Indigenous-owned Healing Sanctuary Continues to Grow and Offer Unique Experiences

Five minutes off the Gondola Point ferry on the Kingston Peninsula lives a unique escape - providing a calm gathering space, where new and past stories come together, and a connection with people and nature is formed.

La Belle Cabane is an Indigenous-owned Healing Sanctuary that came to life when owners Tasha Robitaille and Cory Belcourt moved to the Saint John Region in 2021 from Georgian Bay in Ontario. They are both from the Georgian Bay Métis Community and Citizens of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO). Their business is certified by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and has an the Original Original mark of excellence for their site, under the accreditation program of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), marking “truly authentic” products and services.

What started as an off-grid cabin dream, has turned into freedom in the forest through eco-glamping and spa experiences.    

Tasha explained how the Ontario couple were feeling disconnected at the height of the pandemic.  After losing a baby in 2018 and giving birth to their second daughter in 2019, they were in search of a change for their growing family. They started looking at New Brunswick after following a friend who had moved to Grand Bay-Westfield the previous year.         

“She was sharing her life and it just seemed like the pause that we needed to have some freedom,” Tasha said, sipping on a hot cup of cedar tea in the registration and gift shop hut at La Belle Cabane. The scents within the space instantly relax you, tense shoulders falling, you can’t help but take a slow breath, exhaling worries at the door.

When Tasha and Cory found a home on the Peninsula, they knew it was the perfect fit. Following the sale of their house in Ontario, they bought one tiny cabin that they had dreamed about owning. That was the cabin that started it all. It was meant to be a place for Tasha and Cory’s family to reconnect.

“I always wanted a little cabin,” she said. “As a child, “ma petite cabane” was my treehouse - that solo, fun, inner child healing space.”

They shipped the cabin to the Peninsula, and it sat in front of their house for a few months.

Revisiting the site, they kept discussing the 35 adjacent acres that a previous owner had mentioned was for sale.          

“That’s when we put the business plan together,” Tasha explained.

They purchased four additional cabins, and because they are modular kits, they came together quickly. Ownership of the land took place at the end of September 2021, and the first guests checked out New Year’s Day 2022.     

As people began exploring the off-grid cabin experience, Tasha was literally dreaming up an addition to La Belle Cabane.

“I woke up one night and was hyper fixating on drawing a spa,” she said.  “From my experiences at different spas all over the world, it always provided a sense of healing for me, and I thought this would be really cool to share with others – let’s build it.”

Although it was a scary financial investment, Tasha and Cory took the plunge, knowing that if it did not succeed, they could still work outside of their business and have a spa in their backyard.

It was during construction of the spa when Tasha and Cory were able to amplify bringing a piece of their story into the space.

“Guests have commented that the fencing we have put up to create the private pods is great because it blocks the sun and creates privacy, but for us, it’s a resemblance of where we grew up - a reminder of the fencing at a popular local historic site that we would visit as kids and where my mother worked when she was young,” Tasha explained. “It also resembles how healing is meant to be individual or with our loved ones - how healing starts within. We try and make everything mean something, I don't know if it's intentional, it’s just my nature.”

Among the wooded walkways, a bright mural draws visitors in to the La Belle Cabane spa space – another piece of the family’s heritage welcoming guests.

“In our hometown, there are murals everywhere in our downtown core, showcasing our town’s stories and heritage – we are happy to have a piece of that here now.”

Although La Belle Cabane is just over two years old, for Tasha things aren’t moving quick enough, and big plans are in store for phase three of their gathering space.

The Saint John Region currently does not have an Indigenous-owned gathering space, but that vision is emerging to help fill a void and foster community growth.          

With sustainability and cultural revitalization in mind, this space will be called The Minogin Den. “Minogin” is an Anishinaabemowin word for “it grows well”.

Preparation for construction of this building is underway and will provide a venue for events and workshops, such as mental health, maternal health, arts & crafts, storytelling, culinary experiences, trainings and more. The building will be open to various organizations and open the door to potential events like youth camps, ceremonies, and performances.     

“It’s a space that will provide an opportunity for people to experience healing through our story and theirs,” Tasha said.     

She explained how they have been building experiences throughout the last two years, but as they grow, they need a building to expand their offerings.

Tasha has a special energy about her that shines through when she talks about what is next for her family business, but shared how the most rewarding part of her work is witnessing guests who find healing and growth in the space her family has created.

To learn more about La Belle Cabane and to stay up to date on their journey, visit: https://www.labellecabane.com.

La Belle Cabane is also a 2SLGBTQI+ friendly space, registered through the CGLCC’s Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program.