“Fabulous.”

“Inspirational.”

These were just two of the praises overheard at The Haven’s 25th anniversary celebration. The laughter, tears and conversations flowing throughout the afternoon proved everyone there shared those sentiments.

The festivities began with a sold-out lunch (for 150 people) of The Haven’s outstanding fare including fried chicken, cheese biscuits and, of course, the famous homemade cookies.

And then Haven director Rachel Davey took the stage in the Phoenix auditorium. Her goal? To answer the question Haven staff are most frequently asked (as previously reported) – what exactly do they do there?

As staff, interns and students shared the microphone to describe their personal Haven experiences, a short but powerful answer formed. They change lives.

The first to speak was Davey. She recalls travelling from Cyprus to attend The Haven’s courses. Moved by her experience she leapt at the chance to work there, declaring, quite happily, she has the best job in the world.

One of The Haven’s course facilitators, Carole Ames, told how The Haven allowed her to develop a new way of living that no one, including herself, could have anticipated for her twenty years ago.

And, an internship graduate compared her Haven experience, and receiving her diploma, to working towards and winning Olympic gold.

The longest applause and biggest cheers were saved for The Haven’s two founders Bennet (Ben) Wong and Jock McKeen, who flew in especially for the occasion.

Later, over a cup of coffee in the seaside restaurant, they reminisced about the early days of The Haven.

“I remember when we were buying furniture from the Salvation Army, and using pots to catch the drips from the leaky ceiling - 17 pots at one point,” laughed McKeen.

Wong shares a more serious memory – when Gabriolans were suspicious of the Haven’s activities. “I believe some thought we were trying to establish a cult.”

Far from it. The core aim of the courses is really quite simple.

“Our courses are about self-responsibility,” says Jane Olynyk, a member of The Haven’s core faculty.  “Helping people realize they have the strength within them to change their own lives.”

During the birthday celebration guests took a deeper look into something else – the Haven property. Staff guided unsuspecting visitors to unfamiliar areas including the pump shed (every drop of Haven water passes through it), the non-conventional sewage treatment plant, compost and recycling bins and the enormous 100,000-gallon cistern tucked neatly underneath the Phoenix auditorium.

The Haven’s body workers were also on hand, treating guests to taster sessions of reflexology, massage and structural integration. In the restaurant Dianne Anderson gave OH card readings to curious participants.

The celebrations wound down on The Haven’s spectacular beachside lawn. Guests mingled, indulging in chocolate cake, snacks and final conversations with friends and staff.

Wong, McKeen and Davey were asked to share highlights from the past 25 years. All three laughed.

“There are too many,” McKeen said, “but let’s try.” He recalled an evening on the front lawn when people of all nationalities, including Chinese and Maori, were having a sing-a-long. Notable cultural differences at first kept people apart. But as the sun set and the music flowed, people began holding hands, singing their hearts out – all cultural inhibitions gone.

For Davey the highlight was, and still is, watching people on the core Come Alive program. They arrive nervous and edgy and leave, a week later, their energy buoyant and light, completely transformed.

As to the next 25 years all three agree there’s no need to change a great thing when you have one. As Davey puts it:

“It’s been working so well for 25 years, we think we should do more of the same. Of course we plan to expand and blossom. But we won’t ever forget where our roots are.”

Did you know?
Haven facts revealed at the 25th anniversary:

The Haven has courses for all ages. Kids as young as three participate in the ‘Kids in the Spotlight’ program. Interested? Sign them up now as Davey says the kids and teen programs are often full a year in advance.

The Haven buildings all have bird names. Wong and McKeen wanted people to remember their connection to nature. The original Haven building was named the Great Blue Heron, after the resort’s resident bird.

The Haven was recycling and composting before it became fashionable. Louise Amuir, events coordinator says the next item on The Haven’s sustainability agenda is introducing a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis system to transform seawater into drinking water.

The Haven is an Educational Institution under the Canada Income Tax Act. Translation: they grant certificates and diplomas. Today there are 68 interns working towards their diplomas. Seventy-five have already graduated.

Janina Stajic