We’re so glad you found us.
We believe in building innovative cultures that embrace weird ideas and make the world a more loving and interesting place.
We help mid-career professionals and communities find their creative edge using inclusive spaces and simple tools.
We provide creative confidence and competence through coaching, consulting, and accommodations.
We help mid-career professionals and communities think unconventionally to accelerate their growth. Starting wherever you are, we work with you to assess the tools and assets you already have at your disposal and discover how to gain the ones you don’t have yet. This toolkit helps you build a solid foundation to craft a life of value and purpose that is unique to you, led by creativity. We’ll create a flexible framework that you can follow to pursue your goals with confidence and, most importantly, clarity.
Want to hear more? Check out the links to our chats here:
Subkit "A Thoughtful Space to Grow", April, 2022
Inspiring Entrepreneurs, February, 2021
Hastings County "I Left The City" Campaign, November 2020
OSM “Shop Talk Quinte” Podcast, November 2020
Who We Are.
The Founder of Creative Minds Retreat, Christine McLean, is a coach, consultant, economic developer, and multidisciplinary artist.
With over 15 years of experience in a corporate environment, publicly funded institutions, private start-ups, municipal government, and as a freelancer, she pulls together varied perspectives seamlessly. Calling Toronto home for a decade, she was immersed in the arts and culture sector before relocating to a low-key lifestyle in rural Ontario to coach small business development. The fresh air and sound of crickets helped her recalibrate and ultimately led to the development of Creative Minds Retreat. It’s her mission to share what she’s discovered about the impact of creativity on everyday life.
Training
Economic Development Certificate (2026), University of Waterloo
CTACC, Coach Training Alliance
Project Management Certificate, University of Toronto
BFA, OCAD University, Photography
BA, Bishop’s University, Fine Art and Psychology
Social Service Work, Sir Sandford Fleming College (one year)
Awards
EDAC Marketing Award, Small Business Toolkit (2023)
Bishop’s University Prize in Fine Arts (2007)
What’s on our bookshelf.
So much of our growth took shape with the guidance of books. Take a look at the most impactful reads on our bookshelf available to you during your stay with us.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink
The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
Creativity Rules by Tina Seelig
Decisive by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Deep Work by Cal Newport
Designing Your Life by Bull Burnett and Dave Evans
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Flourish by Martin Seligman
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Grit by Angela Duckworth
The Innovation Race by Andrew Grant and Gaia Grant
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Linchpin by Seth Godin
The Marshmallow Test by Walter Mischel
The One Thing by Gary Keller
Originals by Adam Grant
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Quiet by Susan Cain
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Up Side of Down by Megan McArdle
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami