The Power of Women in One Room: Inside the Happy Women Summit

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver • November 1, 2025

On the morning of November 1st, Vancouver did what Vancouver does best. It rained.

Soft, steady, unmistakably West Coast rain.

But inside the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, something warmer was unfolding. As the morning progressed, the clouds began to part and sunlight slowly poured through the tall windows of the ballroom, filling the room with a golden glow. Eighty women gathered there for the Happy Women Summit, and the atmosphere felt bright in more ways than one.

Hosted by The Happy Women Club, the summit was designed as a full day of wellness, conversation, and meaningful connection. Not the stiff, overly structured kind of conference where everyone politely claps and rushes off to the next thing. This felt different from the start.

Women arrived curious, open, and ready for something real.

And that is exactly what they experienced.

Not Your Typical Conference

Many of us know the rhythm of traditional conferences. A packed agenda. Perfectly timed panels. A room full of strangers carefully balancing coffee cups and small talk.

The Happy Women Summit had an agenda, yes. But it also had something much more important. Space.

Space for conversation.Space for reflection.Space for life to flow naturally between the sessions.

One guest put it best:

“I’m surprised by this event in a very good way. It’s not your typical conference. It feels heartwarming and real.”

That feeling carried through the entire day.

A Keynote That Invited Everyone to Slow Down

One of the most anticipated moments of the summit was the keynote by wellness expert and podcast host Erin Treloar.

Erin spoke about self worth, the pressures women place on themselves, and the subtle ways we disconnect from our bodies while trying to hold everything together.

Her talk was thoughtful and grounded, but what followed made the moment truly special.

After her keynote, Erin invited the entire room into a guided meditation accompanied by the gentle resonance of singing bowls. The sound filled the ballroom slowly and softly.

Eighty women sat together in stillness.

In the middle of a busy day.In the middle of busy lives.

It felt rare and surprisingly powerful.

One attendee later shared that the meditation alone would have been worth attending the summit.

Erin Treloar - keynote and meditation.

Conversations That Went Beneath the Surface

The summit featured two panel discussions with eleven remarkable speakers. The topics ranged from wellness and entrepreneurship to leadership, healing, finances, and relationships.

But what made the conversations memorable was their honesty.

Speakers talked about motherhood and the complexity of balancing family with ambition. They spoke about building businesses from scratch. They spoke about identity, personal growth, and the moments in life when things do not go according to plan.

At times the room filled with laughter.

At other moments it became quiet.

A few stories shared on stage were deeply personal, and more than once there were tears in the audience. Not uncomfortable tears. The kind that come when someone says something so true it lands immediately.

The panels were not overly polished. They felt human. Real.

There was a structure to the day, but there was also room for authenticity and emotion to move through the conversations.

And the women in the room appreciated that.

“It felt honest,” one guest said afterwards. “Not like people performing on stage. It felt like women speaking from real life.”

Meeting the Voices Behind the Wisdom

Another highlight of the day was the presence of Dr. Michele Kambolis, clinical therapist, meditation teacher, and author of When Women Rise.

After sharing insights about mind body healing and emotional wellbeing, she stayed to meet guests and sign copies of her book.

Soon a small line formed. Women waited patiently, holding their books and taking the opportunity to exchange a few personal words with her.

Moments like this are often the quiet heart of events.

Not just listening to speakers, but connecting with them.

Dr. Michele Kambolis at the stage and signing her books.

A Moment to Move

After several hours of powerful conversations, the room welcomed a shift in energy.

A guided stretching session led by

invited everyone to stand, move, and gently release the tension that naturally builds during long conversations.

Shoulders dropped. Laughter returned. Energy lifted.

Sometimes the best reset is simply standing up and taking a deep breath.

Stretching Session by Bendy (bendyclass.com)

The Kind of Networking That Happens Naturally

Throughout the day, connections formed everywhere. Between sessions. Over tea. During the Community Connection Circle where women gathered in smaller groups to share reflections and personal stories.

Strangers at the beginning of the morning were already exchanging phone numbers and planning coffee meet ups by the afternoon.

What made it special was how natural it felt.

No pressure. No awkward introductions. Just women meeting other women who cared about growth, wellness, and living meaningful lives.

“I met so many incredible women today,” one attendee shared. “It felt effortless.”

More Than a Summit

By late afternoon the room carried a quiet glow.

Women left with thoughtful gifts curated by the founders, new friendships, signed books, and a camera roll full of beautiful photos captured throughout the day.

But perhaps the most meaningful takeaway was something less visible.

A sense of clarity.

A reminder of community.

And the feeling of being surrounded by women who genuinely want to see one another thrive.

Wonderful guests of the event.

A Heartfelt Thank You

As the day came to a close, the feeling that stayed with us most was gratitude.

We want to sincerely thank every woman who joined the Happy Women Summit and chose to spend this special day with us. Your openness, warmth, and presence are what made the room feel so alive and meaningful.

We are deeply grateful to our incredible speakers who shared their wisdom and personal stories with honesty and heart. Thank you to Erin Treloar for her powerful keynote and beautiful meditation, and to Dr. Michele Kambolis, Daniella Atkinson, Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Celine Bacani, and Polina Parry for the inspiring conversations during our Star Speakers panel.

Speakers: Erin Treloar, Dr. Michele Kambolis, Daniella Atkinson, Shayla Oulette Stonechild, Celine Bacani, and Polina Parry

A heartfelt thank you as well to our Happy Women Club Experts: Lydia Klemensowicz, Danielle Lemon, Olesia Guts, Kimberly De Matos, and Jade Chung, for bringing such thoughtful insights to the stage.

And of course, thank you to our partners and supporters who helped make this day possible.

Lydia Klemensowicz, Danielle Lemon, Olesia Guts, Kimberly De Matos, and Jade Chung

The Happy Women Summit was created as a space where women can slow down, connect, and feel supported on their journeys. If you felt something special that day, we warmly invite you to stay connected with the Happy Women Club community a place where wellness, joy, and meaningful connection come first.

With love and gratitude,

Olya & Diana,

Co-Creators,

Happy Women Club

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The Heart Behind the Summit

Olya Popok and Diana Onichkina, the creators of the Happy Women Club.

The summit was born from their shared vision of building a community where women feel supported, inspired, and welcomed exactly as they are.

Before the summit began, they shared a message with the guests that captured the heart of the entire event.

They wrote:

This day is for every woman.For the mother who gives endlessly and needs a moment to breathe.For the student searching for her path.For the ambitious leader chasing big dreams while trying to find balance.For the creative soul looking for inspiration.For the woman in transition who is rebuilding, rediscovering, or reinventing herself.

At Happy Women Club, they believe women are multidimensional. Each carrying her own story, dreams, and challenges. Yet beneath all of those differences is something shared.

The desire to grow.

To connect.

To live joyfully.

And to do it together.

Judging by the smiles leaving the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver that evening, the Happy Women Summit became exactly what it was meant to be.

A place where women could gather, exhale, and remember that they are not walking their paths alone.

Olya Popok and Diana Onichkina.

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