francis weekend retreat schedule: one rhythm, three days
A bell tells you where to be, so there is no clock to watch and nothing to decide. Exact times come by email two weeks before.
🌄Early morning
- Wake-up bell
- Tibetan prostrations
- Meditation, guided
- Pranayama & Surya Namaskar
☀️Morning
- Breakfast
- Walking meditation
- Personal time — reading, rest, own practice
- Hatha yoga
🌤️Afternoon
- Lunch
- Walking meditation
- Personal time
- Hatha yoga & pranayama
- Sound healing
- Meditation
🌙Evening
- Dinner
- Personal time
- Meditation
- Q&A with the teachers
- Om mantra, together
Around five hours of sitting a day, broken up by yoga, walking and rest — never more than an hour at a time, and always guided.
Included for every participant
A group sound bath — and one session that is yours alone
Tibetan bowls in a room with the whole group, and separately, one individual session for every person on the retreat. Bowls placed on and around the body, nothing asked of you but to lie down.
Most people describe the individual session as the moment the three days finally land. It is included in the price — not an add-on sold to you on site.
What the price covers
Mount St. Francis retreat price: private room, meals and transfer included
Private single room, 3 nights
Your own room at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre — no dorms, no roommate. Bedding and towels provided.
Three vegetarian meals a day
Cooked for you, plus tea, fruit and snacks through the day. Gluten-free option available — just ask when you book. Tell us about any allergies in advance.
Every session, guided
Yoga, pranayama, meditation, prostrations, walking practice, group and individual sound healing.
Transfer from Calgary, YYC airport & Edmonton
Free and organised by us, including pick-up at Calgary International Airport (YYC) — seats are limited, so ask for one when you book.
Not included: travel to the Calgary or Edmonton pick-up point.
Room, meals, every practice and the transfer — all in one price. Balance of $300 paid at the centre.
The venue
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre photos: the venue in Cochrane
The retreat centre sits on the hills above Cochrane, about 30 minutes west of Calgary — quiet buildings, simple single rooms, a chapel, and open ground to walk on. We have been holding silent meditation retreats here for years, and these photos are all from previous ones.
Address: 41160 Retreat Road, Cochrane, Alberta · about 30 minutes from Calgary, 3 hours from Edmonton · free transfer from Calgary, YYC and Edmonton
Who is leading it
Artem and Valerii run the whole retreat together
Both teach vipassana in Calgary and Edmonton and have been running silent retreats in Alberta for years, in the tradition of Mahāsi Sayadaw — noting what is happening, as it happens. Certified with Yoga Alliance (RYT-200).
Before you decide
You don't need to be ready. You need three days.
🤍Most people come for
- Silence. Three days with nothing to answer, nobody to talk to, no notifications
- A reset. After months of running on empty, a full stop rather than a weekend off
- Time with themselves. To find out what is actually going on underneath the noise
- Learning to meditate properly — with a teacher in the room, not an app
- Nature. Three days in the Alberta foothills, away from the city and the screen
- Getting the practice back that quietly fell away months ago
🚫This is not for you if
- You need to stay reachable for work for three days
- You want a spa weekend where the sessions are optional
- You're looking for company, networking or a partner getaway
- You want to keep your phone for photos and messages
- You'd rather go at your own pace with an app at home
- You're hoping three days will replace medical or psychological care you actually need
Doubts or questions — write below, or call +1 (647) 614-0707. We'll tell you honestly whether it's for you.
Real stories
Mount St. Francis retreat reviews: what people said when the silence ended
“Amazing opportunity to slow down and just BE. I loved this experience and am curious to discover more.”
“I truly recommend these guys from the bottom of my heart. They help you slow down, understand yourself better, and simply spend some time in silence, peace, and harmony. The atmosphere, the sounds, and the sense of calm really help you disconnect from your phone, everyday stress, and all the noise around you. If you’re going through difficulties in your family, relationships, work, or you simply feel like you need some time alone with your thoughts, this experience can really help. These guys truly know what they’re doing and understand this on a deep level. Sometimes we all need to stop, disconnect from everything, and just be present with ourselves. I highly recommend them. 🙏”
“I'd like to share my impressions of participating in a retreat hosted by Vipassana.ca. It was a deep dive into myself, into a space where letting go of the hustle and bustle of the world and my phone became a life-changing experience. Through the practice of silence, yoga, and meditation, I found a level of inner peace I never dreamed possible. Chanting mantras resonates deeply, creating a powerful sense of oneness even in silence. If you want to rediscover yourself and find true peace, this is the place for you.”
All Google reviews → · More stories →
On video
More participants share their experience
Reserve your place
Mount St. Francis retreat dates and prices
Choose 1 ticket below and pay the $449 deposit — booking fees included. Your room is held the moment it goes through; the remaining $300 is paid at the centre on arrival.
Registration opens soon
December 17–20, 2026 · Mount St. Francis
Online registration for this date is not open yet, but you can already join: write to us and we will hold a place for you and send the details as soon as registration opens.
Sold out · waiting list
December 17–20, 2026 · Mount St. Francis
All places for this date are taken. Join the waiting list: write to us and, if a place frees up, we will let you know first. Or choose another date above.
Checkout not loading?Open registration on Eventbrite →
Your private single room · 3 nights · includedCAD per person, all-inclusive — here is how it breaks down
| Deposit today — holds your room and your meals | $449.00 |
| Booking fees included — nothing added at checkout | $0.00 |
| Balance, paid at the centre on arrival | $300.00 |
| Total | $749.00 |
Rooms are confirmed with the monastery in advance · Deposit refundable until November 17
Two minutes. Your room is held the moment it goes through.
What to bring, the full schedule, transfer pick-up points and the menu.
Check-in opens at 5 pm. You pay the remaining $300 at the centre, hand in your phone, and for three days nothing is your decision.
Other dates or another location? See all 3-day retreats in Alberta →
Questions people ask first
Mount St. Francis silent retreat FAQ
Is the deposit the full price?
No — $449 is the deposit that holds your room and meals, and it is all that is charged today (booking fees are included, nothing is added at checkout). The remaining $300 is paid at the centre when you arrive. Total: $749.
The early-bird price of $749 holds until October 31; after that the retreat is $849. The deposit stays the same either way — only the balance at check-in changes.
Where is Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, and how do I get there?
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre is at 41160 Retreat Road, Cochrane, Alberta, on the hills above Cochrane: about 30 minutes from Calgary and about 3 hours from Edmonton. We organise a free transfer from both Calgary and Edmonton — seats are limited, so tell us you need one when you book. Driving yourself is fine too; there is parking on site.
Flying in? The free transfer also picks up at Calgary International Airport (YYC). Send us your flight details after booking and we'll match the pick-up to your arrival.
I've never meditated. Will I be lost?
No. Every session is taught from the beginning, out loud, by a teacher in the room. On most retreats, the majority of people are doing it for the first time.
I'm not flexible and yoga scares me a little.
The yoga here is slow hatha and breathing, not a workout. Every posture has an easier version, and sitting one out is a normal choice, not a failure. Tell a teacher about injuries beforehand and they'll adapt it with you.
3 to 4 hours of meditation a day sounds like a lot. Can I physically do it?
It's never more than an hour at a time, and each sit is broken by yoga, walking practice, meals or rest. You can sit on a cushion, a bench or a chair — whatever your body needs. Shifting position is allowed.
Do I really have to be silent the whole time?
Silence (mauna) holds from the evening of arrival until Sunday morning. You can always write a note, and you can speak privately with a teacher at any point. The evening Q&A is out loud and optional.
What about my phone?
Phones stay off for the three days — this is the part that does most of the work. Give your family the centre's emergency number before you come; in a real emergency you will be reached.
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothes you can sit and move in, a warm sweater for the evenings, a yoga mat, slippers or warm socks, a water bottle and toiletries. A meditation cushion if you have a favourite one. Bedding and towels are provided.
Is there a gluten-free option?
Yes. All meals are vegetarian, and a gluten-free option is available on request — just mention it when you book (or email us afterwards) and the kitchen will prepare it for all three days. Tell us about any other allergies in advance as well.
What time does it start and end?
Check-in at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre opens at 5 pm on Thursday, December 17. The retreat ends around midday on Sunday, December 20. The full schedule is emailed two weeks before.
Mount St. Francis is a Franciscan centre. Is the retreat religious?
No. Mount St. Francis is a Franciscan retreat centre, but our retreat is secular. Vipassana is a technique of attention — you watch the breath and the body and learn to notice what is happening before you react to it. People of every background and belief come, and nothing is asked of you except that you practise. There is a chapel on the grounds, and you are welcome to visit it in your personal time if you wish.
Is this the Goenka course?
No. We teach in the tradition of Mahāsi Sayadaw, which works with noting what arises, and we include hatha yoga, pranayama and sound healing alongside sitting practice.
How is this different from the 3-day retreat at Gull Lake?
The programme and the teachers are the same. At Mount St. Francis you have a private single room with a washbasin (showers and toilets are down the hall) and three vegetarian meals a day, 30 minutes from Calgary, in a group of up to 30. Gull Lake is a lake house about 1.5 hours from Edmonton and Calgary, with a shared women's room or private rooms, two meals a day and a small group of up to 10. Compare both locations and prices →
What if I feel emotional during the silence?
That is ordinary and expected — silence brings things to the surface that noise normally covers. Both teachers are there for exactly this, and a private conversation is available whenever you need one.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancel or move to a future retreat up to 30 days before the start — until November 17 — and your deposit is refunded minus the Eventbrite processing fee, or transferred (valid 12 months, subject to availability). Inside 30 days the deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable, because your room and meals are already paid to the monastery. You may pass your place to someone else with our approval. If we cancel, you are refunded in full.
Or call +1 (647) 614-0707 — a real person, usually the same day.
Page updated October 2026
Three days is short enough to fit into an ordinary life,
and long enough for the noise to stop.
December 17–20, 2026 · Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, Cochrane AB
Only 4 places left — the monastery confirms numbers in advance.+1 (647) 614-0707 ·life@vipassana.ca
Ask us directly
Have questions?
We'd love to hear from you. Ask anything about the retreat or whether it's the right experience for you, and we'll reply personally.
Or write to life@vipassana.ca · +1 (647) 614-0707
Upcoming at Vipassana.ca
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