Bean Gill
Co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Center
A high-performance coach and neuro-recovery advocate, Bean co-founded ReYu to implement activity-based restorative therapy (ABT). Following her own sudden paralysis, she has dedicated her career to studying the mechanics of neurological recovery and pushing the boundaries of what is considered medically possible for spinal cord injuries.
The Myth of Permanence: Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Rewire the Impossible
Bean argues that what society and medicine have taught us about paralysis and brain injuries is fundamentally flawed: these conditions are not always permanent. Anchoring her bold claims in the science of neuroplasticity, she proves that the physical and mental act of refusing limitations isn't just a motivational cliché—it is the biological catalyst required to literally rewire the brain. Through an interactive audience experience, she challenges the tragic narrative surrounding paralysis, showing that treating our limits as starting lines rather than permanent walls is the ultimate blueprint for unleashing the untapped potential in all of us.
Biography
Bean Gill is a fearless advocate, speaker, and the co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre. After a virus left her paralyzed in 2012, Bean rebuilt her life from the ground up—facing trauma, disability, and a deeply inaccessible world. She transformed personal adversity into purpose, now using her story to challenge stigma, promote inclusion, and empower others living with disabilities. She is also faculty at NAIT and one of Canada's leading voices on disability inclusion and etiquette, giving people specific, actionable skills they can use the moment they leave the room. The reigning Miss Wheelchair Canada, a two-time royal medal recipient, and star of CBC's hit docuseries Push, Bean doesn’t just talk change—she delivers it.
Reigning Miss Wheelchair Canada
Two-time royal medal recipient
Star of the CBC docuseries Push