Three Oaks Respite Cabin

What Three Oaks Respite Cabin does

Three Oaks Respite Cabin is a registered Canadian charitable organization (BN 742793409RR0001) operating a single three-bedroom log cabin on a 50-acre private woodlot in Florence, Ontario, delivering free 3-day/2-night mental wellness respite stays to Ontario farmers and first responders (firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, 911 dispatchers). The organization was founded in 2021 by Al and Diane Bergsma following the November 2020 suicide of their son Dalles, who was both a farmer and a volunteer firefighter, and officially began accepting guests on March 21, 2024.

The core offering is a self-directed mental wellness program built from online video modules and guided workbooks developed specifically for farmers and first responders, paired with optional follow-up contact from a registered therapist via phone, text, or email. Programming is designed and delivered exclusively through a strategic partnership with the National Farmers Mental Health Alliance (NFMHA), whose therapists have lived experience or specialized education in agricultural and first-responder mental health. The cabin accommodates 1–6 guests per booking slot on a Tues–Thurs or Fri–Sun cadence, with families welcome to stay alongside the primary guest.

The business model is a pure donation-based nonprofit: all cabin stays are free of charge, and the organization sustains operations through CanadaHelps online donations, e-transfers, cheques, and two annual community fundraising events — the Hard Miles 5K Run & Walk (established June 2023) and the Shifting Gears Tractor Parade (established August 2023). Distribution is community-led, with outreach driven by personal referrals from local political representatives, fire chiefs, farm safety leaders, and NFMHA therapists, supported by Facebook, Instagram, and a blog ("Stories of Progress"). The organization has 1–10 employees and operates from a single Ontario location with no disclosed plans for multi-site expansion.

Name

Three Oaks Respite Cabin

Legal name

Three Oaks Respite Cabin

Website

https://www.threeoakscabin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Three Oaks Respite Cabin is a Canadian registered charity operating a free three-bedroom log cabin retreat in Florence, Ontario, providing 3-day mental wellness respite stays and therapist-supported programming to Ontario farmers and first responders facing stress, anxiety, and trauma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Respite Services

NAICS

Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) (721214)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cabins & Cottages (THAMADAA)

Keywords

• Mental health respite
• Farmer wellness programs
• First responder support
• Charitable cabin retreat
• Rural mental wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Wallaceburg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Three Oaks is a registered Canadian charitable organization (742793409RR0001). It accepts e-transfers, cheques, and online donations via CanadaHelps. Donors of $500 or more are recognized in a special mural. All cash donations receive a tax receipt. The cabin stay itself is provided free of charge to guests.
2. Fundraising Events: Annual community fundraising events including the Hard Miles 5K Run & Walk and the Shifting Gears Tractor Parade generate funds to support ongoing mental wellness programming for guests both during and after their stay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Three Oaks Respite Cabin provides free 3-day/2-night accommodation in a three-bedroom log cabin on a 50-acre woodlot in Florence, Ontario, exclusively for farmers and first responders experiencing stress, anxiety, or mental health challenges. Stays are paired with self-directed mental wellness video programming, guided workbooks, and follow-up support from registered therapists affiliated with the National Farmers Mental Health Alliance. The cabin is offered at no charge to qualifying guests and is funded entirely through charitable donations and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Three Oaks Respite Cabin operates as a single unified offering: a three-bedroom log cabin retreat providing free accommodation and mental wellness programming to farmers and first responders. The cabin is the core product, enhanced by self-directed mental health programming delivered through video modules and therapist follow-up via the National Farmers Mental Health Alliance partnership. The organization also hosts two annual fundraising events (Hard Miles 5K Run & Walk and Shifting Gears Tractor Parade) to sustain operations and programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Three Oaks Respite Cabin Stay A 3-day/2-night free accommodation retreat in a three-bedroom log cabin situated on a 50-acre woodlot with nature trails in Florence, Ontario, offered at no charge to qualifying farmers and first responders (firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, and 911 dispatchers) experiencing stress, anxiety, or mental health challenges. Booking slots accommodate 1 to 6 guests, available Tuesday–Thursday or Friday–Sunday, with private self check-in and check-out.
• Hard Miles 5K Run & Walk Annual charity 5K Run & Walk fundraiser held at Mitchell's Bay Park (with virtual participation options) to raise funds and awareness for the Three Oaks Respite Cabin mental wellness programming; first held in June 2023 and now in its third annual iteration in September 2025.
• Shifting Gears Tractor Parade Annual community tractor parade fundraiser rolling through Dawn Euphemia Township to raise funds for ongoing mental wellness programming at Three Oaks Cabin; first held in August 2023 with parade participants and spectators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% of First Responders think about suicide; Farmers are twice as likely to die by suicide than the general population — the cabin provides a proactive intervention for these high-risk populations
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Farmers Mental Health Alliance (NFMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNFMHA is a group of registered therapists located throughout Ontario with lived experience or extensive education in the unique psychological challenges faced by farmers and first responders. They design and deliver all mental wellness programming for cabin guests, including self-directed video modules, workbooks, and follow-up therapy after guests return home. Therapists may also contact guests prior to their visit to assess fit.
• Henry Heyink ConstructionmajorOthersGeneral contractor that led the initial construction phases of the cabin, including site clearing and laneway preparation in October 2022. Played a foundational role in the physical build of the respite cabin.
• Schouten ExcavationmajorOthersPartnered with Henry Heyink Construction for site clearing and laneway preparation in October 2022, enabling the cabin build to begin.
• McCann ConcretemajorOthersWorked together with Chatham Kent Ready Mix to pour the concrete floating pad for the cabin in January 2023, creating the foundation for continued construction.
• Tamminga ElectricmajorOthersInstalled electrical work on New Year's Day 2022 and returned multiple times throughout construction to complete electrical and plumbing work between floors. A faithful partner throughout the build process.
• LT MechanicalmajorOthersInstalled plumbing for in-floor heating and returned to complete plumbing work between floors. Faithful partner contributing free time during the construction phase.
• Compass CreativemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesigned the organization's logo and developed the website. Ongoing supportive partner that was the first to register for the Shifting Gears Tractor Parade. Provided guidance on storytelling and brand development.
• Township of Dawn EuphemiamajorOthersEnabled the water line to be hooked up to the cabin site, facilitating essential utility infrastructure for the respite cabin.
• Multi ConstructionmajorOthersTook over coordination of trades and timing and oversaw construction to completion. Built interior pine walls, installed flooring (from McNaughton Home Hardware), and completed various finish work. Generously offered their expertise to ensure the project was completed.
• McNaughton Home HardwareminorOthersDonated flooring materials for the cabin interior as part of the community build effort.
• Windmill CabinetsmajorOthersDonated and installed the kitchen cabinets for the cabin. A key contribution that completed the kitchen before the October 2023 Open House.
• Countertops Unlimited / LX ViateraminorOthersDonated countertops for the kitchen as part of the cabinet installation contribution.
• Plympton PlumbingmajorOthersTook the organization shopping in their showroom and donated all remaining plumbing fixtures (sinks, bathroom showers and baths) needed to complete the cabin bathrooms and kitchen.
• NorthStar WindowsminorOthersPartner that provided windows for the cabin as part of the construction project.
• VanHoof SidingminorOthersPartner contributing siding materials for the cabin construction.
• Wattel MasonryminorOthersApplied the chinking between logs, finishing off the exterior logs beautifully.
• Metal BarnminorOthersCreated the entry sign for the cabin, mounted by Fast Signs and Ted Schouten.
• Fast SignsminorOthersMounted the cabin entry sign created by Metal Barn.
• Bob Shaw ConstructionminorOthersInstalled the septic system for the cabin.
• Chatham RediMix / Chatham Kent Ready MixmajorOthersDelivered concrete trucks and worked with McCann Concrete to pour the footings for the porch and the floating pad foundation in January 2023.
• Tri-County CraneminorOthersLifted rafters into place for the cabin roof in spring 2023.
• Braunz ConstructionminorOthersSprayed bright yellow insulation between strapping to keep guests comfortable.
• Lambton EMSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized a golf tournament in September 2023 with proceeds going to Three Oaks Cabin. Demonstrates the bond between first responder organizations supporting mental health initiatives.
• Scott Johnson ConstructionmajorOthersArrived in March 2023 to begin log cabin construction, bringing specific experience with this brand of cabin. Constructed the log walls that were then raised by the crew.
• National Farmer Mental Health AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresent at the Hard Miles 2025 event alongside several other partner organizations. Co-developer of mental wellness programming for cabin guests.
• DG GlobalminorOthersProvided extra parking space at their yard at 1122 Shetland Rd. for participants in the Shifting Gears Tractor Parade needing to unload trucks or trailers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Do More Agriculture Foundation: Canadian nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and supporting mental health in the agricultural community. Directly comparable to Three Oaks in its mission to address farmer mental health, though Do More Ag focuses on awareness campaigns, peer support training, and resources rather than physical respite facilities.
• Wounded Warriors Canada: Canadian charity providing mental health support to veterans, first responders, and their families. Highly comparable to Three Oaks in serving first responder mental health needs through funded programs and peer support, though it operates nationally with broader programming scope.
• Tema Conter Memorial Trust: Canadian nonprofit focused on first responder mental health and PTSD support, founded in memory of a fallen paramedic. Comparable to Three Oaks in mission, target population, and personal-tragedy origin story.
• Badge of Life Canada: Canadian mental health organization serving first responders with peer support and clinical services. Operates in the same niche as Three Oaks with comparable focus on first responder mental health support.

Broad incumbents

• Homewood Health: Large Canadian mental health and addiction services provider serving employers, insurers, and individuals. Overlaps with Three Oaks in the mental health treatment space but operates as a clinical services provider at much broader scale, including an Ontario-based treatment campus.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): Nationwide Canadian charitable organization providing mental health advocacy, programs, and services across all populations. Adjacent to Three Oaks in mental health support but operates at much broader scale and scope, without specialization in farming or first responder populations.

Regional players

• National Farmers Union (Ontario): Ontario chapter of the Canadian National Farmers Union, a farm advocacy organization. Overlaps with Three Oaks in serving the Ontario farming community, though its focus is policy advocacy rather than direct mental health service delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100083395868106
• Instagraminstagram.com/3oakscabin

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Three Oaks Respite Cabin