Updates Algonquin 2026

Update #4

Dear Algonquin 2026 Participants,

Gary and I are very excited for our upcoming watercolour workshop in Algonquin Park.

Workshop Registration Form

Please take a moment to fill in your workshop registration form that will ask you important information such as emergency contact information. Click HERE to fill in the form.

Warm Up Sketch

We will be hosting a warm up sketch at 2:00 on Sunday Sept 13. Please meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 with your sketching gear and we will go from there. Gary will not be teaching. This is just your chance to dust off your sketching gear and get into the “zone”.

Welcome Reception

At 6:00pm that evening we will be hosting a Welcome Reception Wine and Cheese. Please meet in the lobby at 6.

Materials List

As a reminder, the materials list for this workshop is HERE.

Looking forward to painting with you in a few weeks

Cheers,

Brenda

Update #3

Dear Lovely Algonquin Painters coming from the Toronto area,

I am starting the conversation about transportation to our resort in Huntsville, Ontario from Toronto. Below are all the transportation options coming from Toronto with links where you will find more info. To summarize, your options are to 1) drive your own car, 2) take a bus (I can pick you up from the Huntsville bus station), 3) ride share via Uber or a private company or 4) rent a car and share the cost with other participants.

Whether you're interested in sharing the cost of a ride or you're good with taking a bus please "Reply All" to this email so we can coordinate our efforts :)

Cheers,

Brenda

Sept 12
	Departing from	Arriving	Cost one way	Duration
Public Transportation	Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 1	Huntsville - ONTC Bus Stop
Northlander bus	departs at 8:25 am	arrives 1:17 pm	$55CDN	(1 transfer) 4hrs 52 mins
	departs 7:50 pm	arrives 3:22am		(2 transfers) 7hrs 32 mins
	departs 11:25pm	arrives 3:22am		(1 transfer) 3hrs 57 mins

OR (BETTER OPTIONS)
Take the UP Express train from Toronto Pearson Airport to Union Station. It departs every 15 minutes, seven days a week. The cost is $12.35CDN and the duration is 28 minutes.

THEN take
	Toronto Union Station	Huntsville - ONTC Bus Stop
Northlander bus	dep 10:00am	arrives 4:24pm	$56CDN	(1 transfer) 6hrs 24 mins
	dep 7:00pm	arrives 10:54pm		3hrs 54 mins
	dep 11:30pm	arrives 3:22am		3hrs 52 mins

OR (EVEN BETTER OPTIONS IF SHARED)
Private Transportation	Toronto Pearson Airport	Huntsville Hotel
Uber seats 4 people			$197	2 to 2hrs 30 mins
Uber seats 6 people			$370	2 to 2hrs 30 mins

OR (MAYBE EVEN BETTER OPTIONS IF SHARED)
Enterprise Rent a Car	Toronto Pearson Airport	Huntsville Enterprise Rent a Car		2 to 2hrs 30 mins
You will only need to rent the car for transportation to Huntsville. After you arrive transportation has been arranged for the group. There is an Enterprise Car Rental office in Huntsville where the car could be dropped off. This could be an economical option if the cost of the car is shared with other participants. Going back the car could be returned to the Toronto Airport Enterprise office.				2 to 2hrs 30 mins

Sept 19
	Huntsville - ONTC Bus Stop	Toronto Pearson Airport Terminal 1
Northlander bus	dep 4:31am	arr 8:40am	$55CDN	4Hrs 9 mins
	dep 7:56am	arr 12:10pm		4hrs 14mins
	dep 6:01pm	arr 10:40pm		4hrs 39 mins

OR

	Huntsville - ONTC Bus Stop	Union Station
Northlander bus	dep 1:45pm	arr 5:55pm	$54CDN	4hrs 10 mins
Northlander bus	dep 6:01pm	arr 10:00pm	$54CDN	3hrs 59mins

THEN take

Take the UP Express train from Union Station to Toronto Pearson Airport. It departs every 15 minutes, seven days a week. The cost is $12.35CDN and the duration is 28 minutes.

Update #2

Dear Algonquin Canada Painting Holiday Participants,

Happy news--We have now Greenlighted this workshop!

We are happy to announce that we have now greenlighted our Algonquin Canada workshop! :) Our small group of 7 participants are all coming from the US and Canada. Please see below for important information regarding next steps.

Remaining Balance

The remaining balance will be due May 17, 2026. Click HERE to pay the remaining balance by credit card or Paypal.

Buddy Discount

We still have tickets available. Please consider inviting a painting buddy to join you and get a discount. LEARN MORE.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodation is not included in this package but a group rate has been arranged in a quintessential Muskokan resort on a lake near Huntsville, Ontario. Participants will have full access to the resort's indoor and outdoor pools, Sauna Room, Tennis Courts, Towel Service, Beach Rentals, Canoe, Kayak, Paddle Boats, Volleyball, that are included in the resort fee. There is also a spa on site that offers various massages, facials and treatments for an extra fee. Depending on type of room, the room rates range from $189-$209 Canadian dollars per night plus $39/room/day resort fee + tax.

How to Make a Reservation at Hidden Valley Resort

To make a hotel reservation, it's very easy. Email reservations@hiddenvalleyresort.ca or call (705) 789-2301 or toll free 1-800-465-4171 and identify yourself as part of the Studio 56 Room Block. They will ask for your credit card info and a one night depoist is required at the time of booking with the balance due on arrival. Easy peasy. If the reservation is cancelled 7 days or more prior to arrival the deposit will be refunded.

I recommend you make your hotel reservation now before you forget and lose the group rate offer. You are not obligated to stay in this hotel but if you decide to stay in a different hotel you must meet at this hotel every morning at the start of our day.

Workshop Registration Form

Please click HERE to fill in this registration form so that we can complete your registration in the workshop. It will ask you about emergency contact info and important things like that.

Passport Expiry

Please note (nonCanadians) that your passport must be valid for more than 6 months after the return date of your trip. Please take a moment now to check that your passport is up to date.

Trip Cancellation + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations for any reason are nonrefundable therefore we advise you to protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Click HERE for a list of US travel insurance companies. Some credit card companies may also offer trip cancellation insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card. We also advise (nonCanadians) travel medical insurance in case you need medical attention.

When to Arrive

We will be hosting an optional warm up sketch at 2:00 on Sunday September 13 and a Welcome Reception at 6:00pm that night (more info to follow). If there is a huge time difference between your home and Ontario, Canada, we suggest you arrive on Saturday September 12 so that you have time to get over jet lag. If you're in the same time zone you may wish to arrive on the morning of the 13th in time to participate in the optional warm up sketch.

Please Register for our Newsletter

If you are not a subscriber, please click HERE to register for our newsletter so that we can communicate with you a little easier.

What to Expect Leading up to the Start of your Vacation Package

A Final Payment reminder on May 17, 2026
A Trip Preparation email on July 16, 2026
A Last Minute Detail email on Sept 7, 2026

Details about the trip can be found on the website HERE. If you have any questions about the trip please don't hesitate to contact me. We are looking forward to seeing you up in the Muskokas when the leaves are turning bright red and yellow and the loons are on the lake! :)

Cheers,

Brenda

Update #1

Welcome

Thank you for your deposit in our Algonquin Watercolour Tour 2026 featuring plein air watercolour classes with Gary Geraths. Below is some important information for you.

Accommodations
Hotel accommodation is not included in this package but a group rate has been arranged at Hidden Valley Resort, a quintessential Muskokan resort on Peninsula Lake near Huntsville, Ontario. Participants will have full access to the resort's indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, hot tub, beach front, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, paddleboards, and tennis court that are included in the resort fee. There is also a spa on site that offers various massages, facials and treatments for an extra fee. Rooms have been blocked for our group:

Studio 56 Room Block
Room Type	Date	Rate	Blocked
Standard Hillside Rooms (2 x Queen Beds)	Sept. 12-19, 2026	$189/room/night	4
Superior Hillside Balcony Rooms (2 x Queen Beds)	Sept. 12-19, 2026	$199/room/night	7
Deluxe Lakeside Balcony Rooms (2 x Queen Beds)	Sept. 12-19, 2026	$209/room/night	6

The above rates are quoted in Canadian funds on a per unit, per night basis, based on double occupancy. Additional guests in the room, age 18 and older, are at a fee of $20/person/night. Max 4ppl/room or 6ppl/suite. The above rates are also subject to a $39/room/day resort fee and applicable taxes (4% MAT and 13% HST).

Reservations may be made directly with the hotel. Identify yourself as booking under the Studio 56 Room Block to ensure they receive the preferred guestroom rate. Retain your confirmation number, which will be provided by the reservation agent, and use this number when referring to your booking. Reservations can be made in 3 ways:

1) call Hidden Valley Resort at (705) 789-2301, toll free at 1-800-465-4171,

2) or via email at reservations@hiddenvalleyresort.ca,

3) or online using this link: https:/www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/je63b0

*Please note that when booking online, rates shown are inclusive of the resort fee plus applicable resort fee taxes*

All reservations must be secured by a major credit card. A one-night deposit is required at time of booking with balance due on arrival. If the reservation is cancelled 7 days or more before the arrival date, the deposit will be refunded. If the reservation is cancelled less than 7 days before arrival date, or the stay shortened, the full value of the original reservations will be charged.

Please note: You are not obliged to stay in this hotel. You can stay in any nearby hotel or Airbnb if you prefer but it is your responsibility to be in the lobby of this hotel every morning in time to catch our bus.

Buddy Discount
If you invite a participant friend and we sell out with 15 participants you and your friend will each get a $50 discount in the form of a rebate after the start of the workshop. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount and it can only be applied to a Workshop participant ticket.

Passport Expiry
Please note that your passport must be valid for more than 6 months after the return date of your trip. Please take a moment now to check that your passport is up to date.

What to Expect prior to the Start of Your Vacation Workshop

A greenlight announcement on or before April 17, 2026

A Final Payment reminder due on May 17, 2026

A Trip Preparation email on July 16, 2026
A Last Minute Detail email on Sept 7, 2026

Will be in touch. Looking forward to seeing you in Algonquin :)

Cheers,
Brenda