The Red Tent is Stirring Again
After a long, quiet pause, the Red Tent is reopening - not to recreate what once was, but to grow into what is needed now.
Since 2015, Red Tent Ontario has offered women a safe place to gather, share, listen and connect. That foundation remains.
What is emerging now is something broader: a growing network of locally held Red Tent circles, connected through shared values, mutual support and a spirit of cooperation.
Each circle can be unique. Each steward brings her own experience, personality and gifts. What connects us is our commitment to creating welcoming, respectful spaces where women can gather as themselves and experience genuine community.
Different circles. Shared values. One growing community.
Stay Connected →
What is a Red Tent?
A Red Tent is a gathering where women come together in community.
There is no single way to hold a Red Tent.
Depending on the circle, a gathering might include conversation, creativity, nature, music, reflection, storytelling, seasonal themes, ritual or simply time to connect.
The common thread is the quality of the space:
Respect.
Autonomy.
Listening.
Inclusion.
Connection.
Women are invited to participate in ways that feel appropriate for them. There is no expectation that everyone will share, believe, practice or experience things in the same way.
Every circle reflects the women who create it and the community it serves.
The Red Tent Ontario Network
Red Tent Ontario is becoming a cooperative network of locally held Red Tent circles across Ontario.
The purpose of the network is not to make every circle the same.
It is to provide the connection and support that allows each circle to develop in its own way.
Through the network, Circle Stewards can connect with one another, share ideas and experiences, access resources and training, and support one another in the practical realities of holding circles.
Together, we can learn from what works, navigate challenges, and create opportunities for women to connect across communities.
Local autonomy. Shared values. Mutual support.
For Women
Find a Red Tent Circle
Looking for a place to connect with other women?
Our circles will each have their own character, depending on the steward, location and interests of the community.
You might find conversation, creativity, nature, reflection, music, ritual, shared learning - or simply an opportunity to sit together and connect.
Explore the circles available in your area and find one that feels right for you.
Find a Circle →
For Circle Stewards
Bring Red Tent to Your Community
Do you feel drawn to creating a Red Tent circle in your community?
You don't have to have all the answers, and you don't have to facilitate exactly like anyone else.
A Red Tent Steward's role is to care for the gathering, establish clear and respectful agreements, encourage balanced participation, and help create an environment where women can connect authentically.
Each steward brings her own gifts.
The network provides a place to learn, connect and grow those gifts alongside others.
You bring the circle.
We build the network together.
Learn About Becoming a Steward →
What Stewards Can Expect
As the Red Tent Ontario network develops, our goal is to provide Circle Stewards with practical and ongoing support, including:
• Peer connection and encouragement
• Monthly online Steward Gatherings
• Shared resources and facilitation tools
• Continuing education and training
• Opportunities to discuss common facilitation challenges
• A listing for your circle on the Red Tent Ontario website
• Promotion through the Red Tent Ontario community
• Opportunities to collaborate on retreats and special events
• Shared gatherings where stewards can meet and learn from one another
The network will continue to evolve through the needs and contributions of its members.
Our Shared Values
Safety
We take care with the emotional and interpersonal environment we create.
Autonomy
Each woman has the right to determine her own level of participation and her own boundaries.
Respect
We listen without judgement and avoid imposing advice, beliefs or solutions on one another.
Inclusion
We welcome women from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Connection
We create opportunities for genuine relationship, belonging and community.
Stewardship
Holding a circle is a responsibility to the group, not a position of authority over it.
Our Story
Red Tent Ontario began in 2015, growing from an earlier community called Energy Share - a gathering where people came together for meditation, healing practices, shared food and connection.
Over time, the community evolved. Women expressed a desire for spaces where they could gather together more openly and comfortably, and Red Tent Ontario was born from that emerging need.
The first chapter created a foundation of connection and community.
After a long pause, Red Tent Ontario is entering a new chapter.
This time, the intention is not simply to create one Red Tent.
It is to create a network through which many women can create their own.
An Invitation
Whether you're looking for a circle in your community, considering becoming a Circle Steward, or simply curious about what is emerging, you're welcome to stay connected.
Red Tent Ontario is evolving one circle at a time.
AS SEEN ON
