Welcome to the Retreat

Once you unpack and settle in, take a minute to read this over so that you are well acquainted with everything and ready to take full advantage of these next few days. If you have any questions, the Director is more than happy to assist you.

Schedule

1. A copy of the schedule will be handed out.
2. If you don't have an alarm, please arrange to be awakened by a knock on your door. The Oratory will be unlocked at about 7:15 a.m.

Dining Room

1. If anything is required from the catering staff, please pass the request through the Director rather than going directly to the staff.
2. If anyone has any special dietary requirements not previously made known, please let the Director know this evening.
   
3. At the first meal, each place is provided with a cloth napkin and a numbered napkin-ring. Please remember your napkin-ring number, in order to recuperate your napkin at each meal, or until they are replaced. Between meals, the napkins (and unused rings) are stored in the drawers of the credenza in the dining room.
4. After each meal, dishes are to be scraped, stacked and placed, along with cups, glasses and silverware in the bins on the trolley in the dining room.
5. Please do not take china or other kitchen/dining-room materials from the dining-room.

Oratory

1. Please use appropriate dress and footwear (e.g. no slippers) in the Oratory, as a sign of respect for the Blessed Sacrament.
2. Please do not put feet on the kneelers. If kneelers are in the way, they can be raised to the vertical position.

General Items

1. Payment for the retreat can be given to the person assigned to be "Banker". Cheques should be made out to I.R.C.D.
   
2. Please do not smoke in the building.
3. Wet towels should be hung on towel racks so as not to damage furniture, radiators, etc.
4. The tap water is drinkable, though somewhat sulphurous. There is a bottled water just outside the dining room.
5. There is a supply of basic toiletries available for sale (e.g. toothpaste, disposable razors, etc.). The Director will request what is needed from the catering staff.
6. The sewage is handled via septic tank. Please do not put any non-biodegradable items into the toilets.
7. Please park so as not to obstruct passage around the "tear-drop" in front of the house. In particular, during wet times, please try to avoid driving or parking on the grassy areas, as the tires destroy the lawn.
8. See the Director for linen or towels if anything is missing. You will find fresh bed linen stored in the linen closets on the top and basement floors. On the last morning of the retreat you are asked to strip your bed and put on fresh bed linen. At the end of the retreat the used linen, along with used towels, etc., can be left in the bags provided, or on the landings at the top or bottom of the stairs.
9. In order to keep expenses down, please turn off lights that are not being used. Passageway lighting is kept to a minimum for the same purpose.
10. There are books for borrowing during the retreat in the Oratory vestibule. The cabinet in the living-room contains books for sale which are supplied and owned by Primary Educators. There is box in the cabinet, in which you may leave your payment. The price is marked on the cover of the book, or on the flyleaf, or on an inventory control envelope inserted in the book. Place the inventory control envelope in the box with your payment inside.
11. Phone calls to Toronto proper are local calls. Direct long-distance calls are blocked, so the use of a phone card or a cell phone is necessary. The Director has a supply of phone cards for sale.

Optional activities

The property is bounded on the north by the Credit River and on the west by a farm. There are paths through the woods and you are invited to walk about the property (and hike along the roads) as much as you like. Note that the shore of the river tends to be quite swampy during the wet seasons. Please be sure to clean your footwear before entering the house.