Community advocate, Tracy Rhea has been awarded a scholarship to attend a conference in Vancouver.
OXFORD COUNTY- Tracy Rhea's childhood began in East London. She remembers it being a very different time back then. Things were safer- she could go to the corner store unattended. That London she knew growing up is gone. Rhea's life changed and she ended up becoming homeless.
Rhea said the hardest part about turning things around is accepting or wanting help,"I've learned it's not always easy but when you have back-up it makes it much easier."
Rhea says when she was homeless she classified herself as the 'working poor,' but she turned that around when she decided to return to school.
"Finally one day I thought you know what, I want to make changes in my life but I want to do something for other people...I took on a student loan and away I went to school."
Rhea adds the best part about it, is having experience on both sides of the track. Sharing a backyard with others who are in poverty, she tries to use her knowledge to help them.
She will get the chance to share her experiences in November when she attends the National Conference on Ending Homelessness. Rhea was selected as the Lived Experience Scholarship recipient.
"Mixed emotions, I've never flown so it's exciting, It was a mix because things like this don't happen to me, so knowing that the opportunity came available somebody had sent it through it was an opportunity to go."
Advocating and bringing awareness to homeless are Rhea's passions.
"It's my passion to be working with the people that are in homelessness, it's not just the trip its the part about how many people I can help, and learning what's coming you know the things that are happening for people so that we can end homelessness."
Interview with the Warden - November 12th, 2026
Upcoming Holiday Fundraisers for OCAR
Recall Issued for Canadian Beer Brands
Woodstock Holds Remembrance Day Ceremony
UPDATE: Warning Issued in School Threat Investigation
Remembrance Day in Oxford County
Vehicle Vandalized Outside Norwich Business
Suspicious Death Under Investigation
Community Kitchen gets Dedication
Names Released for New PWHL Teams
New Family Doctor Now Accepting Patients
Dates Announced for Tour of Lights 2026
Deadline Approaches for Tourism Surveys
Construction at Pittock Conservation Area
PJHL Recap - Nov 6th to Nov 8th
Navy Vets Recap - Nov 6th
Theatre Tillsonburg Presents: The Numbers Game
WFD Sends Reminders Ahead of Diwali
Youth in Tillsonburg Charged by OPP
Arpan Khanna Reacts to Budget
Comments
Add a comment