Private Retreats
at
Cedar Guest Cottage
Welcome…
Whether your stay is for a Sacred Foundation Retreat, Babymoon Retreat, or Fourth Trimester Postnatal Retreat facilitated by Christina Hamill and co-hosted by her husband Hadi Hamill, who prepares the seasonal farm-to-table meals, you’ll be pleased to know your home away from home is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, surrounded by mature trees and close to nature trails, rivers, lakes and the ocean. Easily walk to charming downtown Duncan, where you’ll discover cafés, bakeries, restaurants, shops, boutiques, galleries, yoga studios, parks, the Totem Pole Tour, murals, the Saturday Market, and more.
Cozy and private, Cedar Guest Cottage is also ideal for residents living in remote rural areas and the Gulf Islands seeking a home-birthing experience, with local BC-registered midwives providing care in the mid-Vancouver Island region. This space offers a warm, quiet place to root in as you prepare to give birth and welcome your baby. Your accommodation is just minutes from midwifery offices, Early Beginnings Wellness, Margaret Moss Health Unit, and the Cowichan District Hospital.
Whatever you choose, we’re confident you’ll enjoy and appreciate how the cottage offers a gentle balance of privacy, tranquillity and connection.
🌲 A cozy, self-contained studio suite with parking, enclosed treed yard, private entrance, and laundry
🛏 King-size bed + extra-long half-queen daybed (sleeps up to 3 people) + organic body pillow, and playpen upon request
🧺 100% cotton bedding and bath linens laundered in scent-free, eco-conscious detergent
🌿 Private yard with outdoor dining, lounge seating, and ambient lighting
🫖 Kitchenette essentials: mini-fridge, small appliances, and coffee/tea/hot chocolate station
Feature Amenities
&
Offerings
👟Walkable distance to nature trails, amenities and Duncan’s charming downtown
🏥 Close proximity to Cowichan District Hospital and midwifery care
✨ Optional craniosacral therapy for nervous system support and family co-regulation
📶 Free Wi-Fi and reliable connectivity for staying in touch during your stay
Since each premium retreat is customized to personalize your experience and meet your needs, wishes, and goals, an application and consultation are the first steps. Also, your well-being matters deeply to us; therefore, for home birth applications, you’ll be asked to submit confirmation of care by a local BC-Registered Midwife with Cowichan District Hospital privileges. Midwives often have a waitlist, so we recommend you make your selection sooner rather than later. Christina offers on-site Holistic Doula and Child Labour Craniosacral Services, both of which require an application & consultation process.
How To Book Your Premium Private Retreat
Frequently Asked Questions
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The space comfortably sleeps up to 3 guests—a queen bed for two and an extra-long half-queen daybed for a third guest. We provide bedding for the daybed when booked for 3 guests.
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While we are pet owners ourselves, we do not allow pets in the cottage. This ensures the space remains secure, allergy-friendly, and calm for all families, especially those preparing for birth and postpartum recovery.
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Yes. Optional services such as craniosacral therapy during labor or postpartum can be arranged. These gentle, hands-on sessions support nervous system regulation and overall ease during your birth journey.
Your Hosts
Christina & Hadi Hamill
Christina is the founder of Early Beginnings Wellness, which empowers expectant and new families to prepare, heal, and thrive through holistic care, gentle touch, and the nurturing of deep, secure bonds from preconception through birth and beyond. She brings deep care to every layer of the birth experience: physical, emotional, and with highly attuned somatic awareness. She creates each retreat offering with the intention that expectant and new families travelling to the Cowichan Valley have access to a calming, supportive environment where they can prepare with the care and guidance they need and want for these early entry stages of parenthood. Parents get to feel connected, confident, and closer to reaching their goals, equipped with stress-reducing practices & strategies.
Hadi is a development consultant specializing in small-footprint residential homes in the Cowichan Valley. He brings a deep appreciation for thoughtful design, sustainability, and spaces that feel both practical and beautiful. In his younger days, he worked as a prep cook in restaurants in Toronto and Victoria. Family life reignited his love of cooking and a passion for baking and preparing organic, healthy, nutritious meals from scratch. For over 10 years, he has served as the house chef for large family gatherings and events, impressing everyone with his seasonal-inspired recipes and farm-to-table approach to menu planning. When he’s not working or cooking, he enjoys gardening, staying active, and going for forest hikes or beach walks.
Christina & Hadi welcome you with warmth and wholehearted support as you step into your own way of birthing and becoming.