Meet The Founder:

Halle Demchuk, ​MSc(A), SLP

Halle is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and is a member of Speech Pathology & Audiology Canada (SAC).

Halle is a proud Métis clinician, born and raised in Northwestern Ontario. Halle works extensively with Autistic individuals in the areas of Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC), and Gestalt Language Processing (GLP). In fact, Halle was the first SLP in Northwestern Ontario to be formally trained in GLP!

Her other clinical interests are speech sound disorders, phonological awareness, and working in the far north Indigenous communities she supports (scroll down to learn more about this!).

In her spare time, Halle enjoys camping, hiking, and paddle-boarding with her adventure cat, Beth. Beth occasionally makes appearances in Halle's virtual sessions as well!
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​Halle is registered and licensed to provide services in Ontario. She is providing in-person and virtual services.

A woman (Halle Demchuk) standing on a snowy road at dusk, wearing a gray beanie, black puffer jacket, and dark pants, with a landscape of snow and sparse trees in the background.
HAEPI SLP logo featuring an illustration of a person holding a tablet with the word 'hæpi' displayed on the screen.

The HAEPI SLP Therapy Services team consists of Speech-Language Pathologists (Halle, Megan H., Akayla), Communicative Disorders Assistants (Megan K., Midori, Asma), a Speech Language Assistant with a Music Therapy background (Kaelyn), Occupational Therapists (Ange, Zac), a Social Worker (Madison) and a Creative Manager (Piper). 

Scroll to meet our fast-growing team, and click here to learn more about careers at HAEPI SLP!

SLPs

​Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who have a minimum of a master’s degree in their field. As in any health-care related profession, SLPs are required to study anatomy and physiology, but they also study neuroanatomy, genetics, human and language development, linguistics, psychology, acoustics and more, which is why they are qualified to evaluate, diagnose and treat a broad range of delays and disorders. Clinically, they create and implement individualized treatment plans to help clients improve their communication abilities and overcome challenges related to speech, language, and swallowing.

A woman (Megan Hutchinson) with blonde hair and glasses wearing a bright pink shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

  • Megan Hutchinson is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists in Ontario (CASLPO) and is a member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC). Megan completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology & Concurrent Education at Lakehead University (meaning she is a certified Ontario teacher!), followed by her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at University of Alberta and a Speech & Language certificate from Brock University. In addition to working for HAEPI SLP, Megan works full-time for a tribal council providing fly-in and virtual services to Indigenous communities, and as an Occasional Teacher for the Lakehead Public School Board. Previously, Megan worked with a children’s treatment centre in Thunder Bay providing School-Based Rehabilitation Services, and also at a Health Unit in British Columbia providing early intervention to preschool-age children. Megan was born and raised in Thunder Bay. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, and spend time at the lake.

A woman (Akayla Olajos) with long blonde hair smiling, wearing a striped T-shirt, standing in front of a brick wall.

  • Akayla Olajos is a registered Speech-Language Pathologist with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and a member of Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC). She has experience working with children of all ages in areas such as articulation, language development, literacy, social communication, and more. Akayla began her career with a Preschool Speech and Language Program and now works in private practice, primarily offering virtual care. She also has experience providing fly-in assessment and intervention services to communities in Northern Ontario. Akayla is based in Niagara Falls and, outside of work, enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants and recipes, and spending time outdoors.

CDAs

Communicative disorders assistants (CDAs), under the guidance of speech-language pathologists and/or audiologists, are qualified to provide speech and language therapy to children and adults, and carry out speech/language screenings and hearing screenings and assessments! CDAs receive post-secondary education that provides them with a thorough understanding of physiological and functional speech/language and hearing disorders, and the development of essential programming skills and communication intervention techniques. 

A woman (Asma Asad) with long black hair wearing a pink top standing in front of a brick wall.

  • Asma is a registered Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) with the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC). Asma went to St. Lawrence college for the CDA certificate in 2022 where she won the St. Lawrence College CDAAC Bridging the Communication Gap award. Since graduation, she is working as a full-time virtual CDA serving the individuals across First Nations communities. Asma is originally from Pakistan and has been living in Thunder Bay since 2011. In her spare time, Asma enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves to cook and travel.  

A woman (Megan Kane) with long blonde hair wearing a pink sleeveless sweater, smiling in front of a brick wall.

  • Megan is a registered Communicative Disorders Assistant (CDA) with the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC). Megan was born and raised in Thunder Bay and has worked professionally as a Communicative Disorders Assistant since graduating from Durham College in 2020. She is very passionate about working with youth in her community as well as those using Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC). In her spare time, Megan enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and dogs!

A woman (Midori Hoppe) with straight dark hair smiling in front of a brick wall, wearing a black sleeveless top.

  • Midori is a registered Communicative Disorders Assistant with the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada (CDAAC). Prior to graduating from the CDA program at St. Lawrence College in 2023, she graduated from Trent University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Midori also works for a tribal council providing fly-in and virtual services to Indigenous communities, and is aspiring to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. Midori was born and raised in Kenora, but has spent special holidays in Thunder Bay with family throughout her childhood. In her spare time, Midori loves to spend time on the lake fishing with family. Midori has a love for learning new things and is currently taking up golf! Midori will be accepting evening and weekend clients with HAEPI SLP Therapy Services during the 2023-2024 year. 

OTs

Occupational Therapists (OTs) are Masters-level healthcare professionals (like SLPs!) who work with individuals across the lifespan to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills needed for independent and fulfilling lives. OTs receive comprehensive post-secondary education, equipping them with in-depth knowledge of physical, cognitive, and emotional disorders, as well as the development of crucial therapeutic strategies and adaptive techniques. Under their guidance, clients engage in personalized therapeutic activities designed to enhance their physical, mental, and social well-being.

A woman (Ange Jewett) with long brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black blazer and a purple top, standing in front of a brick wall.

  • Ange is a registered Occupational Therapist (OT) with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) and is a proud Metis clinician, born and raised in Northwestern Ontario. She has been providing OT services to children and families in the district of Thunder Bay since obtaining her Master's degree from the University of Manitoba in 2008. Ange has a passion for providing client-centered, neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and values creating meaningful connections to help children and their families attain their goals. When not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends while taking in the vast beauty of the wilderness in Thunder Bay and surrounding communities, believing that time spent amongst the trees is always time well spent.

A smiling man (Zac McAlpine) with short dark hair and a beard wearing a gray sweatshirt, sitting in front of an exposed brick wall.

  • Zac is an occupational therapist registered and in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. As an occupational therapist working virtually with HAEPI SLP Therapy Services, Zac provides consultations for equipment and recreation recommendations, sensory and psychoemotional health, and self-care strategies to assist clients in becoming more independent. Zac has worked in a Children’s Treatment Centre and remote fly-in Indigenous communities to provide services to autistic clients. He has also practiced on a stroke and spinal cord injury unit and he currently works in motor vehicle collision rehabilitation, serving clients of all ages to collaborate on return to work and/or school. In his spare time, Zac enjoys playing guitar, video games, collecting vinyl punk records, and long distance running. He enjoys meeting clients and families where they are at to incorporate their interests into sessions. 

Social Work, Music-Directed Therapy, and More!

A woman (Madison Hughes) with short brown hair smiling, wearing a light pink top with ruffled sleeves, sitting in front of a brick wall.

  • Madison Hughes is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has a Masters in Social Work from Wilfred Laurier University. Madison’s bundle includes traditional and cultural teachings in Indigegogy as well as mainstream clinical approaches. Along her journey, Madison has been honoured with the spirit name ‘White Star’ and belongs to the Eagle Clan. Madison works with clients to improve their situation, no matter what that is, by empowering individuals and creating a safe place to share. Madison is committed to helping individuals along their personal growth journey towards wholistic wellness. Madison offers a balanced, wise-minded, and solution-focused approach to counselling services. Madison works with kids, teens, and adults/parents in her own private office, and in-home sessions can be arranged upon request. ​

    ​Fun Facts:

    • Madison loves karaoke

    • Loves interactive experiences

    • Has a son with autism

    • Writing a children’s book about autism & neurodiversity

A woman (Kaelyn McCallum) with blonde hair smiling, wearing a light pink T-shirt and a beige jacket, standing in front of a brick wall.

  • Kaelyn is an accredited & board certified music therapist in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. As a Speech Language Assistant with HAEPI SLP Therapy Services, Kaelyn provides music-directed speech therapy treatment. She also knows beginner ASL and can work with children who sign! She loves all things music (of course!), and sharing this love with her clients to help them achieve their goals is her biggest passion. When she is not “musicking,” she enjoys travelling and getting outdoors, creating art, and hanging out with her dogs. 

A smiling woman (Piper Rasmussen) with long blonde hair in a pink top standing in front of a brick wall

  • Meet our Creative Manager! Piper was instrumental in the creation of HAEPI SLP, and was our first official team member. She is in charge of the design and execution of all our branding and digital & social media content, and oversees the development and management of the creative components of HAEPI SLP Therapy Services. Piper was born and raised in Thunder Bay and has worked in various creative roles within the health and wellness industries. She has a degree in Philosophy from Lakehead University, and provides independent creative services to clients internationally (learn more at pjacreative.ca!).