GRIEF RETREATS
Embers of Grief:
Honouring the Wisdom Within
October 6th-9th, 2025
The Lodge at Pine Cove
French River, Ontario
Through conversation, shared silence, and connection with the land, we’ll explore what it means to honour the wisdom within our grief, and how it can shape us with tenderness, courage, and clarity.
Grief isn’t something to get over. It’s something we learn to live with, and sometimes, that learning needs space.
Embers of Grief is a four day, three-night retreat for anyone navigating loss. Whether your grief is recent or decades old, named or not, you’re invited into a quiet, supportive setting where your experience is welcome, and your story is held in good company.
Hosted by Cristin Talentino of Birch + Bloom and Melissa Sulley of josiah+co. at the Lodge at Pine Cove on the beautiful French River, this retreat is a gentle invitation to slow down and tend to your grief with care, in community.
There is something deeply powerful about being with others who understand. Over the space of our time together there will be no fixing, no comparing, simply shared presence. This is a place to feel what you feel, without judgment or pressure to explain.
Each day includes:
- Morning reflections to help you connect with where you are
- Restorative practices like breathwork, guided rest, or gentle movement to support your body and nervous system
- Land-based learning through forest walks, time on the water, and practices that draw wisdom from the natural world
- Evening fire circles for shared stories, stillness, and soft connection under the stars
You’ll also have time to rest, read, journal, or simply be. Nourishing meals, warm drinks, and quiet moments by the water will be part of the rhythm of our days. This retreat is about making space for your grief, not alone, but in community. It’s about remembering that you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.
What's Included:
- A pre-retreat call with either Cristin or Melissa to ensure you know what to expect, and for us to get to know each other
- Three nights of private or shared accommodations at the stunning Lodge at Pine Cove, tucked into the shoreline of the French River
- All prepared meals and snacks, beginning with dinner on arrival and ending with breakfast before departure
- A customized grief journal, designed to gently guide reflection and integrate the retreat experience
- Daily facilitated sessions and embodied practices with Cristin and Melissa
- Land-based activities that invite connection to the natural world and the grief it knows how to hold
- Evening fire circles with warm drinks and meaningful connection
- Access to canoes, forest trails, and quiet places to rest and reflect
About Melissa + Cristin
Melissa Sulley (she/her) is a Certified Grief & Loss Coach, Bereavement Doula, educator, and founder of josiah+co., a practice dedicated to supporting individuals through the raw and complex realities of loss. With a trauma-informed, heart-forward approach, Melissa offers one-on-one coaching and community support for those navigating grief in all its forms—whether it's pregnancy and infant loss, divorce, religious deconstruction, identity shifts, or any life-altering heartbreak that turns your world upside down.
Her work is grounded in both lived experience and professional training. Melissa is a mother to three living children and seven who live on in the stars. Her first encounter with loss came in 2015 with the death of her son Josiah at 20 weeks—a loss that would become the catalyst for her journey into grief work. Since then, she has walked through recurrent miscarriage, the end of a marriage, the unraveling of her faith, and the ongoing realities of co-parenting—each experience expanding her ability to hold space for others navigating the unthinkable.
Melissa brings a unique mix of emotional intelligence, practical tools, and deep empathy to the spaces she creates. Her coaching isn’t about fixing or forcing a silver lining—it’s about co-creating space where grief can breathe, be witnessed, and eventually transform. Her clients often describe her presence as both grounding and expansive, a place where they can show up fully—messy, tired, hopeful, angry, lost—and still be held with compassion.
In addition to her personal journey, Melissa holds a B.A. in Psychology and Education, alongside several certifications in grief support. She has spoken at community events, led support groups, and collaborates with organizations to increase awareness and education around the real, lasting impacts of grief.
She believes in meeting people where they are—whether you're grieving a person, a relationship, a former version of yourself, or a life that no longer fits. Her work is a soft landing place in a world that often expects you to move on far too quickly.
Cristin Talentino (she/her) is the Principal Coach and Facilitator behind Birch + Bloom, a practice dedicated to guiding people through life’s transitions with honesty, care, and respect, while honouring the complexity of being human. Her work is grounded, relational, and intentionally different from much of the mainstream wellness space. She does not prescribe quick fixes, just space to pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity and integrity.
With more than 20 years of experience in leadership, facilitation, and community engagement, Cristin brings a thoughtful mix of structure, curiosity, and presence to every space she holds. She’s known for creating environments that feel both steady and expansive where people can be fully themselves without pressure or performance.
Cristin’s understanding of grief is shaped by her lived experience. In recent years, she has navigated the deaths of both parents, multiple pregnancy losses, divorce, and the unraveling of a life she worked hard to build. These experiences deepened her capacity to sit with what is hard to hold, and strengthened her commitment to creating spaces where people don’t have to carry it all alone.
Cristin holds a Diploma in Peace and Conflict Studies, BA in Communications, Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement, and is working towards her Certification in Feminine Embodiment Coaching.
At Embers of Grief, Cristin offers clear guidance, gentle rhythm, and a steady presence. She believes in the wisdom of slowing down, the power of being witnessed, and the quiet transformation that can emerge when we’re allowed to be exactly who we are.
A Note from Cristin + Melissa
We created this retreat because we know grief can feel isolating, and also deeply human. Between us, we’ve lived through many losses that have entirely reshaped our lives. And in our work, we’ve walked alongside others doing the same. What we’ve seen, again and again, is how grief softens in the presence of empathy, community, and time. And how much we all need places where we can be real about what we’ve lost, and who we’re becoming in the process. We’re offering this retreat now because so many people are carrying grief silently, in a world that often wants them to “move on.” We believe grief is wise. We believe it deserves a seat at the table. And we believe it’s possible to be with grief in ways that feel grounded, gentle, and yes, sometimes even joyful. You don’t need to explain your grief to come here. You don’t need to be “ready.” You simply need to arrive as you are. We’ll meet you there.
~ Cristin + Melissa
