Celebrating the 2026 AEBC / Allyant Scholarship Recipients

AUDIO VERSION

On behalf of the Scholarship Committee and my Co-Chair, Betty Nobel, it is our pleasure to introduce the ten outstanding scholarship recipients for 2026. Each has demonstrated strong academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion. Their accomplishments speak to the range of talent, ambition, and contributions these emerging leaders bring to their communities and to the future of a more equitable Canada.

This year’s awards include three named scholarships. Two honour members whose contributions have made a lasting impact on the AEBC community: the Tom Teranishi Scholarship, donated by the BC Affiliate, and the Johnn Rae Scholarship, funded through the John Rae Legacy Fund. The third named scholarship, also donated by the BC Affiliate, honours Rob Sleath, a passionate advocate for those living with vision loss. We are proud to celebrate this year’s recipients and to recognize the lasting contributions of Tom Teranishi, John Rae, and Rob Sleath.

John Rae Memorial Scholarship - Aidan Lapp

Aidan Lapp is a fourth-year undergraduate student at MacEwan University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a Political Science Major and a French Minor. Aidan is legally blind, having undergone 5 years of cancer treatment for bilateral retinoblastoma as a child, leading to severe damage to the left eye and enucleation of the right. He aspires toward a career in International Security and aims to specialize in peacebuilding and the politics of black markets, state-sponsored crime, and war economies. Aidan has remained on the Dean’s List since 2022 and maintains a 4.0 Political Science and French GPA. He will begin his Honours Thesis on the relationship between the United Nations and black markets during peacebuilding operations this Fall. He was previously the Vice-President of MacEwan’s Model United Nations Team, and an Assistant-Director of the National Model United Nations Canada conference in Banff last November. Aidan recently began an internship with the City of Edmonton’s Council Protocol and External Relations department, promoting Edmonton’s status as a UNESCO Learning City. Following the AEBC’s nomination, Aidan served as one of three youth delegates for Canada at the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in June.

BC Affiliate Scholarship in honour of Rob Sleath - Brittany Metzger

Brittany Metzger is a dedicated health and wellness professional whose journey reflects resilience, passion, and a lifelong commitment to learning. Legally blind, Brittany has never let challenges define her limits. She began her career with a Health Coach certification, followed by Personal Training credentials, and completion of a Bodywork Therapy program. She is now pursuing her goal of becoming a Registered Massage Therapist (RMT), further expanding her ability to help others achieve optimal well‑being.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Brittany is an active member of her community. She has volunteered with the swing dance community in the Lower Mainland, sharing her love of dance by teaching in local clubs. Swing dancing is not only a creative outlet for her but also a way to connect, inspire, and bring joy to others.

Looking ahead, Brittany is working toward creating an online, accessible fitness platform designed specifically for legally blind and partially sighted individuals, ensuring that inclusive health resources are available to all.

Receiving this scholarship is both an honor and an opportunity for Brittany to continue her education and bring her vision to life. She is deeply grateful for the support that allows her to keep learning, growing, and serving her community.

Allyant Scholarship - Meili Lanthier

Meili Lanthier is a 22-year-old woman who was adopted from China and now lives in a small community in northern Ontario. She is a recent graduate of the Business Administration program at l’Université de Hearst and will continue her studies in the Baking and Pastry Arts Program at Algonquin College this September. She enjoys baking, watching sports, travelling, and spending time with her family. Living with Best Disease, a visual condition that has affected her eyesight since childhood, has presented many challenges throughout her life. From difficulty reading information displayed at the front of the classroom to recognizing people and objects from a distance, as well as coping with the uncertainty of living with a degenerative condition, she has found many ways to adapt and persevere each day. She is proud of all that she has accomplished despite her vision impairment and remains motivated to continue pursuing her goals and ambitions. Although there is currently no cure for her condition, she continues to hold out hope in the advances of modern medicine and the possibility that an effective treatment will one day be discovered for people living with Best Disease.

Tom Teranishi Memorial Scholarship - Vesper Marlin Parkinson

Vesper (they/he) is in their third year in the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Social Work program, and carry with them a strong commitment to blind, neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed support. As a blind, autistic, disabled person, they value creating spaces where people feel understood, respected, and supported as their full selves. Having previously completed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy-Political Science-Economics from the University of British Columbia, their academic work explores the intersections of policy, disability, LGBTQ+ experiences, and trauma, drawing on both academic research and lived experience. Professionally, they work in the non-profit sector, working with clients while centering strengths, accessibility, and practical skill-building, with a focus on communication, peer connection, and confidence. Vesper has experience supporting 2SLGBTQIA+, autistic, and disabled youth and young adults across community and educational settings. They are especially passionate about creating inclusive environments where individuals can explore identity, build meaningful relationships, and grow at their own pace.

Allyant Scholarship - Matteo Spina

Matteo Spina was born in 2009 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada. Since the beginning of his life, he has faced many challenges, including a moderate hearing loss and vision impairment. He is severely colour blind and has difficulty seeing in low-light environments. For example, when visiting a friend at night, he may be unable to see the steps leading to their home, creating a significant safety risk. Matteo also lives with a rare condition called Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 1H (MPS), which results in a progressive physical disability. The condition affects the strength of the bones in his lower limbs, reducing his mobility over time. As a result, he has undergone multiple orthopedic surgeries, including a stem cell transplant shortly after birth. Despite these significant challenges, Matteo has attended mainstream schools and has earned a place on the honour roll every year. He hopes that his high school experience has prepared him for the next chapter of his life as he begins college. Because he enjoys working with numbers and performing calculations, his goal is to become an accountant.

AEBC Scholarship - Fadia Dirani

Fadia Dirani is an Education Resource Worker with more than ten years of experience supporting children with diverse learning needs in the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board. Born with albinism and a visual disability (20/200 vision), she has developed resilience, determination, and a deep passion for accessible and inclusive education. She is currently completing a degree in Early Childhood Studies and plans to pursue Teacher’s College with a specialization in special education. Her goal is to create inclusive classrooms where every child feels capable, valued, and understood. Beyond her work in schools, she volunteers with children with special needs at her church and participates in outreach programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness in Toronto. These experiences continue to strengthen her commitment to compassion, service, and community. Her journey has shown that limitations do not define potential. Through self-advocacy, perseverance, and faith, she continues to pursue her personal and professional goals while serving as a positive role model for her children and the students she supports.

AEBC Scholarship - Renuka Jantz

Renuka Jantz is an educator, legal scholar, and community advocate based in Edmonton, Alberta. She is currently completing a Disability Studies diploma at NorQuest College and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Juris Doctor degree, and a Bachelor of Education in Adult Education. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa during law school, Renuka adapted to vision loss at a time when modern assistive technology was limited. Her community work reflects a long-standing commitment to accessibility, fairness, and inclusion. She spent years as a user board member for Edmonton's accessible transit, taught language skills to newcomers to Canada, and now mentors NorQuest students with vision loss. On campus, she serves on academic integrity panels through the Office of Student Judicial Affairs, volunteers with the Students' Association, and has represented students with disabilities at Board of Governors meetings. Renuka plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Sociology in September 2027. Her research will examine how disability disclosure on job applications affects candidates with vision loss. Through her leadership, advocacy, and lived experience, she hopes to help build a more accessible and equitable future.

AEBC Scholarship - Hayden den Ouden

Hayden den Ouden is a competitive para-athlete from Barrie, Ontario, who is heading to Dalhousie University this fall to study physics. He is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree with the long-term goal of working in the field of astrophysics and scientific research. Living with severe bilateral optic nerve atrophy and a rod/cone dystrophy, Hayden has built strong digital habits to handle his schoolwork on a computer, keeping a spot on his high school Honor Roll while balancing a heavy Grade 12 science workload. Outside of the classroom, competitive sports are a huge part of Hayden's life and have helped him become fully independent. He represented Canada and won a bronze medal in Goalball at the 2025 Para Pan-American Games, and he has captured multiple OFSAA Gold medals in track and field and para-alpine ski racing. Dedicated to supporting his community, Hayden has spent two years as a Camp Counselor at CNIB Lake Joe, where he mentors younger kids with low vision and helps them build independent living skills. He views accessible education as a baseline standard and relies on proactive self-advocacy to run his own education and life.

AEBC Scholarship - Kaitlyn Casperson

Kaitlyn Casperson was born and raised in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and now lives in Montréal, Quebec. She is a third-year theology student at Quebec’s Evangelical School of Theology. After completing her bachelor's degree and eventually her master's degree, she hopes to work as a spiritual care worker in pediatric hospitals. Outside of her studies, she enjoys reading, crocheting, spending time with her cat, Nora, and being active outdoors. She loves running, hiking, and camping, and is also a member of a para-dragon boat team made up primarily of vision-impaired individuals. On weekends, she volunteers in the nursery at her church, helping care for young children, and enjoys spending time with her church community.

AEBC Scholarship - Ludovic Charbonneau

Ludovic Charbonneau is 19 years old and is almost completely blind. His remaining vision allows him to perceive some colours, shadows, and contrasts, but not enough to distinguish or describe objects. His lived experience has inspired him to become actively involved in the blind community. Through his studies in programming, he hopes to develop applications that make everyday life easier for people who are blind or have low vision, as well as games that are fully accessible to blind players. He also operates a YouTube channel dedicated to showcasing games that are accessible to the blind community. In addition, he plays goalball, a team sport designed specifically for athletes who are blind or have low vision, in which all players wear blindfolds and rely entirely on sound to compete.

It has been our pleasure to introduce you to this year’s remarkable scholarship recipients and their accomplishments. We were fortunate to have too many deserving applicants, and we wish we could have recognized many more of them with an award.

Marcia Yale and Betty Nobel

Co-Chairs, Scholarship Committee