Page 38 - Edify-Nov-Dec-2023

T40.
LET’S GO!
With all its food, festivals, and abundant urban greenspace, we find it easy to love Edmonton. But no great city is ever done growing, and the people on this list will never be satisfied with the status quo.
Whether welcoming newcomers, making art and public spaces more inclusive, improving women’s healthcare or literally touching (and mending) children’s hearts, the Edmontonians you’ll read about are being the change they want to see in our city.
Food and festivals are great, but the best part of our city will always be the people.
38 EDify. NOVEMBER • DECEMBER.23
Why she’s Top 40 PAIGE REEVES CREATES A WORLD WHERE THOSE WITH DISABILITIES CAN
PAIGE REEVES
SENIOR LEADER OF RESEARCH AND SOCIAL INNOVATION, ACTION LAB , SKILLS SOCIETY >AGE 32
Paige Reeves was raised with eight adopted brothers and sis- ters, each with intellectual or physical disabilities. Growing up, she noticed inequities in the way society treated them.
“They weren’t connected with other people. They didn’t have friendships. Their intimate relationships weren’t valued,” she says.
This instilled a commitment to help people with disabilities live more fulfilling lives. Reeves completed the Disability Stud- ies program at the University of Calgary and Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta, and is pursuing a
PhD researching belonging
for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, also at the University of Alberta.
She also co-stewards Action Lab, a social innovation consul- tancy, and leads social change projects out of Skills Society,
a disability rights and service organization that supports people with disabilities in everything from shopping to building friendships.
“Part of my purpose is to make the community better
for the people that I love. I see the humanness in people with intellectual disabilities. I want for them what you and I have and take for granted,” she says. “Sometimes they don’t know what else could be out there for them, but if we dream a little bigger, we can see there’s so much more, and we don’t have to settle for just good enough.” – Eliza Barlow