On March 22, 2025, Darpan Magazine hosted the third Darpan Power Women of Influence Gala at the breathtaking Vancouver Convention Centre, presented by RBC and powered by Save-on-Foods and Cadillac. The first ever celebration of its kind to be held in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, the unique evening was an exceptional celebration of women empowerment.
Located on the gorgeous Vancouver waterfront with a dramatic mountain backdrop, the magical evening began with a red carpet reception, where over 500 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 dancing performances set the stage for the night ahead.
Celebrities, business leaders, and social activists graced the evening, sharing their experiences, insights, and inspirations. The red carpet was truly buzzing with prominent members of the South Asian community, political dignitaries, and socialites. The beautiful cocktail lounge had guests mingling and enjoying the hospitality. Spotted at the venue were prominent political guests like British Columbia’s Deputy Premier and Attorney General Niki Sharma, Jagrup Brar, Senator and First Turbaned Sikh RCMP Office Baltej Dhillon, Randeep Sarai, and the First South Asian 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 introducing the opening entertainment act, which was a fitting tribute to the spirit of the occasion. Local talent enthusiastically hit the stage, as guests sipped on a selection of fine wines. Energizing and talented artists from the Sunheri Arts Club, along with The Dance Room, put on a performance on ‘Tu Jhoom’ that captivated the audience and set the stage for the inspiring evening that followed.
Next came, Shane Koyczan, an award-winning spoken word poet who recited the sentiments of Canada in his strong poem that celebrated the strength, resilience, and achievements of the country we call home. Katie Yu, Regional Vice President, Business Financial Services, BC, RBC also shared her valuable words with audiences, lifting up the spirits of all those present.
The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion featuring accomplished women leaders from diverse fields, including journalism, business, politics, arts, and philanthropy. The discussion was moderated by seasoned journalist Robin Gill. Before the panel, Gill welcomed on stage the panelists, who, one by one, through a keynote address, shared their individual stories and journeys.
The first Darpan PowerTalk speaker, Senator and CEO of The King’s Trust in Canada, Farah Mohamed, started the evening talking about building bridges, not walls, and how lasting change happens when diverse voices—across sectors, genders, and cultures—come together to drive impact.
The inspiring Belle Puri reminded women to own their worth and recognize real opportunities, distinguishing between genuine career growth and token roles.
The third DARPAN PowerTalk of the night came from the founder of Pakistan's first microfinance institution, Roshaneh Zafar, who shared the importance of breaking barriers and creating opportunities for future generations of women in business and leadership.
Award-winning Actor and Writer Supinder Wraich expressed in her DARPAN PowerTalk the essence of turning doubt into power and how women can navigate criticism with confidence and command respect.
The last PowerTalk of the evening came from Philanthropist and Entrepreneur Anoop Virk on redefining women’s empowerment for a new generation and how women don’t have to follow the paths of past generations to make an impact.
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. Gill 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 how to support 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 to 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. 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 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, 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 the melodious voices of Goldenstar Malkit Singh.
"We are humbled to have hosted the DARPAN Power Women of Influence Gala 2025, which was 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 2025 was a resounding success, and attendees left inspired and empowered to make a difference. It 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 toward achieving gender equality.
