Hannah Crowther believed that everyone should have a voice, and she wasn’t afraid to use hers to speak out – for herself and others. “She would take on a crocodile if she had to,” says her mother, Becky Crowther. “She was a very strong advocate for anyone with a disability or who was different.”

Backing down had never been an option for the MacEwan Police and Investigations alum who graduated in 2019. Since birth, Hannah had been battling the odds. “She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and wasn’t supposed to survive, but she hung on through 35 surgeries, graduating from high school and university with honours.” 

Over the years, Hannah touched many lives. “She had this love for people who were different – we didn’t even realize just how much of a community she had until after she passed,” says her mom. “So many people were wondering where she was. They told us that she would stay up all night long talking online to people – a couple even said she had her willingness to listen saved them.”

During her time at MacEwan, Hannah shone. “She was fiercely independent and loved her time here – everyone here treated her with kindness. MacEwan was her safe space,” says her dad, Doug Crowther. Hannah lived in Residence and was a part of everything on campus, often skipping weekend visits home to fit in everything she wanted to do. “We were so proud of her.”

The Crowthers created the Hannah’s Hope Award to honour her memory using a combination of funds they had saved and proceeds from a garage sale. Each year, two MacEwan University students who demonstrate allyship or advocacy for an equity-seeking group will receive a $1,000 boost. 

“We hope these students have a passion like Hannah did and realize how important they are, how much they do for the world and that they’re not alone,” says the Crowthers.