Long before this retreat project began, the island has been a beloved sanctuary, drawing nature enthusiasts from all walks of life. Until the early '90's Oddiyana, then called The Manitou Camp, was a working place for log drivers with their tugboats, serving as a lunch camp and headquarters, with a full time cook living on site. The river was a highway for millions of logs floating downstream that were corralled and collected in large sacs of timber. The men and their families used the work camp as a cottage in the summer, and hunting camp in the fall.

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In 1991 the log-driving era came to an end. At this time, the Picard family acquired the camp and took over the land lease with Hydro Quebec. For decades locals enjoyed eating lunch on the deck overlooking at, what some would call, the best view in the Gatineau.

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In 2016, with a vision of building a retreat centre, the abandoned cottage was purchased by an aspiring carpenter Bonnie, great niece to the Picard's, and daughter to Joan and Rocky. Rocky, 4th generation log-driver and captain of the Boulé tugboat (headquarters at Manitou camp), and Joan, long time practitioner of Transcendental Meditation and yoga. Construction for the  retreat centre began in 2017. 

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With the encouragement and helping hands of family and friends, materials were transported all summer long on a homemade barge; a 30' dock powered by a 2.5 hpw outboard motor. After 4 months of learning and building, a beautiful two-storey retreat house was reconstructed on the existing footprint of the original camp.

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​​Now almost 10 years since the project began, the centre has now become a home for several groups hosting yearly summer retreats.​

 

May the thought of Oddiyana be a refuge for all. And may the mighty Gatineau inspire the hearts of visitors for generations to come!

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