Telephone: 705.640.0668
Email: info@aspirespeech.ca
MEET THE TEAM
Our talented team keeps growing to better support you, our amazing clients! We now have six speech-language pathologists, a communicative disorders assistant, a speech-language therapy assistant, a psychologist, and a psychometrist. We offer speech and language services and psychology services in English and French virtually across Ontario, and in person at our Bracebridge office and throughout the Muskoka, Parry Sound, North Bay and Sudbury regions.
Jessica Vincent Larisa Pakalns
Genna Nichol
Founder of Aspire Speech and Lead Speech-Language Pathologist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Muskoka and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Genna Nichol
Founder of Aspire Speech and Lead Speech-Language Pathologist
As a speech language pathologist, my mission is to provide you and your family with professional, respectful, and evidence-based speech therapy, language, and swallowing services.
To help you or your family member reach their highest communication potential, I evaluate each client’s strengths and skills and recommend treatment and connections with community partners and programs.
I know the importance of working collaboratively and will gladly connect you with occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, and other professionals who can help you achieve your goals. I want you to feel a sense of connection, empowerment, and courage in dealing with your challenges.
My core values in all client interaction are respect, professionalism, sincerity and expertise
Read about my background, experience and journey to speech-language pathology >>
Chantel O'Brien
Speech-Language Pathologist
With a Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Western Ontario, I have been providing speech and language treatment to children and support to their families for over 15 years.
My expertise includes clinical experience with children of all ages in daycares, elementary schools and in-centre services providing assessment, treatment, consultation and training to families, professionals, and support staff. I am committed to collaborating with parents, staff educators, and allied health professionals in every aspect of a child’s treatment program.
I have worked in a variety of programs through children’s treatment centres such as the Preschool Speech and Language Program, and Assistive Devices Resource Services helping clients and families with communication aids.
For the last 10 years, I have worked in the Ontario Autism Program supporting ABA teams, clients, and families. I have also been involved in the Diagnostic Hub where I work collaboratively with developmental pediatricians and psychologists in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in young children.
I have evaluated and treated individuals with motor speech, articulation and phonological disorders, receptive and expressive language delays and disorders, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), pragmatic language disorders, hearing impairments and feeding difficulties.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two daughters and dog going to the beach, camping and hiking.
Cara Schiedel
Speech-Language Pathologist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Muskoka and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Cara Schiedel
Speech-Language Pathologist
I have over seven years of experience in the field of speech and language, first as a communicative disorders assistant and then as a speech-language pathologist. In addition to a Masters of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, I have additional qualifications from the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Fluency 202 and Motor Speech 202 pathways as well as Hanen’s More than Words, It Takes Two to Talk and I’m Ready (an early literacy program).
I have worked primarily with preschool and school-aged children in clinic and school settings. My goal is to empower families to feel confident helping their children with speech and language challenges.
I also have a keen interest in the area of fluency and voice. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQ2S+ community, which has inspired me to pursue additional training in gender affirmation voice therapy for people wishing to find a voice that aligns with their authentic self.
In my personal life, I run a farm with chickens and goats and am working towards certification in animal assisted therapy.
Allana Gowan
Speech-Language Pathologist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Muskoka and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Allana Gowan
Speech-Language Pathologist
I obtained a Master of Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Western Ontario in 2002. Since then, I have practised in several regions including Burlington, Toronto, and Kitchener-Waterloo. I relocated to Muskoka in 2019 with my husband and two children and am excited to continue my career here.
I have worked with clients with acquired disorders of communication, cognitive-communication, and dysphagia at various life stages and levels of ability. Most of my experience has been in acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, where I worked with people coping with the effects of conditions such as stroke, head injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.
I am so lucky that my clients are the most amazing people! They are great helpers in my own learning and development.
In my free time, you might find me in my garden, with my nose in a book, going to hear live music, walking my dog, or skiing through the woods.
Jessica Vincent
Speech-Language Pathologist
Serving clients in-person in Sudbury, North Bay and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Languages: English and French.
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Jessica Vincent
Speech-Language Pathologist
From a young age, I have always wanted to help people so when I was introduced to speech-language pathology, I knew it was the right career for me!
I have a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a master’s degree, both in speech-language pathology in French from Laurentian University. I enjoyed my final clinical placement at Aspire Speech in 2021 and am excited to continuing to work with the incredible staff and clients as a speech-language pathologist.
Located in Sudbury, Ontario, I serve clients across northern Ontario in-person and through online teletherapy. My areas of interest include dysphagia management, motor speech, and child language development. I strive to encourage and motivate clients to reach their communication goals in an open, friendly and supportive atmosphere.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, watching movies and going to the beach.
Larisa Pakalns
Speech-Language Pathologist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Muskoka and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Larisa Pakalns
Speech-Language Pathologist
I am a speech-language pathologist who graduated from the University of Western Ontario. I also have an undergraduate degree from Laurentian University in psychology. I enjoyed my final clinical placement at Aspire Speech in 2022 and am honoured to be back working with the team and clients at Aspire.
I have worked with a wide range of people from toddlers to seniors with a variety of needs including literacy, developmental and acquired language disorders, fluency disorders, motor speech disorders, dysphagia, and cognitive communication disorders.
In my spare time, I enjoy doing puzzles, playing piano, swimming, and spending time with my family.
Dr. Jacqueline Rynard
Registered Psychologist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Barrie, and surrounding areas, offering virtual services across Ontario.
Dr. Jacqueline Rynard
Registered Psychologist
I am a registered psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario, licensed for both clinical psychology and school psychology. I have been working in the field as a psychologist since 2009, providing assessment and treatment to high complex needs children, youth, and adults. My background includes work in community mental health settings, school board settings, college mental health centres, and private practice.
At Aspire Speech, I provide a variety of psychological assessments for persons of all ages.
In my free time I like baking, being out in nature, and spending time with my family and three noisy, cuddly birds.
Elizabeth Louter
Psychometrist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Barrie, and surrounding areas.
Elizabeth Louter
Psychometrist
I am a psychometrist and member of the Ontario College of Teachers. I hold a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelors of Education with qualifications in primary, junior, and intermediate teaching divisions. At Aspire Speech, I administer and score psychological tests under the supervision of psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Rynard.
In my spare time, I am a volunteer firefighter certified with the National Fire Protection Association and an avid bee keeper.
Anne Marie Chwartacky
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Muskoka and surrounding areas, offering virtual therapy across Ontario.
Anne Marie Chwartacky
Communicative Disorders Assistant
I am a graduate of the Durham College Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) Post-Graduate program, with honours, and I hold an honours degree from York University with a major in linguistics.
I have been working as a CDA providing speech and language therapy to preschool and school-aged children for the past 14 years. My experience involves working in various settings, including centres, and elementary and high schools, both in-person and virtually.
I enjoy working with children and teenagers with a wide range of physical, cognitive, and communicative abilities including phonological disorders, language delays, articulation delays, those working with alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and children with autism spectrum disorder.
My goal is to help children and young adults reach their communication goals and to help parents and caregivers learn support strategies.
In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and spending time with my husband and two children going on family adventures.
Brittany Meeks
Speech-Language Therapy Assistant and Program Coordinator
Brittany works under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist serving clients in our Bracebridge office.
Brittany Meeks
Speech-Language Therapy Assistant and Program Coordinator
I have always had a passion for working with language, whether it is learning new languages myself or helping others achieve their language goals.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Guelph, I taught English abroad for 5 years to both children and adults. I continue to teach ESL virtually. I completed a second undergraduate degree in cognitive science at York University, where I learned a lot about the brain and language development. I then completed the Brain Disorders Management certificate program at Mohawk College, which expanded my knowledge about different brain disorders at any age, ways to manage them, and strategies that can be implemented in daily living.
With my experience teaching students of all ages and the knowledge I acquired throughout my schooling, I am looking forward to helping clients achieve their speech and communication goals.
During my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and travelling to new places.