On March 22nd, 2024, Darpan Magazine hosted its 2nd annual Darpan Power Women of Influence 2024 at the breathtaking venue of Vancouver Convention Centre presented by RBC.
The gala was powered by Cadillac and Excel Career College.The celebration was one of a kind to be held in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, the unique evening was an exceptional celebration of women's empowerment.
Located on the gorgeous Vancouver waterfront with a dramatic mountain backdrop, the magical evening began with a red-carpet reception.
550 guests were greeted with a flurry of cameras, flashing lights and a sense of excitement—attendees arriving in stunning outfits, reflecting the spirit of the occasion.
On the red carpet, a live media station interviewed esteemed guests, asking them their expectations for the evening; photographers were busy capturing beautiful moments, and music performances set the stage for the night ahead.
The red carpet was truly buzzing with prominent members of the South Asian community, political dignitaries, and socialites. Celebrities, business leaders, and social activists graced the evening, sharing their experiences, insights, and inspirations.
The beautiful cocktail lounge had guests mingling and enjoying the hospitality. Spotted at the venue were prominent political guests like the Lieutenant Governor of BC-The Honourable Janet Austin.
The Honourable Premier of British Columbia, Mr. David Eby gave his remarks and spoke to how women can do and achieve anything they want.
First Ever South Asian Speaker of the House, Raj Chauhan, MP for Surrey Centre Randeep Sarai, Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, Minister of Education, Rachna Singh.
Mayor of White Rock, Megan Knight and Leader of BC United Party, Kevin Falcon, MLA for Vancouver Langara,Michael Lee, MLA for South Surrey, Elenore Sturko. The First South Asian BC Supreme Court Judge and Former Attorney General, Wally Oppal, among others.
Canadian actor and television personality Huse Madhavji was the Master of Ceremonies for the night. This multi-talented host, actor and producer is the former face of Star! Canada and has starred in HBO Canada/Direct-TV's hit comedy Call Me Fitz starring Jason Priestly, where he received his first Gemini nomination and NBC/CTV hospital drama Saving Hope. Madhavji kicked off the festivities by introducing the opening entertainment act, which was a fitting tribute to the spirit of the occasion.
Well known Pakistani Canadian singer Meesha Shafi with her mesmerising voice put on a performance that captivated the audience and set the stage for the inspiring speeches that followed.
Devinder Gill, Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, at RBC, also shared her valuable words with audiences, lifting the spirits of all those present.
The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion called Darpan Power Talk featuring accomplished women leaders from diverse fields, including politics, corporate world, entertainment, and science. Seasoned journalist, anchor/reporter with Global National, Neetu Garcha moderated the discussion. Before the panel, Garcha welcomed on stage the panelists, who, one by one, shared their individual stories and journeys.
The first Darpan PowerTalk speaker, the amazing Shachi Kurl, shared the importance of gender equity and inclusion in research .
The motivational diplomat who is the UK Consul General in Toronto, Fouzia Younis, spoke about battling sexism from somebody who has been part of the political landscape.
Actress, model, author, wellness advocate, cancer survivor, and entrepreneur the unstoppable Lisa Ray, shared how women can enhance accessibility and destigmatize alternative fertility paths to empower women in their reproductive choices as someone whose kids were born through surrogacy.
Chief Growth Officer at Telus Health, Juggy Sihota shared steps she's taking to pave the way for other women in leadership roles, and how are you advocating for gender equity in the workplace
The final Darpan PowerTalk of the evening came from inspiring scientist, CTO of Quantum Algorithms Institute, and professor of physics and computing science at Wilfred Laurier University Dr. Shohini Ghose shared on how changing the system can promote greater inclusivity and opportunities for women in STEM and other male-dominated industries
Following the Darpan PowerTalks came the main event of the night, which was the panel discussion featuring the aforementioned diverse group of influential women who shared their experiences and insights on how to empower women in the workplace and society. The power-packed panel included the following:
➔ Shachi Kurl, President, The Angus Reid Institute
➔ Juggy Sihota, Chief Growth officer, Telus Health
➔ Lisa Ray, Actress, Model, Author & Wellness Advocate
➔ Fouzia Younis, UK Consul General in Toronto
➔ Dr.Shohini Ghose, CTO at Quantum Algorithms Institute
Garcha posed thought-provoking questions to the panelists, resulting in an engaging and stimulating conversation. The discussion was beyond inspiring, as panelists shared their journeys and offered practical advice on supporting women in achieving their goals.
Panelists encouraged women to support one another and discussed strategies to deal with power structures within organizations, sharing their advice with young women entering their respective professions. As the evening had a diverse and balanced audience, the panelists also addressed how men can help empower women and become allies, alongside the work needed to be done to engage and inspire male advocates.
Further, panelists revealed how getting caught up in accepting the status quo and not challenging old, outdated perceptions, particularly regarding views about women, can be a hindrance. They shared ideas on breaking new ground and challenging the mindset of those who try to minimize women's power. Having discussed various issues keeping women from reaching their full potential, as Power Women of Influence, panelists offered their insight on what society can do to tackle such issues and take women's empowerment to new heights.
Overall, the panelists delivered powerful messages of empowerment and highlighted the achievements of women in various fields, reminding everyone present that women have the power to change the world. The panelists shared their personal stories, the challenges they faced, and how they overcame them to achieve their goals, shining light on their experiences in breaking barriers and stereotypes, the importance of diversity and inclusivity, and how to create a more equitable society. By learning about women who have made a significant impact in various fields, attendees were evidently inspired to take action in their own lives.
The evening culminated with a sumptuous and hearty dinner, and guests were treated to an exquisite meal, including a lavish collection of desserts. As the night wore on, the dance floor heated up, and guests danced the night away to some of Meesha Shafi's finest hits such as Jugni.
"We are proud to have hosted the 2nd annual Darpan Power Women of Influence 2024, an opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of women and women empowerment. Our gratitude goes out to the community for making the night a grand success, and we look forward to partnering and collaborating with the community to continue recognizing the potential of women in all walks of life!" shared Gurvinder Hundal and Ramneek Dhillon, respectively Founder and President of Darpan Magazine.
Surely, the Darpan Power Women of Influence 2024 was a resounding success, and attendees left inspired and empowered to make a difference. The gala was a night to remember, a celebration of the power of women, and a reminder of the great strides that have been made and will continue to be made towards achieving gender equality. Darpan Magazine, being a community magazine, is proud to have been a part of the Darpan Power Women of Influence Gala.
