Location: Calgary, Alberta
The challenge of a speech disability has never stopped Calgary’s Rhea Bhalla from stepping up to serve her community and being a voice for those who face similar experiences.
At 18 years old, Rhea has stepped up to take on numerous leadership roles with the Canadian Stuttering Association; at 14, she took the initiative to found and serve as president for 4 years of the Calgary Stuttering Support Group. Rhea has expanded those efforts to lead a national support group for youth and has hosted workshops at national conferences on the condition.
Rhea has demonstrated a passion for learning, and she has stepped up to serve as president of her school’s science club. In 2022 she was recognized with bronze medal honours at the Canada-wide Science Fair hosted by Youth Science Canada.
Rhea has expanded her community service to include volunteering at a local nursing home. This and her other volunteer work garnered the attention of the Terry Fox Foundation, which, in 2023, honoured Rhea with the Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholarship. The award recognizes Canadian students who have overcome obstacles in their own lives to “exemplify the humanitarian ideals of Terry Fox by volunteering and giving back to their communities.”
For her advocacy and efforts to support those in her community, Rhea Bhalla is honoured as a Northern Lights Volunteer Recognition Program recipient.
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