From Lecture Halls to Cathedral Walls: A Catholics Guide to University Life

This past September 12–14, Copper Ridge Conference Centre welcomed a group of university students for a weekend workshop about making the most of the university experience. The workshop was filled with learning, laughter, and spiritual growth.

Friday Evening – Arrival and Fellowship

Students arrived Friday evening and enjoyed abundant snacks wonderfully prepared by the staff: always great after a long drive! After settling into our rooms, we all gathered on the deck overlooking Howe Sound. Laughter and conversation flowed as old friends reconnected and new friendships began, setting a positive tone for the weekend.

Saturday Morning – Mass, Breakfast, and a Call to Study as Vocation

We began with meditation and Holy Mass, the anchor of the weekend, followed by a hearty breakfast. The workshop director opened the day by framing university life as a genuine vocation. He reminded us that the Catholic view of study is not mere credential-chasing; its participation in learning and discovering God’s truth. To study is to cooperate with grace, cultivating the intellect, a divine gift. It requires us to order our desires, and offer our best work to the Lord. Yes, degrees matter, but discipleship matters more. We were urged to detach from academic vanity and to love learning for its own sake, because truth, wherever it appears, belongs to God because God is truth. That set the tone: pursuing excellence, not for ourselves, but out of love and devotion for our Lord.

Optimal Work – Psychology at the Service of Virtue

Next, Dr. Johann D’Souza, a clinical psychologist, offered an overview of the Optimal Work philosophy and the psychology behind it. He showed how stress and discomfort can be reframed as invitations to growth. Avoidance shrinks us; challenge enlarges us. When we embrace discomfort, prudently and with purpose, we can enter a “flow” state where attention, effort, and joy align. Dr. D’Souza’s point landed with a distinctly Catholic resonance: grace builds on nature. Sound psychological habits such as mindfulness, reframing, and presence become powerful tools for living the virtues of diligence, fortitude, and temperance in our studies.

Faith, Reason, and the Whole Person

The next talk explored how faith illuminates both STEM and the arts, forming whole persons. Far from competing, faith and reason cooperate: faith purifies our motives and enlarges our wonder; reason disciplines our thought and strengthens our witness. The takeaway was simple and liberating: be unapologetically Catholic and unapologetically rigorous. Our fields don’t need more technicians, engineers, or analysts; they need Catholic technicians, engineers, and analysts.

Rosary, Practical Tools, and Fraternity in Action

After lunch we prayed the rosary and then heard from Mr. Anthony De Lazzari, who changed Dr. D’Souza’s ideas into concrete actions by inviting us to participate in The Optimal Work Challenge which involves: the heroic minute (get up when the alarm goes off), one golden hour of planned, focused study, daily exercise, and daily reading. Anyone interested could join a group so there’s fraternity and accountability. We’d get simple tools to track progress and mentors to guide us along the way. And there’s a fun twist: if you miss your targets for the week, you chip in to a pot that funds an end-of-year celebration. In other words, put some skin in the game and help your friends do the same.

Then came some time outside. The grounds needed attention, so we pitched in. It was good, hard, fun work with lots of laughs and conversation, all while being a nice break from notebooks and slides.We cleaned up for dinner and then returned to the chapel for adoration and benediction. That quiet hour allowed us to reflect on the lessons of the day and how to implement them. Afterward we lightened the mood with a beer-tasting session led by a certified beer judge. The selections won’t make the hall of fame, but it was fun learning how to “properly” judge a beer. A few of us ended the night with a friendly poker game while others watched sports and chatted.

Sunday: Reflection and Gratitude

Sunday began with a morning meditation and then Mass, celebrating the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: that’s what we need to do, to place Christ at the summit of our studies. It tied together the weekend’s themes. After another tasty breakfast, a hike was on the schedule, but Vancouver did its Vancouver thing and soaked the plan. Instead, we enjoyed a quiet morning indoors. Some played cards, others read, and some took advantage to study and do some school work. In the end, we were all appreciating the chance to relax as the rain drummed on the windows bringing the workshop to a close.

We couldn’t have done it without you!!! With your awesome support, we surpassed our goal and raised over $26,000 !!!

A big THANK YOU to all who participated, donated and volunteered at this year’s Race for the Ridge! We had an amazing turn out, with many families coming out to have a great time. In addition to the Walkathon, participants enjoyed carnival games, running races, potato sack races, three-legged races, tug of war, face painting, snow cones and the delicious BBQ skewers!

Your generosity will help CRCC to continue to provide activities that will create a positive change in many people’s lives.

See you again next year!

True Friendship: Iron Sharpens Iron

From June 27–29, the end-of-year high school workshop took place, centred on the theme of friendship. Several engaging talks explored key aspects of this important topic, including The Psychology of Friendship, Friendship According to Aristotle, and How True Sportsmanship Builds Connection.

The weekend followed the familiar format of past years. Participants arrived Friday evening, settled into their rooms, and received a short welcome talk on house rules. After a snack and an examination of conscience, the night wound down with a couple of card games.

Saturday kicked off early, with confessions, a meditation, and Holy Mass celebrating the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This was a perfect coincidence as we were dealing with a topic of the heart: friends and brotherly love! A quick breakfast of toast and eggs recharged everyone before the day’s sessions began.

The first talk introduced us to the theme of friendship and how valuable this is for us as Christians in our attempts to re-christianize society. Then, we explored how good sportsmanship can lead to genuine friendship, even between rivals, as we challenge each other to be our very best. The speaker shared personal stories that resonated with the group regardless of your preferred sport. Next, we were part of a Zoom call with a masters student in psychology, who spoke about how friendships shape us for better or worse, what traits we should seek in others and red flags to avoid, and the mental and health value of having good friends. Everyone shared a takeaway from the talk, without a single repeat. We took inventory of the positive influence our friends have on us. The final session, given by a young university student, broke down Aristotle’s three types of friendship: pleasure, utility, and virtue. He emphasized the importance of striving for virtuous friendships, using his own experiences to highlight how different kinds of relationships affect our well-being.

In between the main talks, four Grade 12 graduates gave surprise presentations based on articles about friendship assigned by the workshop director. The topics varied from exercising courage with friends to expanding our friendships with people who may not share our faith. All brought plenty of laughs and memorable moments.

After a nice lunch and get-together where we talked about summer jobs and summer plans, it was time to do some volunteering work and help with the upkeep of the property. The majority of participants were afraid before even stepping outside because of their allergies. Although it was a struggle to clear 4-foot grass and bushes because of constant sneezing, coughing, and rubbing of eyes, everyone managed to push through and a lot of work was accomplished. Tired but satisfied, we put things away, got cleaned up, and prepared for a well-earned dinner.

We then had a relaxing evening; a delicious supper, then adoration, meditation and a concluding talk given by the director who summarized for us the practical ways to become a better friend. Communication and small things are the key-ways of nurturing relationships, especially as life gets busier. At last, it was the moment everyone waited for: leisure time. The younger guys went for a bike ride while the senior boys enjoyed a game of Texas Holdem, using fake money so no one went broke!

On Sunday the group went on a challenging hike to Upper Shannon Falls, where the vertical ascent made it necessary to use two hands most of the way. This gave us little opportunity for screens and a lot of time for connecting with each other. Once at the Falls, most of the guys jumped into the painfully cold water; another opportunity to experience solidarity with the others. Before heading back to Vancouver, we knew that we had not only improved our stamina but lasting friendships had been forged.

Thank You Everyone – We Surpassed Our Goal!

Please see our thank you post with photos from the event!

Join us for the 8th annual Race for the Ridge!

Our Race for the Ridge fundraiser event is back! Sign up to raise money for CRCC and join us on Saturday, July 12^th at Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park.

Race for the Ridge Fundraiser isn’t just a race – it’s a celebration for families and individuals of all ages! Every step helps support Copper Ridge Conference Centre, located in Britannia Beach.

Fundraising Initiatives
Create or support a fundraising team or be an individual donor.

Activities
Children’s carnival games, relay races, face painting and walkathon.

Food
Delicious BBQ skewers and snow cones are back by popular demand!
🍗 2 BBQ skewers, 🍚 rice and 🥤 drink for just $12
Pre-order yours today to ensure you are not disappointed!

Order Yours Today!

Fraser Foreshore Park
Saturday, July 12th – 10 am to 2 pm
7411 Fraser Park Drive, Burnaby, BC (Google Map Link)

Register or donate today! | Become a Sponsor

Thank you to our 2025 Champion Sponsors!

Harnessing the Present to Build Your Future, 2025

“Jesus is the friend that gathers, and with him we bring our faith together to be one.” These are poignant words spoken by Father Gonzalo Chocano, who helped guide 26 university-aged women through an annual workshop at Copper Ridge Conference Centre over the May long weekend. Father Gonzalo’s words emboldened us to pursue the theme of this year’s workshop, focusing on friendship and the pursuit of happiness through personal networks and long-lasting relationships. The workshop titled “Momentum: Harnessing the Present to Build your Future,” offered a meaningful glimpse into how our present relationships influence our future happiness. Through lively activities, insightful talks, and moments of deep connection, the workshop reinforced the value of friendship and offered practical ways to pursue it.

The activities began on Friday night when Anne-Marie and Gaby led the attendees through a “Western Night” complete with line dancing, spirited conversations, and delicious snacks prepared by the administration. Though delightfully tired by the night’s end, we woke up bright and early on Saturday morning for a meditation and Mass on the anniversary of St. Josemaría Escrivá’s beatification. During the meditation, Father Gonzalo returned to the heart of the workshop’s theme, reminding us of Christ’s words: “No longer do I call you servant, but I call you friend.” With this spiritual disposition, we eagerly attended a talk by keynote speaker and author, Tamara Lechner. Happiness as a choice and positive well-being as a central imperative of human life were the focus of her talk.  Her message was clear: we must radically embrace friendship as a pathway to rediscovering happiness. As she acknowledged, this advice is often easier said than done. She shared practical ways to self-reflect, build networking skills, and set SMART goals regarding friendship. One of her most memorable messages was the distinction between “fitting in” and “belonging” in new environments. Tamara affirmed that we might not find our deepest friends in every environment, but we can be bold in our desire to seek connections in new spaces.

Deepening these new insights, we heard another talk from Professor Anne Boily, PhD from Montreal, who spoke about the challenges of friendship and how to overcome modern fears associated with seeking connection. Discussing trends in loneliness, Prof. Boily captured some present anxieties surrounding making friends in a digitized and often depersonalized world. While her message was candid, it was not bleak; rather she provided hope to overcome these fears. In an eloquent metaphor, she compared friendship to a puzzle, where each distinct piece only fulfills its purpose when fitted together with another piece to reveal a beautiful image. Similarly, we realize our human calling, not by acting in isolation, but by fostering community with others.

After reflecting on these words, the workshop became more hands-on with a session on wine appreciation, led by former UBC professor David McArthur. In this session, Prof. McArthur engaged the group through an overview of the science behind tasting and smelling wine, how to identify types of wine, and the best ways to pair wines with food. While he provided a unique insight into wine appreciation, we learned more than just how to pair salmon with chardonnay. We also discovered how to use our special interests to cultivate relationships. Through pictures depicting scenes in his life, Prof. McArthur showed us how he celebrated birthdays and anniversaries over bottles of wine shared among his friends. This session inspired us to curate our own meaningful relationships over new experiences, whether through travels, parties, or even the mundane moments of everyday life. Along with Tamara Lechner and Prof. Boily, Prof. McArthur confirmed that we must make time in our busy schedules to pursue and keep our friendships. During the evening, we carried out this message over a delicious supper and a movie, which allowed us laughs and moments of connection before a needed night’s rest.

On Sunday morning, the group awoke ready to apply our new friendship skills on a hike to Deeks Bluff near Porteau Cove, Provincial Park. After a meditation, Mass, and a hearty breakfast, Kai led us up the mountains to a beautiful site overlooking Howe Sound, Gambier, and Bowen Island. Through lively conversations we distracted ourselves from the hike’s steep inclines and slippery rocks. I heard pairs discussing everything from small matters of the day to insurmountable questions about the meaning of life. One participant in particular, Marissa, commented on how the activities at Copper Ridge have shaped her. She shared: “…my faith is renewed with every retreat or workshop that I’ve had the privilege to attend. Whether it be a time of contemplation or creating stronger bonds and lasting memories, I am truly grateful for all the service and dedication that goes into making Copper Ridge an amazing Conference Centre.” Her words echo the sentiments of newcomers to Copper Ridge and long-time attendees alike, all of whom have benefitted from the opportunities that the Centre provides. Over three short days, the workshop taught us how to pursue authentic relationships and embrace the friendships that will strengthen us for years to come.

May 27, 2025

Mary Asuquo, Political Science and International Relations Student at UBC

Forty-five girls participated in this year’s High School Girls Workshop, a tradition now held annually in December at CRCC in preparation for Christmas. This event, which brings together young participants, aims to foster community spirit and collaboration. This year, the girls were guided by 10 university students who mentored them throughout the weekend.

The workshop offered a variety of activities, including meaningful talks and a chance to give back to the community. The girls worked together to prepare 100 servings of shepherd’s pie, which were later distributed to the homeless in Downtown Eastside. This hands-on activity not only allowed the participants to practice teamwork but also emphasized the importance of kindness and service.

In addition to the charitable work, the girls showcased their creativity through a table decorating competition. The event was filled with fun, friendship, and laughter, creating lasting memories for all involved. The weekend served as a wonderful opportunity for the girls to bond, learn new skills, and spread joy during the holiday season.

The following testimony was written by two of the participants, Beatrice and Krystyn:

“During our stay at Copper Ridge this weekend, we enjoyed many activities including cooking, baking, dancing, and singing. We painted beautiful stained-glass art and learned how to sew a nativity Christmas ornament. On Sunday we prepared 100 hot individual meals and cupcakes to be distributed to the homeless in Downtown Eastside. Our days were filled with lots of fun and laughter. The food was delicious, plentiful, and accommodated all diets. The environment at Copper Ridge felt very safe and homey and the natural beauty of the surroundings was surreal.

The leaders delivered many insightful talks which inspired us to become more magnanimous and to discover the joy of giving ourselves to others with our time and talents. This reminded us to put lots of love into the meals and baked goods we made for donation to the less fortunate. We built bonds with the other girls through all the activities we did, meals shared, and time spent together. We had many opportunities to talk with God and grow closer to him. The workshop was an opportunity to take a break from the end of school busyness and the commercial preparation for Christmas. It allowed us to prepare for Christ’s coming by calming our souls and reflecting on what should be the focus of the season– God’s love for us. We realized that we were created human beings, not “human doings.”

Altogether, the workshop was an unforgettable experience filled with many unexpected events. It coincidentally happened that a landslide occurred while the girls visiting for the day arrived. Due to the highway closure, the girls had to stay overnight. We realized that if this was God’s plan for us, we would trust in Him. Thankfully, everything ran really smoothly, and it was great having more girls stay with us.

Our weekend was filled with laughter, friendship, fun, growth, and above all, God. It was an amazing journey finding God through silence especially in the oratory and being able to have Mass so frequently. We will strive to keep developing our spiritual life with Him and when we return to our families and communities, we will be returning with much more than what we left with.”

A workshop centred on leadership, etiquette and sportsmanship, took place at the beautiful Copper Ridge Conference Centre from Friday, June 28th to Sunday, June 30th. Approximately 15 high school boys gathered for a weekend of learning, camaraderie, and personal growth.

Upon arrival, the newcomers received a guided tour of the facility and were briefed on the house rules. The evening concluded with refreshments and an examination of conscience.
Saturday, the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, began with confessions followed by a meditation and then Holy Mass. The boys enjoyed breakfast with the spectacular view of Howe Sound.

The first session of the day focused on improving public speaking skills through the GLOVE technique: Gestures, Language, Organization, Vocal variety, and Eye contact. This was followed by impromptu speeches, challenging students to put these skills into practice. After a break, the subsequent session underscored the importance of etiquette, particularly in formal settings like a formal meal. The boys’ table manners at lunch noticeably improved!

The final session featured coaching from a former top-ranked Canadian doubles tennis player, emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship for personal and professional fulfillment.

Despite occasional rain showers that afternoon, participants stretched their muscles clearing overgrown areas around the property. The day concluded with dinner, benediction, and leisure time before culminating in a get together on the deck, where music and impromptu dance moves stimulated gales of laughter and camaraderie.

Visits to Copper Ridge always feature awesome views, fantastic meals and important learning. For these young men, every moment was taken advantage of to deepen bonds with peers as well as to deepen spiritual lives.

During the Victoria Day long weekend, seventeen grade 12 and university young women had the opportunity to attend a workshop at Copper Ridge Conference Centre titled “Momentum: Harnessing the Present to Build your Future”. Featuring guest speakers and hands-on sessions, this event focused on the importance of growth mindsets and how to utilize them, skills that will be of great use in the future.

Following a night of icebreaker games, the packed Saturday started with meditation, Mass, and breakfast, fulfilling both spiritual and physical needs and continued with presentations for the next couple of hours.

The keynote speaker for the workshop, Reine Mykyte, shared her experiences on how growth mindsets have helped her through her challenges. While she shared ways of combating fixed mindsets, such as talking back to negative thoughts with positive ones, Reine emphasized the importance of having good role models and trusting God during our times of trials and tribulations. She encouraged us to look to Mary and the saints whom God allowed to experience huge challenges in their lives, yet, with His grace, they were all able to overcome. Through fostering a devotion to Mary, friendship with Christ, and finding ways to serve instead of seeking human approval, Reine demonstrated how a growth mindset can be cultivated. All of us were inspired to have faith, trust in God’s Will and accept His way of changing “cannot” to “can.”

Panelists Mary Goyens, Pamela Ducepec, and Julie Sisenda then shared their experiences of using growth mindsets in different situations – family life, academic life, and professional life, respectively. Mary shared how her daughter faced immense health challenges that the whole family had to work together to overcome, teaching us how perseverance and communication are key in overcoming any obstacles we might encounter. Pamela spoke of the importance of living a
balanced life, especially as university students tend to be very focused on their academics. Lastly, Julie gave tips regarding how to navigate challenges within the workforce, particularly stressing the importance of not giving up and recognizing that the outcome of a conflict may not always be something we can control.

After some much-needed time to process and reflect on the presentations, the workshop moved into a more hands-on phase. Megan Estrada, a current kinesiology student at UBC, gave tips on how to stay active and combat the sedentary lifestyle that students typically live. Through an interactive exercise, Megan taught us stretches that can be done anytime, even while attending lectures. She showed us how taking small breaks to exercise are beneficial for our overall health.