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.

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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

Websitehttp://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.)

 

Witches' Sabbat

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/

 

WicCan Fest

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

Websitehttp://wiccanfest.com/wiccanfest/

 

Wild Ginger Witchcamp*

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: ?

Websitehttp://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: ?

Websitehttp://www.edmontonpagan.com/event/womans-summer-solstice-body-mind-soul-retreat/

 

Toon Town's Pagan Summer Fest

Traditions: all

June 19 to 21

Location: Saskatoon, SK

Cost: $90 all-inclusive; early bird rates available

Names: ?

Websitehttp://toontownspagansummerfest.yolasite.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/groups/toontownspagansummerfest/

 

Canadian Conjuration Camp-Out

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

Websitehttp://www.facebook.com/events/387372168129378/

 

Hail and Horn Gathering

Traditions: Heathen

June 26 to 29

LocationRaven'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

Websitehttps://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.

 

Sunwheel Pagan Arts Festival

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

Websitehttp://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.

 

Pagans on the Rock

Traditions: all (ATC)

July 2 to 5

Location: Duncan, BC

Cost: $46 (camping and admission only); early bird rates available

Names: ?

Websitehttp://www.pagansontherock.org/

 

Feast of Sekhmet

Traditions: Kemetic

July 11 to 12

LocationRaven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)

Cost: $60 (not sure what this includes)

Names: Juniper Jeni

Websitehttps://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

Websitehttp://www.earthandskyconnection.com/paganfest/

 

Spirits of the Earth Festival

Traditions: earth-centered

July 21 to 26

Location: Malahide, ON

Cost: $180 (not sure what this includes); early bird rates available

Names: ?

Websitehttp://www.spiritsfest.com/

 

Kaleidoscope Gathering

Traditions: all; Theme: "Bone Dance"

July 29 to August 3

LocationRaven's Knoll (near Golden Lake, ON)

Cost: $140 for the week or $100 for the weekend; indoor camping extra

Names: Hobbes, Juniper Jeni

Websitehttp://ravensknoll.net/kg/

Highlights:* I am told that the largest Pagan gathering in Canada and is extremely diverse drawing a wide range of traditions.

 

Earth Spirit

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

Websitehttp://earthspiritgathering.webs.com/

Highlights: A fun, intimate little Pagan festival in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

 

PanFest

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

Websitehttp://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: ?

Websitehttp://aegisgathering.webs.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/AegisGathering/

 

Firelight Gathering Festival*

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

Websitehttps://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!

 

BC Witchcamp

Traditions: Reclaiming

August 24 to 30

Location: Evans Lake, BC

Cost: $675 to $950 all-inclusive; scholarships available

Names: Starhawk

Websitehttp://bcwitchcamp.ca/

 

Aurora Borealis Witchcamp*

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

Websitehttp://www.abwitchcamp.org/

 

KornuKopia Gathering

Traditions: all

September 19 to 20

LocationRaven'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

Websitehttps://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

Websitehttp://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

Websitehttp://circleofgreatmystery.org/2015-snakes-and-ladders-fall-retreat/

* Updated thanks to input from our readers! (And thank you!)

Last modified on
Sable Aradia (Diane Morrison) has been a traditional witch most of her life, and she is a licensed Wiccan minister and a Third Degree initiate in the Star Sapphire and Pagans for Peace traditions. Author of "The Witch's Eight Paths of Power" (Red Wheel/Weiser 2014) and contributor to "Pagan Consent Culture" and "The Pagan Leadership Anthology," she also writes "Between the Shadows" at Patheos' Pagan channel and contributes to Gods & Radicals. Sable is just breaking out as a speculative fiction writer under her legal name, and a new serial, the Wyrd West Chronicles, will be released on the Spring Equinox this year. Like most writers, she does a lot of other things to help pay the bills, including music, Etsy crafts, and working part time at a bookstore. She lives in Vernon, BC, Canada with her two life partners and her furbabies in a cabin on the edge of the woods.

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