Telephone: 705.640.0668
Email: info@aspirespeech.ca
MEET THE TEAM
Our talented team keeps growing to better support you, our amazing clients! We have speech-language pathologists, communicative disorders assistants, a speech-language therapy assistant, a psychologist, a psychometrist, and an occupational therapist.
We offer services to all ages in English and French virtually across Ontario, and in person at our Bracebridge office and throughout Muskoka, Parry Sound, and surrounding regions.
Speech and Language Services
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Psychology Services
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Occupational Therapy Services
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.
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​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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, two daughters and dog going to the beach, camping and hiking.
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
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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.
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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.
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I am so lucky that my clients are the most amazing people! They are great helpers in my own learning and development.
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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.
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
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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.
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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.
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During my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and travelling to new places.
Edan McFadden
Communicative Disorders Assistant
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Barrie, and surrounding areas, offering virtual services across Ontario.
Edan McFadden
Communicative Disorders Assistant
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I have always had an interest in speech and language and working with individuals of all ages. While camp counselling and volunteering at a local speech clinic, I grew a greater passion for this field of work.
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In June 2022, I completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario with an honours specialization in linguistics and a minor in psychology. Immediately following my degree, I took the Communicative Disorders Assistant Post-Graduate Program at Georgian College in Barrie. As a new grad, I am eager to be a part of Aspire Speech bringing a fresh perspective and style to speech sessions and therapy techniques to help clients target a variety of goals.
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In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, baking, and doing DIY crafts!
Elizabeth Louter
Psychometrist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Barrie, and surrounding areas.
Elizabeth Louter
Psychometrist
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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.
Chris Galvin
Occupational Therapist
Serving clients in-person in Bracebridge, Muskoka, and surrounding areas.
Chris Galvin
Occupational Therapist
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I have been an occupational therapist for over 40 years serving all individuals of all ages with a wide variety of developmental and neurodiverse challenges. I began my career when large institutions were still providing residential housing to many individuals and had the opportunity to see the benefits of activities designed to meet sensory processing needs in adults and children. Following the completion of research into the benefits of sensory processing activities, I provided programming and developed equipment suitable for meeting the needs of many individuals.
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As society changed to focus on group home living as well as meeting a greater variety of needs within the school system, I also changed where I provided services. For many years, I provided services in the school system to assist children, parents, and educators in meeting a wide range of challenges including self-regulation, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, visual perceptual skills, functional activities of daily living, behaviour, etc. I have always enjoyed the challenge of meeting individual needs in a creative and engaging manner.
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With Aspire, my hope is to continue helping children and adults meet their personal goals so as to lead the most functional and enjoyable life they can. Goals may be related to fine and gross motor skills such as printing or catching a ball, sensory processing challenges including how to maintain a state of alertness, self-regulation or calming the body, visual perceptual skills related to reading, printing, drawing, etc.
I look forward to the honour of working with the team at Aspire to assist you and your family in your journey through life.
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
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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.
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At Aspire Speech, I provide a variety of psychological assessments for persons of all ages.
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In my free time I like baking, being out in nature, and spending time with my family and three noisy, cuddly birds.