A free grassroots community group is spreading a life-changing message
Happiness Habits 613’s Tamara Robinson, left, and Stephen Bierbrier. Photo Courtesy Happiness Habits 613
In a world dominated by screens, Ottawa residents Stephen Bierbrier and Tamara Robinson are rooting for face-to-face meetings and in-person connections.
They want to remind everyone that happiness is free.
The current volunteer co-leaders of Happiness Habits 613 — a grassroots community group now in its 11th year — happiness experts Bierbrier and Robinson, also a registered holistic nutritionist, lead local residents in cultivating healthy habits through community building, healthy habits and fitness — at no cost.
Bierbrier was a member of the original group founded in 2015 by Kate Durie, Amy Longard and Manal Nemr.
The longevity of the group, Bierbrier says, “is a tribute to the community embracing the core happiness message.”
Stephen Bierbrier. Photo Courtesy Happiness Habits 613
“Happiness is free and better together,” says Bierbrier, who lives by this rule in other aspects of his life. He’s the founder of the Mill Street Milers running club, and along with Robinson, he’s a member of the Arboretum Hill Club and co-founder of Sunrise Trails. That belief also informs all of Happiness Habits 613’s no-charge activities, from running and hiking to yoga and art.
“There are lots of articles and books that focus on wellness and happiness,” says Bierbrier. “We did our research and synthesized it down to our 9 Pillars of Happiness: altruism, connection, gratitude, mindfulness, minimalism, movement, nature, nutrition, and purpose.” It is, Robinson adds, “a simple roadmap that organically produces healthy habits and ultimately, happiness and longevity.” The current version of the group is inspired by the works of Dan Buettner (“The Blue Zones”), James Clear (“Atomic Habits”), Catherine Price (“Power of Fun”) and Dr. Seuss (“Oh, The Places You Will Go”).”
Happiness Habits 613’s events are listed for free registration on its Eventbrite page. There are art events at the Ottawa Art Gallery and book clubs hosted at the Sunnyside branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Dance events are held at the National Arts Centre and skating on the Rideau Canal Skateway. The Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre is the home to the group’s cooking activities. “The list goes on and on,” Bierbrier says.
Although the group has no formal sponsors, companies come in to assist specific events. Currently, Wellness Wednesdays is powered by Patagonia Ottawa and Kanata Nordic is hosting Nordic skiing.
These events draw people from all walks of life. “Our audience is literally everyone,” says Bierbrier. “We get regulars, newbies, families, couples, newcomers to Ottawa, students and seniors. All ages, all backgrounds.”
The group survived the pandemic. In 2021, the majority of activities were done virtually, and moved to a safe hybrid model in 2022 to come out stronger on the other side.
“The core message is timeless,” Robinson says, “so it doesn’t surprise me that it continued to resonate with the community.”
Tamara Robinson. Photo Courtesy Happiness Habits 613
While the challenge of getting the happiness message out to more people always remains, “we love doing it all so we don’t fret if it shrinks or grows exponentially,” Bierbrier adds.
But if it does keep growing — and if the group’s track record is any indication, it will — “we’ll definitely need volunteers to assist with events. We recently found out that we cannot be everywhere all at the same time.”
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“There is no hidden agenda. We aren’t selling a product, service, subscription. It really resonates with the community. We are kind of the free transparent unicorn of happiness.”
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Tamara Robinson on Happiness Habits 613
“I wish I could go back and tell high school me that fitness and an active outdoor lifestyle would be one of the keys to my longevity. It would have set me on the road to happiness earlier by emphasizing movement and nature.”
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Stephen Bierbrier