Most days, you can find Lisa Han at the Ottawa Public Library. When she’s not in class at Merivale High School, the 17-year-old is often at one of her local library branches checking out books, spending time with friends, or studying for final exams as she prepares to complete her senior year and graduate high school.
Now, she looks around those buildings as a teenager, excited for the future, planning her next steps, and celebrating her achievements. She was recently named the recipient of a TD scholarship for community leadership and will receive up to $70,000 for her postsecondary education.
But not so long ago, she was four years old, had just moved to Canada, and was looking for ways to connect with her new home.
Han was born in Beijing and emigrated from China with her family as a young child. She remembers struggling to understand English and feeling like an outsider, entirely unfamiliar with Canada’s culture.
“I just remember sitting in class, I think in senior kindergarten, and all these other kids were talking about hockey,” she told the Ottawa Lookout. “And I had never encountered that in my life and had no idea what they were talking about.”
She turned to the library. Han’s mother began bringing her to the Nepean Centrepointe branch near their home, where she checked out books and began joining local programs for kids like her.
“My mom dragged me there at first; she's always really made it a priority for me to read as much as possible and expand my worldview, especially at a young age, and I'm definitely very grateful to her for that,” said Han.
“At the time, I think they were like mostly just youth engagement programs, but it was really nice because there were also other kids, some from immigrant backgrounds, and that was really helpful to me to be in that kind of environment,” she explained. “Kids learn language pretty quickly, so little by little, I was able to overcome that.”
Han said she became comfortable with the language and, through reading, began to understand cultural references and social cues. Soon, she didn’t feel like she was all that different from the other kids.
And more than that, it inspired her to carry on the impact of literacy and youth programs.
Paying it forward
She became involved with the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) Reading Buddies program, which pairs children with teen volunteers for weekly reading sessions. The initiative had been paused at some branches, but Han said she and a few friends reached out to the OPL in hopes of “kick-starting” the program again.
There, Han was no longer the newcomer. Instead, she was paired with other children, many of whom were first-generation immigrants, and helped them reap the benefits of literacy, as she had.
The first reading buddy she was paired with was a little boy who only wanted to read books about Minecraft.
“I really tried to like get him to open up, and at one point I think I even like shared one of my stories… I found that he was just intimidated by the books, because he wasn't the best reader, but doing that helped him to really open up and be keen on exploring other stories,” she said. “Just seeing the progress that is possible when I put myself out there and I offer even just two hours per week of mentorship to another kid, and seeing how transformative that can be for them. is something that drives me to keep going.”
Eventually, she said, her reading buddy became more engaged in a variety of books. Han recalled reading “The Grinch” by Dr. Seuss together, and that instead of believing that the Grinch character was a true villain, her buddy began questioning the character.
“He was asking all these questions, trying to defend and understand the Grinch, and really showcasing his critical thinking skills,” Han said. “I think reading is just empowerment in the best form, and really allows people to like engage actively in society, even for young kids.”
Sparking change as a community builder
Once she began to see the impact of literacy in real-time, Han didn’t stop there.
In 2023, Han joined forces with some other local teens and founded LitSpark Youth, a youth-led, Ottawa-based nonprofit that works to provide books to children in underprivileged or underserved communities.
Three years later, more than 10,000 books have been collected and donated through the program. The volunteers operate a circular donation model, accepting and collecting donated books and then setting up “distribution hubs” in places like community centers to put books directly into the hands of the children they serve.
LitSpark Youth is now incorporated, works with more than 200 volunteers and members and is now exploring expansion into other cities. By working with other community organizations and programs, LitSpark Youth is also able to emphasize outreach to newcomers and immigrant families.
Lisa Han, right, with the anthology of short stories written by LitSpark Youth volunteers, to be distributed to youth in the community. Photo provided.
Of course, two volunteer commitments weren’t enough; for years, Han has also volunteered with the Ottawa Humane Society, where she has been able to channel her passion for working with children in new ways.
“I've always just loved animals, and in China, where I'm from, animal rights and welfare aren't as prioritized, and it's really cool to be able to get involved here,” she explained.
Han helped run workshops teaching kids about safe and supportive animal interaction and behaviour, like “Petting a Dog 101”.
“Kids see an animal and they just kind of want to grab it, but it's important to understand that [animals] need their space as well,” she laughed. “I think you can tell, but I just really like working with kids, and I like animals, so it was a good fit.”
She was also active in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and refereed basketball, all while balancing schoolwork, her social life, and other volunteer obligations. And it paid off.
Opening doors
Through her work as a community volunteer and organizer, Han has been named as one of only 20 recipients Canada-wide of the 2026 TD Scholarships for Community Leadership program, granting her up to $70,000 for her postsecondary education.
The program recognizes students who are helping to create positive change in their communities through leadership, advocacy and volunteer initiatives, awarding recipients with funds for tuition and living expenses. It also provides opportunities for summer employment, peer networking and mentorship and allows recipients to access a network of over 600 scholarship alumni.
Lisa Han, left, with David Cochrane, accepting her scholarship from TD. Photo provided.
“I got the email, and it happened to be April Fool's Day, and I was like, ‘This has to be a joke, right?’ But thankfully it wasn't,” said Han. “And then, thankfully, it wasn't, and so much adrenaline shot through me in that moment, I was so excited.
“I got to celebrate with my parents after waking them up — they were a bit mad because I woke them up,” she laughed. “But they were really happy.”
Han will now be heading to Kingston in the fall to get started on the Bachelor of Commerce program at Queen’s University, and says the scholarship will be opening so many doors for her.
“I didn't know if I had it in me [to apply] at first, and I had exams, and for some stupid reason, I didn't know if I was gonna apply,” she said. “But my mom really pressed me to apply, and she was like, ‘How do you know you're not gonna get it?’.
“She helped me see my potential before I could realize it myself,” Han said. “It was very exciting, even when I learned I was a finalist and moved on to the interview stage, it was kind of unreal to get that [acceptance email].”
Each year, up to 80 finalists are interviewed by the selection panels. From there, only 20 students are selected across Canada. This year, five of those students were from Ontario.
“Obviously, financially, it's a huge help and relieves a lot of that pressure for my family, but even more so, they also have summer employment opportunities for scholars,” Han said. “I feel like I really appreciate that as a way to maybe integrate more smoothly into the workforce, so that's super cool.
“It’s pretty life-changing up to this point in my life right now, but I guess I also try not to think that because that means like there are still better things ahead,” she added. “It's a lot to take in, and I'm still trying to process.”
Lisa Han, left, volunteering with the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO), where LitSpark Youth works to distribute books. Photo provided.
Someday, Han sees herself starting a business or non-profit in a social space to continue building and contributing within the community. She plans to keep working on supporting and expanding LitSpark Youth, and has learned that she loves working in the non-profit and social justice sectors.
“I think the background I come from, as an immigrant and as someone from another culture initially, is probably a really big strength, in terms of the ideas and values that I'm able to bring to the table,” said Han. “I think that's super cool too for kids to realize that and understand that, regardless of whether or not they know what hockey is, they can still raise their hands and contribute their own ideas and share.
“They're just as valuable and appreciated by others…I think kids in general have a lot of potential, and sometimes, just having someone older that they can get some advice from, in terms of like language, or whatever else, is essential.”
For now, Han is focused on final exams, senior prom, and her high school graduation. But she says she’ll always be involved in her community, wherever she is, and that she can’t wait to see where the next part of her life takes her.
“I think the people that I've had the privilege of meeting, and the kids I've been able to help, have been the best part of the journey,” she said. “There are a lot of things to consider, and I'm sure I'm going to make a lot of mistakes on the way, but hopefully, some right decisions, too, in trying to find what I want to do in the world.”
