The Surrey Now-Leader presented its 2024 Community Leader Awards at the Westfield Country Club on Thursday, Nov. 21.
All the winners and honourable mentions were featured in a special edition of the Thursday, Nov. 28 Surrey Now-Leader, and we have been introducing each of the honourees here on our website. Here is the final honouree: Sanya Grover, top honour winner for Leader of the Year.
Leader of the Year, top honour
Now in her fourth year as a medical student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Sanya Grover continues to be passionate leader in Surrey and well beyond.
She exemplifies the qualities of the Leader of the Year award through her long-term commitment to student wellness, health advocacy and community engagement.
Among other achievements, Grover has worked to expand UBC's peer-support program Medline, has been a driver of BC Children’s Hospital's social pediatrics team, co-chairs the UBC Municipal Advocacy Committee and helps lead Reading Bear Society, a B.C.-wide initiative that promotes early literacy and healthy living in children.
"What motivates me to keep giving back to the community is the profound sense of connection and fulfillment that comes from making a tangible difference in people's lives," Grover says. "I am inspired by the resilience of the individuals I have worked with, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength that can emerge when people feel seen, heard and valued."
With UBC Municipal Advocacy Committee, Grover leads efforts to explore regional health disparities and pilot new advocacy initiatives, including student naloxone training sessions.
This month in Ottawa, she pitched policy changes to MPs during the National Day of Action of Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS).
With Reading Bear Society, Grover has organized Dr. Bear Visits in local elementary schools for more than 100 children.
Clearly, Grover is a leader with the dedication and drive to uplift those around her.
"Being recognized for my efforts fills me with immense gratitude," Grover says. "I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity to contribute to causes I am passionate about and for the many individuals who have guided and supported me along the way. This recognition motivates me to continue striving for meaningful change and reinforces my commitment to giving back"
