The Cedarvale Men's Circle

There aren’t many spaces like this around here.

Most men are working hard, taking care of others, and keeping things moving—whether that’s running a business, working a trade, doing shift work, raising a family, or holding things together after life didn’t go as planned.

There’s not a lot of room to talk about what’s actually going on.

So most of it stays internal. You deal with it. You push through. You figure it out.

Until it starts showing up somewhere—stress that doesn’t shut off, frustration or anger that comes out sideways, disconnection in relationships,

or a sense that something’s off, even when life looks fine on the outside.

This is a place to step out of that.

Not forever—just long enough to get honest.

What to Expect

Each 90-minute session includes:

• simple breathwork to settle your system

• an optional hot/cold contrast experience (8 am)

• a focused topic grounded in real life

• space to speak without interruption or judgment

• a clear, grounded close you can carry into your week

You don’t need to be good at talking. You don’t need to share everything. You just need to show up.

What This Is (and Isn’t)

This isn’t therapy. It’s not abstract or overly spiritual but there is structure and purpose.

Everything is grounded in one goal: helping you respond differently in your life—not just think about it.

What We Talk About

• stress, pressure, and not switching off

• anger and what’s underneath it

• relationships and shutting down

• communication and saying what you mean

• boundaries (especially when you carry a lot)

• habits that take the edge off—but cost you over time

• figuring out what actually matters right now

Come once, or come regularly and go deeper.

Who It’s For

This tends to resonate with men who:

• are used to being the reliable one

• don’t talk about much—but know there’s more there

• are in recovery or rethinking drinking/using

• are navigating relationship strain or change

• feel off, but can’t quite explain why

• want to handle things better—not just push through

No experience needed. Most men here are new to this.

The Setting

Located at Cedarvale on the south end of Port Elgin, next to MacGregor Point Provincial Park, the space is quiet, natural, and intentionally simple.

Sessions may include:

• time outdoors at the Cedar Circle

• optional cold plunge / contrast

• a grounded closing at the tree

Nothing overcomplicated—just a space that helps you step out of your usual environment.

How It Works

• Weekly 90-minute sessions

• Small group format

• Drop-in or ongoing

Facilitated by Cole Smith, CLC, Founder of The Unpolished Path. As a former Red Seal Powerline Technician, Cole understands the exact weight of high-stakes environments, heavy shift work, and running on default. Built on his own lived experience navigating addiction recovery and starting over, he brings a foundation of blue-collar logic to the circle. Cole cuts through the performance with direct, honest conversation, providing a grounded space where men can put down the armor, get real about their daily stress, and build the resilience required to reconnect with their lives.