North American Laughter Conference in Vancouver

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 folks in our community and several of the presenter spots are already full. That said, we would still love to chat! Please email hello@adventuresinwellness.ca to share your offering. 

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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.

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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:

• Explore White Rock

• Destination Vancouver

• Vancouver Attractions

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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). 

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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. 

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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 an 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.

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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.  

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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.  

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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 folks 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. 

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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.

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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. 

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Are there scholarships available for folks 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 love to work something out with you if money is a barrier. Please email us at hello@adventuresinwellness.ca. 

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Will there be a laughing championship at the conference? ​

We are blessed to have two World Laughing Champions on our conference planning committee and are exploring arranging a hybrid championship as an optional activity on the Saturday evening. More details will come soon.