Saskatchewan
PAN-ORTHODOX YOUTH REREAT
May 15 - 18, 2026
"Liturgies of Life: Connecting Your Story with God's Life"
Research shows that retreat attendance is a major factor
in keeping youth active in the Church into adulthood.
WHO WE ARE
The Pan Orthodox Youth Retreat is in its 5th year! Last year we had 80 youth attend! The youth retreat provides a unique opportunity for Orthodox youth to connect with each other and deepen their understanding of their Orthodox faith. It will be a good mixture of time for spiritual growth through the teaching and the services and stump the priest sessions and loads of time for fun and hanging out with new and old friends, campfires, night games, a Variety Night, group wide games and crafts.
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If you are a young person between grades 7-12 and are looking to connect with your peers across Western Canada, then the Pan Orthodox Youth Retreat is the event for you! The youth retreat promises to be an transformative experience that combines the joy of deepening our knowledge and love of the Orthodox faith together with being surrounded and supported by other Orthodox youth from across the western provinces in the beauty of God’s creation.
2026 Retreat Details
This year our speaker will be Fr. Yuri Hladio. Fr. Yuri is an Orthodox Christian priest (OCA), happily married and the father of two young children. He serves in Hamilton, Ontario, after twelve years in Winnipeg, and—with the blessing of his Archbishop—also serves as a military chaplain to a Highland infantry unit. A former professional improv performer, he loves ritual, ceremony, and liturgy, and helping people see how everyday life is deeply woven into God’s story. He plays many instruments, tries his best to sing (his wife is the real singer), and on a day off is happiest with his family, good food, and a board game around the table.
In these sessions, we’ll explore the Divine Liturgy as a living story and discover how its words, movements, and rhythms echo through Scripture and into our everyday lives. By paying attention to ordinary rituals—meals, habits, beginnings, endings—we’ll see how they connect to the Church’s worship. Together, we’ll learn how to recognize our own stories as places where God’s life is already unfolding.​
Volunteer
Are you finished high school, but still wanting to be a part of the youth retreat by being a counselor in a cabin? Great! We need you to make the retreat a success! We need counselors to be mature role models of the Orthodox Christian faith and be willing to pitch in to help with the running of the retreat’s activities.
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You will be expected to take responsibility for your cabin group, and demonstrate maturity and leadership with the youth you are in charge of.
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Youth sponsors must have a gap of one full year between high school and coming to the retreat as a youth sponsor.
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Counselors must have previous experience in leadership and be able to demonstrate responsibility and maturity with this role.
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References, a criminal record check and a recommendation of good standing from your parish priest will all be required.
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Want to Volunteer? Contact orthodoxyouthretreat@gmail.com
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Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate all requests to come to the youth retreat as a youth sponsor/counselor.
Registration
$150/youth
3 or more siblings $130/youth
This fee covers accommodation, meals, and all retreat activities.
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If cost is a barrier to coming, please reach out first to your parish priest for financial assistance as parishes often have support funds for this purpose. Secondly, you may reach out to the retreat organizers- limited finanacial support may be available.