History of True North Insight

TNI was first envisioned in 2003.  By early 2004 TNI became an incorporated charitable organization.  Dedicated teachers and yogis were actively involved in building community awareness and support for a Canadian insight meditation centre, creating a business plan, and searching out possible locations for such a centre.  While traveling to various cities in Ontario and Quebec and listening to the needs, interests and concerns of meditators, it became clear that TNI’s first priority was to develop a retreat schedule and focus on offering a variety of opportunities for retreats. TNI's inaugural retreat was held in August, 2006, in Arnprior, Ontario at Galilee Centre. 

Current Status

We have grown into a dedicated service organization offering 9 residential retreats both in English and French in 2009, as well as 3 non-residential retreats in 3 cities.  We offer our residential retreats in Ontario at a retreat space in Arnprior near Ottawa, as well as at a centre west of Toronto.  Our schedule also includes day-long retreats in Kingston and Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec. Weekly sitting groups in Montreal in both English and French support people in beginning and sustaining their practice. We are committed to diversity, welcoming people from all backgrounds, abilities and income levels.

To see our 2010 Year-end Profit and Loss Statement, please click here.

Who We Are

Our organization consists of Guiding Teachers, the Board of Directors, an Organizing Committee, Advisors to TNI and a network of volunteers.

Our 3-person Organizing Committee takes care of the daily running of the organization.  Our 6-member Board of Directors meets with the Organizing Committee three times a year to make recommendations on program direction, approve financial decisions, and lend overall guidance and support.  Our Advisory Committee is made up of meditation teachers from the US and Canada.  Everyone involved with guiding and administrating TNI has experience with the practice and benefits of insight meditation. 

Our volunteers are the generous and gifted foundation of all TNI efforts. Graphic designers have created TNI’s promotional posters and brochures and designed the website.  Translators volunteer their time to make our website content and all promotional documents bilingual. An award-winning Ottawa architect has developed the elements for an environmentally conscious design for the proposed retreat centre.  A consultant in organizational development has volunteered his services several times at pivotal points in our growth.  We have also had several professional fundraisers give us feedback and guidance.  In addition, a large number of volunteers in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and other cities and towns contribute their time and skills to accomplish many of the daily important tasks in support of the vitality of our organization. 

Board of Directors

Pascal Auclair has been immersed in the Dhamma since 1997 (more ...)

Norman Feldman is a Founding Member of TNI, a Guiding Teacher, and the teachers' representative on the Board of Directors. He attended his first meditation retreat in India in 1971 (more ...)

Daryl Lynn Ross is a member of the True North Insight Board of Directors and will be the Centre's resident teacher (more ...)

David Schouela is a graduate in business administration from the University of Western Ontario (more ...)

Molly Swan has been engaging in spiritual inquiry and dharma practice since 1985, both in Asia and the West (more ...)

Organizing Committee

Gail Guy, Ottawa
Janet Maxwell, Montreal
Daryl Lynn Ross, Montreal

Advisors to True North Insight Meditation Centre

Gil Fronsdal, Founder and primary Teacher, Insight Meditation Center of the Mid-Peninsula
Joseph Goldstein, Co-founder and Guiding Teacher of the Insight Meditation Society

Myokyo (Judith McLean), Abbess of Centre Zen de la Main
Amy Schmidt, Resident Teacher of the Insight Meditation Society
Gina Sharpe, Co-founder of New York Insight
Bhante Wimala, Spiritual Director of the Triple Gem Society