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Awards and Recognition Program
Recognizing individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.
The professions of speech-language pathology and audiology are constantly growing and advancing, and this couldn’t be done without the tireless work of speech-language pathologists, audiologists and communication health assistants.
Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) recognizes the immense contribution our members and associates make to their professions and communities, and we want to celebrate this dedication and determination.
SAC needs your help to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Do you know a deserving colleague or fellow professional who goes above and beyond to contribute to their profession?
Nominate them for an SAC award!
Each year, SAC recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the association or the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.
The nomination deadline is November 30, 2022.
Eligibility:
SAC member or associate with a minimum of 25 years of membership
Nomination:
SAC member or associate or general public
Description:
Awarded to a member or associate of SAC (may be awarded posthumously) who has a long history of distinguished and dedicated service to both SAC and the professions of speech-language pathology or audiology in the areas of education, clinical services, administration or public awareness and has fostered the development and advancement of the professions, nationally or internationally. Nominees must demonstrate significant and outstanding individual achievements, have a minimum of 25 years of SAC membership and may be nominated by SAC members or associates or the general public.
Eligibility:
SAC member or associate
Nomination:
SAC member or associate (including SAC student associates)
Description:
Awarded to an SAC member or associate who has significantly influenced or contributed to the clinical training and/or professional development of a student(s) or colleague(s) in speech-language pathology or audiology, either as a clinical supervisor, a mentor or academic faculty. Nominees demonstrate unique and outstanding individual achievements in the area of mentorship, have contributed to the development of others and have served as a role model for students and colleagues within the profession.
Maureen Penko, M.Sc. Reg. S-LP
Maureen Penko has worked as a speech-language pathologist in the province of Manitoba since 1979. Her career includes working in schools, rural and urban, hospital and in her private practice Penko & Associates. It was at Children’s Hospital Health Sciences Centre that Maureen began her mentorship of colleagues, other professionals and supported many new graduates as they began their careers. She was recognized for her contributions to the pediatric craniofacial population by the team in 2004. She was acknowledged as a career mentor by the University of Manitoba. She has participated in the National Association and Provincial Associations since 1979 including serving on the National Board with Andre Lafargue (1987). Maureen’s enthusiasm, passion for her profession, and contributions was recognized by the Manitoba Speech and Hearing Association for Outstanding Professional Achievement (2012) and she was the recipient of SAC’s Eve Kassirer Award (2013). As the owner of Penko and Associates Maureen continues to providing services to preschool, school aged children and families.
Eligibility:
SAC communication health assistant associate
Nomination:
S-LPs or audiologists may nominate communication health assistants under their supervision; communication health assistant peers may also nominate, provided the supervising S-LP or audiologist supports the nomination (nominators do not need to be SAC members or associates)
Description:
Awarded to an SAC communication health assistant associate who has demonstrated professional excellence. Some examples of considerations include distinction in assisting speech-language pathologists or audiologists with implementation of treatment plans, materials, outstanding team participation or excellence in the provision of patient and client care.
Andrea Little
Andrea is a graduate of Georgian College’s Communicative Disorders Assistant program in 2013 and obtained a position with Alberta Health Services at the Northwest Health Centre in High Level, Alberta as a Therapy Assistant. Here she worked with a wide range of communication disorders. She moved home to Barrie, Ontario in 2017 and started working for Georgian College with the Communicative Disorders Assistant student led clinic shortly after. From the experience she gained while in Alberta she has been able to apply with her students in the Harmonize for Speech, Hearing and Language Clinic. She is always seeking more information on treatment strategies for all populations and communication disorders as this helps with the success of her students and clients.
Eligibility:
Recognizes the best paper published in the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (within the calendar year). SAC membership is not required.
Nomination:
The CJSLPA Editor selects the top papers, which are then evaluated by the SAC Awards and Recognition Committee.
Description:
Annually recognizes the best paper published in the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. SAC membership is not a requirement. As a result of our recent merger, SAC will be incorporating the two previous OSLA awards, “Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year” and “Audiologist of the Year” as part of our national awards for 2022–2023. This is the last year these awards will be presented and are only available or Ontario SAC members.
“Implementing Evidence-Based Assessment Practices for the Monitoring of Spoken Language Outcomes in Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in a Large Community Program”
Janis Oram Cardy, PhD, S-LP(C)
Dr. Janis Oram Cardy has been researching and supporting children who struggle to learn language for over 25 years. Following completion of clinical training at McGill University, she practiced for nine years as a speech-language pathologist on an interdisciplinary team at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Her PhD in Speech-Language Pathology and CIHR Postdoctoral Fellowship in Imaging Research were completed at the University of Toronto. Janis is currently a Professor and Associate Dean Research at the University of Western Ontario, a Principal Investigator in the National Centre for Audiology, and a Scientist in the Children’s Health Research Institute. In her research, she examines the neural, auditory, and cognitive underpinnings of language development and disorders in children and conducts practice-based research in collaboration with clinicians to improve speech-language supports for preschoolers, including those with hearing loss, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
BJ Cunningham, PhD, SLP(C)
BJ completed her PhD with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum in the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University. She is now an Assistant Professor in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University and Scientist at CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Her program of research is focused on preschoolers’ communicative participation and includes practice-based research and implementation science to improve programs and services for preschoolers with communication difficulties and disorders. This research program was developed after more than 10 years of working clinically as a speech-language pathologist with preschoolers and their families in Ontario’s Preschool Speech and Language (PSL) Program, and in collaboration with PSL Program clinicians, policy makers, and parents. Knowledge is co-created and aimed at informing policy at multiple levels, developing, evaluating and optimizing new service delivery models, and creating evidence-based practices and resource allocation in pediatric speech-language pathology.
Olivia Daub, PhD, S-LP
Dr. Daub is an Adjunct Professor (Research) at the University of Western Ontario and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital Research Institute’s Centre for Practice Changing Research, Integrated Knowledge Translation Research Network. Dr. Daub’s research focuses on partnering with speech-language pathologists and policy makers to develop assessment tools that are equipped to answer clinically relevant questions and feasible to implement in practice. She is particularly interested in understanding how interdisciplinary partnerships identify and negotiate which data should be collected as a part of program evaluation and the decisions that will be made on the basis of these data.
Eligibility:
SAC Ontario member or associate who has demonstrated excellence in the field of speech-language pathology.
Nomination:
SAC member or associate or general public
Description:
To recognize a speech-language pathologist in Ontario who has demonstrated excellence in their field. An award will be given to a speech-language pathologist based on exemplary performance in any one or a combination of the following criteria: leadership, advocacy and research.
Eligibility:
SAC Ontario member or associate who has demonstrated excellence in the field of audiology.
Nomination:
SAC member or associate or general public
Description:
To recognize a speech-language pathologist in Ontario who has demonstrated excellence in their field. An award will be given to a speech-language pathologist based on exemplary performance in any one or a combination of the following criteria: leadership, advocacy and research.
Historical List of SAC Award Winners
(Formerly Lifetime Achievement Award and Eve Kassirer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement; name change effective 2019)
2020 Patricia L. Cleave, Ph. D, S-LP(C)
2021 M. Kathleen Pichora-Fuller
2022 Maureen Penko M.Sc., Reg. S-LP
2015 Not offered
2016 Catriona Steele, PhD, S-LP(C)
2017 Not offered
2018 Judy Meintzer, R.SLP, SLP(C)
2019 Award Discontinued
2000 Debbie Shugar
2001 Walter B. Green
2002 No Nomination
2003 No Nomination
2004 Award discontinued
2004 Mdme. Germaine Huot
2014 The Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children; Virginia Martin, S-LP, M.Sc., MA; Colleen Braun-Janzen, MA, S-LP(C)
2015 Not offered
2016 Gillian Barnes, MA, S-LP(C)
2017 Not offered
2018 Lynne Brewster, PhD, L.S.L.S., Cert. AVT.
2019 Award Discontinued
2016 Kelli deVries, M.Sc., S-LP(C)
2017 Not offered
2018 Aravind Namasivayam PhD, S-LP(C)
2017 Not offered
2018 Aravind Namasivayam PhD, S-LP(C)
2019 Janine Verge, AuD, Aud(C)
2020 Diane Dacquay, RSLP, S-LP(C); Kathleen Kennedy, RSLP, S-LP(C)
2014 Using 1000 Hz Tympanometry in Hearing Screening of Babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
2015 Not offered
2016 The Motor Speech Research Study
2017 Not offered
2018 Not offered
2015 Not offered
2016 Not awarded
2017 Not offered
2018 No Nomination
2022 Andrea Little
2014 ALS Team, The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
2015 Not offered
2016 ISAND
2017 Not offered
2018 Centre for Autism Services Alberta
(Formerly Distinguished Service Award; name change effective with 1998 award)
2014 Stephen and Carol Goff
2015 Not offered
2016 The Elks of Canada
2017 Not offered
2018 No nomination
2014 Swallowing Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute — University Health Network
2015 Not offered
2016 Not awarded
2017 Not offered
2018 Not offered
2018 Susan Rvachew, PhD, S-LP(C); Phaedra Royle, PhD; Laura M. Gonnerman, PhD; Brigitte Stanké, PhD, M.O.A., M.Sc.Math.; Alexandra Marquis, PhD; Alexandre Herbay, PhD candidate
2019 Mathieu Hotton, Ph.D.; François Bergeron Ph.D
2020 Daniela K. O’Neill, Taylor J. Deglint, Ashley McKinnon, Angela Nyhout and Julianne Scott
2021 Jennifer C Wong, MHSc, S-LP(C) Reg. CASLPO
2022 Janis Oram Cardy PhD, S-LP(C), MHSc, Reg. CASLPO; Olivia Daub, PhD, S-LP; BJ Cunnigham PhD, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO
2022 Janis Oram Cardy PhD, S-LP(C), MHSc, Reg. CASLPO; Olivia Daub, PhD, S-LP; BJ Cunnigham PhD, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO
2014 No Winner
2015 Barbara Jane Cunningham, M.Sc., SLP(C), Reg. CASLPO
2016 Elaine Kwok
2017 Michelle Phoenix, M.H.Sc., Reg.CASLPO, PhD Candidate
2018 No Submission
2014 Clayton Fisher (Audiology – University of Western Ontario)
2015 Selena Vermey (Audiology – University of British Columbia)
2016 Janet Kim, M.Sc. (Audiology – Western University)
2017 Katharine Davies, BA, MA, M.Sc. Candidate (S-LP – University of British Columbia)
2018 Eleanor Campbell, BA, M.Sc. candidate
2017 Kelsey Andison, M.Sc., RAUD, RHIP, Aud(C), Jessica Clarke, M.Sc., R.SLP, S-LP(C)
2018 Allison Ames, MSc, R.SLP, S-LP(C); Lewis Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C)
2018 Allison Ames, MSc, R.SLP, S-LP(C); Lewis Smith, M.Sc., Aud(C)
2019 Martine Schlagintweit, Aud(C); Peter T. Cahill, S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO; Jessica Davidson, M.Sc.(A), S-LP(C)
2020 Jessica Niemela, M. Sc., Aud(C); Brianne Senior, M.Sc., RSLP, S-LP(C)
2021 Allison V Robbins, M.Sc., Aud(C); Marissa Woods, BA, MSc, RSLP, S-LP(C); Samaneh (Anna) Yekta, M.Sc, Aud(C)
2014
Sarah E. Wilson, Dalhousie University, Aud.
Heather Elizabeth Beckingham, Dalhousie University, S-LP
Emma Wells, McGill University, S-LP
Julia Esch, University of Alberta, S-LP
Gillian Taylor, University of British Columbia, Aud.
Shanu Kotwal, University of British Columbia, S-LP
Nancy Langlois, Université Laval, S-LP
Julie Roy, Université de Montréal, Aud.
Marie-Claude Sansregret, Université de Montréal, S-LP
Isabelle Mineault-Guitard, University of Ottawa, Aud.
Brittany Mendes, University of Ottawa, S-LP
Leanne Dall, University of Toronto, S-LP
Michael Vekasi, University of Western Ontario, Aud.
Alisha Vaz, University of Western Ontario, S-LP
2015
Laura Hart, Dalhousie University, Aud.
Melissa Mulherin, Dalhousie University, S-LP
Michelle Brouillette, Université Laurentienne, S-LP
Marilyne Joyal, Université Laval, S-LP
Suzanne (Suzy) Read, McGill University, S-LP
Sarah Benetti, University of Alberta, S-LP
Myron Huen, University of British Columbia, Aud.
Katrina Kwan, University of British Columbia, S-LP
Stéphanie Vachon, Université de Montréal, S-LP
Christelle Gagnon, Université d’Ottawa, Aud.
Céline Baracho, Université d’Ottawa, S-LP
Amélie Labeaume, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, S-LP
Krista Howarth, University of Toronto, S-LP
Victoria (Tori) Stone, Western University, Aud.
Jocelyn Hayes, Western University, S-LP
2016
Keith (Kate) Baldoz, audiology program, Dalhousie University
Janine Fitzpatrick, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
Charlotte Guillet, S-LP program, McGill University
Sarah Danielsen, S-LP program, University of Alberta
Stephanie Renaas, audiology program, University of British Columbia
Megan Morrison, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
Maxine Bélanger, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
Kristina Findlay, S-LP program, Université Laval
Alexis Pinsonnault-Skvarenina, audiology program, Université de Montréal
Jordon Thompson, audiology program, University of Ottawa
Alissa Azzimmaturo, S-LP program, University of Ottawa
Karine Bureau, S-LP program, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Ashley Sirko, S-LP program, University of Toronto
Kathryn Toner, audiology program, Western University
Emily Dueck, S-LP program, Western University
2017
Elspeth MacLachlan, audiology program, Dalhousie University
Jenna MacDonald, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
Danielle Huot, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
Cléo Guillemette, S-LP program, Université Laval
Evan Kennedy, S-LP program, McGill University
Kelsey McLaughlin, S-LP program, University of Alberta
Chelsey Michaud, audiology program, University of British Columbia
Jessie Lee, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
Patricia Darche, audiology program, Université de Montréal
Maryse Meunier, S-LP program, Université de Montréal
Emilia Colagrosso, audiology program, Université d’Ottawa
Marie Bellavance-Courtemanche, S-LP program, Université d’Ottawa
Amy Verschuuren, S-LP program, University of Toronto
Darcy Ellen Rick, audiology program, Western University
Kerry Hollingsworth, S-LP program, Western University
2018
Kegan R. Stephen, audiology program, Dalhousie University
Katherine Morin, BMT, MTA, S-LP program, Dalhousie University
Megan George, S-LP program, McGill University
Andrew McCormick, audiology program, Western University
Ayesha L. M. Johnson, S-LP program, Western University
Andrea Lau, M.Sc., S-LP(C), Reg. CASLPO, S-LP program, University of Alberta
Jaime Meunier, audiology program, University of British Columbia
Helena Burrows, S-LP program, University of British Columbia
Valérie Caza, S-LP program, Université Laurentienne
Valérie Coulombe, S-LP program, Université Laval
Francis L’Africain, audiology program, Université de Montréal
Karina Girard Laprise, audiology program, University of Ottawa
Jenna Tremblay-Leger, S-LP program, University of Ottawa
Maréva Savary, S-LP program, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Jenna Haji, S-LP program, University of Toronto