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Beach

September 25-27, 2026  |  White Rock, BC

Celebrating Community Through Laughter

North American Laughter Conference in Vancouver

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Peak laughter is in the air!

Join laughter leaders, teachers and trainers, joy seekers, and community builders from across North America for an inspiring weekend by the sea! The North American Laughter Conference celebrates the power of connection, collaboration, and collective joy.

Set against the stunning backdrop of White Rock’s oceanfront, this gathering is a chance to learn, laugh, and lead — together. Through playful workshops, meaningful conversations, and shared laughter, we’ll explore how cooperation and compassion can amplify wellbeing in our lives, workplaces, and communities.

Come to be uplifted, to connect deeply, and to rediscover the magic that happens when we come together with open hearts and joyful spirits.

You can expect:

  • Engaging and celebratory laughter and wellness sessions

  • Opportunities to connect with fellow laughter professionals and enthusiasts

  • Inspiration, rejuvenation, and seaside serenity

    Because laughter really is better together.

    Presale $425 (Jan 25)  |  Early Bird $475 (Feb 25)  |  Regular Price $525 (June 25)

    The conference fee covers the entire program (speakers, events, and activities) from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon as well as two dinners (Friday and Saturday) and two lunches (Saturday and Sunday).

    You will book your own accommodation at the Ocean Promenade Hotel.

​  Call 1-888-976-2326 and reference "Laughter Conference" to get preferred booking rates.

Please book early as rooms are filling up!

Schedule

*Subject to Change*

Friday, September 25

1:30pm - Optional pre-conference walk along White Rock Pier and Promenade

3:30pm - Arrival, registration and opening reception with music by Norm and Anne

4:30pm - Conference kick off and welcome with MCs Kelly and Carla

5:00pm - Human Connection Through Laughter with Alexa Fong-Drubay

5:30pm - When Joy Leads the Way: The Power of Being Fully You with Rossana Carrasco

6:00pm - Dinner

7:00pm - Creating the Magic Together with Linda Leclerc

7:30pm - Laughter Gibberish Fun with Jeffrey Briar

 

8:00pm - Join the Joyride with Piya Uppal

8:30pm - Dance Party with DJ Funky Nicole 

Saturday, September 26

8:00am - Optional: Funky Morning Hatha and Laughter Yoga (all levels) with Nicole Pontelandolfo

8:45am - Morning welcome and laughter; Wake Up Singing with Norm and Anne

9:00am - We All Want to Be Heard with Teena Thriving Miller

9:30am - Emotional Self-Regulation and Self-Love Through Laughter Meditation with

Carla H. Brown

10:00am - Laughing in Life Situations with Janet Massey

10:30am - Refreshment Break

10:45am - Yes, and... Laugh! with Tamar Cohen

11:15am - Laughing with Props with Susan Freeland

11:40am - OctaBand Demo with Julie Schreiber

12:00pm - Lunch & Networking

1:30pm - Laughing Salsa Dance with Gigi Otálvaro-Hormillosa

1:45pm - The Latest of LAFX with Tiffany Caudill

2:15pm - How the Laughter Movement Can Reach Its Next Level with Albert Nerenberg

2:45pm - The Skill of Joymaking: Bring Any Room to Life with Jacques Martiquet

3:15pm - Afternoon Refreshment Break

3:30pm - Acts of Kindness Walk

5:00pm - Dinner in the Community at Cosmo's Greek Restaurant

7:30pm - North American Laughing Championship (Canada, USA and Mexico) hosted by Albert Nerenberg with Talent Show Acts at Breaks

Sunday, September 27

8:00am - Option 1: Women's HAHA Sisterhood Gathering with Linda Leclerc

Option 2: The Nature of Joy: Laughter, Connection and Gratitude Outdoors with Logan LeBlanc​

8:45am - Morning welcome & laughter; Wake Up Singing with Norm and Anne

9:00am - Laughter Unites: Building Bridges Across Cultures with Haleh Shirchian

 

9:15am - Laughing Wellness PLAY with Heidi Barkwell

9:45am - Creating Profitable Workshops with Raymond Aaron

10:30am - Refreshment Break

10:45am - World Cafe and Joy Recap with Lora Pesant & friends

11:30am - The Affirmation Bridge: Receiving the Value You Give with Chris Pollitt

12:00pm - Lunch and Walk to Memorial Park

1:30pm - Community Laughter Yoga Celebration (Co-Facilitated) at Memorial Park

3:00pm - Closing and Goodbyes

4:30pm - Optional post-conference outing to A-maze-ing Laughter statues at English Bay Beach in Vancouver

Speakers & Attendees

We are proud to bring inspirational speakers and attendees from nearby and far away. We are finalizing our program and are excited to share all about your wonderful colleagues who will learn and grow with you.

Please check back regularly as our list is growing every day!

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Abby Greene-Bull (she/her)

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New Westminster, BC

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Albert Nerenberg (he/him)

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  • Instagram

Kingston, Ontario

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Alexa Fong-Drubay

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  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Angélique Doyle (she/her)

  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Medicine Hat, Alberta

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Carla H. Brown (she/her)

  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Santa Cruz, California

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Chris Pollitt (he/him)

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Vancouver, BC

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Cynthia Paris

  • Facebook

Milwaukee/North Chicago, USA

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Donna Marie Strongman

  • Facebook

Wildwood, Alberta

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Gigi Otálvaro-Hormillosa

  • Linkedin

Sunnyvale, California

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Haleh Shirchian (she/her)

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  • Instagram

North Vancouver, BC

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Heidi Barkwell

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  • Instagram

Calgary, Alberta

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Jacques Martiquet

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  • Instagram

Vancouver, BC

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Janet Massey

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Linkedin

Seattle, US

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Jeannine Carman

  • Facebook

Winnipeg, Manitoba

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Jenna Goodhand (she/her)

  • Linkedin
  • Instagram

London, Ontario

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Jeffrey Briar (he/him)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Laguna Beach, California

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Julie Schreiber (she/her)

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  • Linkedin

Kirkland, Washington

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Kelly Podlubny (he/him)

  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

Vancouver, BC

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Linda Leclerc (she/her/elle)

  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Victoriaville, Quebec

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Logan LeBlanc

  • Instagram

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

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Lora Pesant (she/her)

  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Calgary, Alberta

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Miriam Gassman (she/her)

  • Linkedin

Fort Collins, Colorado

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Nicole Pontelandolfo

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Youtube

USA :-)

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Norm Brecke & Anne Rutherford

    Chico, California

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    Pete Alexander (he/him)

    • Linkedin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Port Ludlow, Washington

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    Piya Uppal (she/her)

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Linkedin
    • Youtube

    Toronto, Ontario

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    Rachel Cornette (she/her)

    • Linkedin
    • Facebook

    Poulsbo, USA

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    Raymond Aaron

    • Linkedin

    Markham, Ontario

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    Rossana Carrasco

    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Mexico City, Mexico

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    Sharon Falconer (she/her)

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    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    Calgary, Alberta

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    Stephen Hartnett (he/him)

      Seattle, Washington

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      Sulara Guruge (he/him)

      • Youtube

      Vancouver, BC

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      Susan Freeland (she/her)

      • Facebook

      Edmonton, Alberta

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      Tamar Cohen

      • Linkedin
      • Facebook
      • Instagram

      Richmond, BC

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      Teena Thriving Miller

      • Linkedin
      • Facebook
      • Instagram

      San Francisco, California

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      Tiffany Caudill (she/her)

      • Facebook
      • Instagram

      Auburn, California

      Partnerships

      It takes a village to build a conference! In addition to our wonderful speakers, planning committee and attendees, thank you to the following companies who helped bring this conference to life. 

      Want to support the conference? You can contribute through the ticket page and let us know what you would like your contribution to go towards. You can also email hello@adventuresinwellness.ca to discuss sponsorship options.

      Thank you for your support!

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      FAQ'S

      What is the North American Laughter Conference? 

      The North American Laughter Conference is a collaboration of intentional laughter practitioners from across North America and beyond. The conference is an immersive experience that will help create connections among our laughter community, promote collaboration, and provide you with new experiences and learning. Sprinkle in a little bit of oceanside celebration and you've got a unique mix of social gathering, conference, retreat and joyful vacation. 
       

      Can I attend the laughter conference online?

      No, you cannot attend this conference online. The conference will be held in person and may include a few special times that we invite our wonderful world-wide laughter community to join us online. We are looking to foster networking, collaboration, deep connections and presence, which is best achieved by an immersive, in-person experience.
       

      How do I apply to be a presenter at the conference?

      We are lucky to have so many talented, generous people in our community and the presenter spots are already full. That said, we would still love to chat! Please email hello@adventuresinwellness.ca to share what you wish to offer.

      I have ideas on what I would like to learn and experience at the conference. How do I share my ideas? 

      Please email your ideas to hello@adventuresinwellness.ca or join our public Facebook page. We want to co-create the best and most meaningful experience for our community and you are a part of that.

      What is there to do in the White Rock area?

      There are endless recreational opportunities in White Rock and the surrounding areas! Here are some websites that would be a great starting point in planning out your trip if you wish to do more than the laughter conference:

      What is covered in the conference fee?

      The conference fee covers the entire program (speakers, events, and activities) from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon as well as two dinners (Friday and Saturday) and two lunches (Saturday and Sunday). 

      What is not covered in the conference fee?

      Your transportation to and from White Rock, your accommodation and your breakfasts are not covered. For breakfast, you are welcome to self-cater in your hotel room or eat at one of the many local cafes. For accommodation, if you wish to save money and make new friends, you have the option to connect with others attending the conference to carpool and share accommodation with them through our private Facebook page that you can join after you register for the conference. If you are staying at the Ocean Promenade Hotel, please call them at 1-888-976-2326 and quote "Laughter Conference" to receive a preferred booking price. 

      How do I get to White Rock?

      The closest international airport is Vancouver (YVR). The Ocean Promenade Hotel is about 44 km away from the Vancouver airport. While there are not shuttles directly to the hotel, it is approximately a 35-40 minute drive and there are taxis and Ubers that service the area. If you wish to take public transportation, it will take about 1 hour 25 minutes. If you wish to carpool with someone, please join our private Facebook group once you are registered for the conference and make the request there.
       

      May I bring my family along with me?

      You most definitely can! If they want to attend the conference with you, they'll need a ticket, of course. And, if they want to come to sight see while you are at the conference, they won't be disappointed! If your family would like to eat with us at conference meals, they may be able to for a fee - please inquire with us.

      Will the conference have childcare?

      Officially, because of insurance and space, we will not provide childcare. That said, there will be local people joining who may have unofficial connections to child minders, which you can ask about in our private Facebook page.

      Will we have community activities at the conference? 

      Yes! We believe that by hosting a conference in a community, it is important to engage and uplift the community we are in. We plan to run a public laughter event and do other joyful community service as part of our gathering.  

      I would like to share a hotel room or transportation with someone. How might I do that?

      ​Once you register for the conference, you will have the option to join a private Facebook group where you can connect with other attendees. You can arrange all of the details directly with other people attending.  

      I have accessibility needs - how can I ensure they are met during the conference?

      ​We made sure that the conference room is wheel chair accessible and there are a limited number of accessible hotel rooms at the Ocean Promenade Hotel. For parts of the conference that are in the community, there will be some people driving. If you let us know in advance, we can connect you with them. As always, please reach out if we can do anything more to accommodate you. 

      I have dietary restrictions. Will these be accommodated? 

      ​When you register for the conference, you will be asked for your dietary needs and we will do our very best to accommodate you. Each meal will have a variety of food options including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. If you have questions or are unsure, please reach out to us.

      How can I support the conference?

      There are several wonderful ways to support the conference and help us spread joy! You can become a conference sponsor or community partner, sponsoring a specific session, meal, or scholarship, or by offering an in-kind contribution such as wellness products or services. Sponsorship support helps us keep the conference accessible and impactful for participants from across North America.

      You can also help by spreading the word and sharing the conference with your networks. If you’re interested in supporting the conference in any of these ways, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact us at hello@adventuresinwellness.ca

      ​​

      Are there scholarships available for people with financial barriers?

      We want this conference to be accessible and still want you to come if you have financial barriers. We are working on getting sponsors and would would be happy to work out a payment plan with you if money is a barrier. Please email us at hello@adventuresinwellness.ca

      Will there be a laughing championship at the conference? 

      Yes! On the Saturday night of the conference, Albert Nerenberg, Founder of the Laughing Championships, will host the world's first multi-country laughing championships. We are also blessed to have two World Laughing Champions, Carla H. Brown and Kelly Podlubny MC our conference! 

      Stay in touch!

      © 2025 by Adventures in Wellness

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