Page 28 - Edify-Nov-Dec-2023

BENVEET [BEAN]
GILL
Rollin’ Model
S ince receiving her Top 40 accolade, Benveet Gill (Class of ’19) has experienced both
big challenges and success. When the pandemic struck, Gill and her business partner were forced to change the business model of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre and take their neuro-recovery sessions online. They also created an online course for other rehab professionals to imple- ment neuro recovery for their clients. “It was a really, really hard thing to do,” Gill explains, “but it was beautiful for us to
see these people thrive when they thought that they couldn’t.” As they’ve continued
to offer both the online sessions and the course, they can now work with folks with neurological conditions across the country.
The first season of her reality TV show, Push — which follows a group of wheel- chair users in Edmonton — premiered on CBC this year. Gill is proud to be a part of the first major-network prime-time series in Canada to feature a leading cast with disabilities and of the message she can send to young wheelchair users. “Parents have said, ‘Thank you for doing this because now I can see what kind of future my kid can have and they can see what kind of person they can be.’” Thanks to her rising celebrity, Gill’s most proud to have done something she describes as “bonkers:” presenting Album of the Year at this year’s Juno Awards.
Gill keeps in touch with some of her classmates, including Dr. Neeja Bakshi and Dr. Rehana Chatur, who’ve both supported her business by referring patients to ReYu. Gill hopes to continue to inspire confidence in people. “Getting people to believe in themselves and to take ownership of their recovery journey,” she says, “that’s what I really enjoy because my life didn’t change until I did that.” –Matthew Stepanic
28 EDify. NOVEMBER • DECEMBER.23