The Stars of ISTAR 2018

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R A T IS 2018

f o s r a t S e Th

ISTAR is an institute of the


Message from the Clinic Director Throughout my 24 years at ISTAR, I have worked as a clinician, clinic ­coordinator, clinical director and acting executive director. In April 2018, I took on a new role as clinic director. I am pleased to continue to be a part of ISTAR’s past, present and future, and I look forward to an exciting year of new initiatives and growth opportunities. During the year, our staff have had the privilege of meeting clients who need our help, training Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology students and clinicians in our Comprehensive Stuttering Program, contributing to the

Institute for Stuttering Treatment and ­Research

field of speech-language pathology through research, and recognizing our donors and volunteers for their support. We celebrate the successes of the clients who complete ­extended ­treatment here at ISTAR and through our distance therapy ­programs, and those who

Suite 1500, College Plaza 8215 112 Street Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8

attend intensive and refresher clinics. Although I have seen our clients graduate from therapy many times, I am always in awe of the courage ­ that they demonstrate throughout treatment, the trust they place in our ­program, and the hard work and determination they put toward improving

T: 780-492-2619 E: istar@ualberta.ca W: istar.ualberta.ca The Stars of ISTAR 2018

their c ­ ommunication skills. We at ISTAR are so blessed to have such steadfast support in our ISTAR Executive Council, Foundation of ­ISTAR, and our many donors and volunteers. The work these people do to help ISTAR live its mission and vision is inspirational and so valued. We are truly grateful. The financial support of our donors is vital to our existence. We thank each and every one of you!

Managing Editor, Copy Editor and Writer Amanda McCarthy

Please enjoy reading these stories and know that all of you have played an important role in supporting ISTAR. Sincerely,

Copy Editor Sheila Graham

Holly Lomheim, Clinic Director

Designer Scotty Lee Offset Design

Message from the ISTAR Foundation Chair All of us come to this work with different backgrounds, but all of us are ­motivated by a passionate desire to see the amazing work that ISTAR does

Artwork Dimonika / stock.adobe.com

for children, teens and adults. Through advocacy and community engagement, the foundation r­aises awareness and resources to support ISTAR as a globally recognized c ­ entre for

Photography Craig Soars Iconium Inc. Megan Voss Bethany Hartman Matthieson & Hewitt Photographers

research and treatment of stuttering and other communication ­challenges. Our vision is that communities will be inspired to support ­transforming the lives of those who stutter or have other communication challenges. This October, we will be hosting a fundraiser to support ISTAR’s Client ­Assistant Program and to celebrate International Stuttering Awareness Day. The foundation is a strong and engaged board comprised of the following members: • Michael Niven, Chair

• Craig Pilgrim, Vice-Chair

• Nazir Kassamali, Treasurer

• Julia Boberg, Director

• Gail Burke, Director

• Mark Burke, Director

• Lars Christensen, Director

• Shamez Kassam, Director

• Nick Henger, Director, Alberta Elks Foundation Representative The Foundation of ISTAR is excited to fulfill its mission, and we look forward to talking to and meeting with many of you. Sincerely, Michael B. Niven, Q.C., Foundation of ISTAR Chair

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ISTAR: Making every voice matter Talking on the phone, ordering your favourite food, saying your own name—all relatively simple tasks that we do on a ­day-to-day basis. But for over 300,000 Canadians, this is not a reality. ­Individuals who stutter or are experiencing communication challenges struggle to use their voices each and every day. ISTAR can help. The Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR) ­offers specialized treatment to children, teens and adults who stutter. In addition, we conduct research into stuttering, offer advanced ­professional training for speech-language p ­ athology students and clinicians, and promote public a ­wareness of ­stuttering and its t­ reatment. We are committed to ensuring that people who stutter are aware of treatment options and that they have an opportunity to receive the treatment they need. Our programs have been developed over many years of research and experience, and therapy is designed to meet ­ ­individual needs. We strive to make treatment as accessible as possible, and in some cases, may be able to offer therapy at a distance for those who ­cannot come to the clinic.

More than

Clients range in age from

2 to 82 80

Programs

Stuttering Therapy, Communication Improvement Program (CIP), Accent ­Modification, Teasing and Bullying (TAB), Telehealth and more

Over publications on ­stuttering and speech

3,500

clients impacted to date Two offices:

Edmonton Calgary 3


Around the world in 21 days: Buddhist monk makes the journey to find his voice Sixteen-year-old Drupon, who was afraid to speak, is now able to control his speech In a Northeast town in India, there lived a boy who couldn’t speak clearly. He would stammer, stumbling over words in English, Hindi, Sikkimese and Tibetan. So much so, that before the age of 13, he preferred not to talk at all. Drupon Deachen Rinpoche, who is a Buddhist monk destined to lead his monastery, has many responsibilities. He conducts classes, debates and lectures—all of which were nearly impossible given his

His first stop was London, England. Then he travelled to ­Canada, making an appearance in Toronto before finally landing in ­Edmonton—at ISTAR. “My first day at ISTAR, I was quite nervous,” said Rinpoche. “When I had to introduce myself, I couldn’t.” When he couldn’t avoid speaking, Rinpoche often pinched himself

speech challenges.

or stomped his foot—something he found eased the stutter.

“It was becoming a big problem for me because I couldn’t talk. Even if I had a question about my studies and my classes, I couldn’t ask.”

But this is no longer the case.

But everything changed on March 16, 2016, when family doctor and friend John Barnhill emailed the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR) on Rinpoche’s behalf. “My speech-language pathologist colleague recommended your service for a 16-year-old boy I have met in India. Please recommend where we could investigate treating his stutter—perhaps online with ISTAR?” the correspondence read. From there, the journey began. A journey that posed the question: ‘to what length would a person go to find their voice?’ For 16-year-old Rinpoche, that length was equal to a w ­ hopping 11,677 km.

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Photo: 16-year-old Drupon Deachen Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk, traveled all the way from India to ISTAR in order to regain confidence in his speaking abilities.

After just three weeks receiving treatment at ISTAR, Rinpoche’s stutter started to fade. No pinching, no stomping, just smooth ­ speech. “I don’t stammer a lot anymore. After learning fluency skills, I have success in controlling my speech.” And for that, he is grateful. “It is very important for a place like ISTAR to exist. I am very ­thankful to the therapists for helping me out with my stutter, and I hope they can help many more people. I have found my voice!”


Photo: Shubham Chadha and ISTAR staff at the second annual ISTAR Family Fun Day.

Talking about talking: Clients, clinicians share ­stuttering stories during event at West Edmonton Mall Second annual ISTAR Family Fun Day teaches children, adults about speech challenges currently being faced by over 300,000 Canadians Since the age of six, Shubham Chadha has been dealing with a stutter. In school, he was quiet—shy. While reading aloud in front of his class or in group settings, he was often teased about his speech. It wasn’t until Shubham was nine that his parents finally decided it was time to get help. “A speech-language pathologist did an initial analysis on him in 2015, and that’s when she decided he needed to be referred to ISTAR,” said Shubham’s mother, Preeti Chadha. “I was a bit stressful in the beginning as we were worried it would impact his future, career and studies. But with the support of ISTAR, things started to get better and we saw him developing his speech and enjoying the treatment.”

“Shubham is receiving treatment for the second time since 2015 with ISTAR,” said Preeti. “It’s going great and we are very thankful to ISTAR for accommodating sessions with us over Skype.” ISTAR, an institute of the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, offers specialized treatment to ­ ­ children, teens and adults who stutter, either in-person or through conferencing technology. And with so many individuals still ­ experiencing speech impairments, their goal is to constantly ­ ­promote awareness of stuttering and its treatment. “We were very happy to be a part of this event so we could help raise awareness of stuttering and its impact,” said Preeti. “ISTAR is such a great place to receive stuttering treatment. They make their sessions fun and encouraging for clients.”

Things have gotten so much better that Shubham and Preeti are now ambassadors for ISTAR and its programs. They were on hand on Saturday, May 12 during the Institute for Stuttering T ­ reatment and Research’s (ISTAR) second annual ISTAR Family Fun Day at the West Edmonton Mall Centre Stage from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to teach the public about stuttering and other c ­ ommunication ­ disorders. The free event, in honour of Speech and Hearing ­ Awareness Month, f­eatured interactive booths, pictures with ­princesses and ­superheroes, and cookie decorating. More importantly, it p ­ rovided children, adults and families the opportunity to learn about ­challenges that are ­currently being faced by many people around the world.

These ‘fun’ sessions are something that Shubham has been ­benefitting from greatly.

The same challenges that Shubham has to face and overcome ­every day.

If you or your child are experiencing speech issues, visit istar.­ualberta.ca

“I am now calm and am able to speak better than before, with much less stuttering in my speech,” said Shubham. Calm, effective speech is something ISTAR is hoping to achieve with their annual awareness events—and is something Preeti has seen develop in her son. “He has improved considerably in his speech and feels more ­confident while talking. And it’s all thanks to ISTAR.”

to book an assessment.

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“I want to make a ­difference in someone’s life” ISTAR client turned volunteer finds passion for speech-language pathology Since the age of eight, Hannah Sysak has known first-hand what it’s like to not be able to use her voice. She, like more than 300,000 other Canadians, has a stutter. But there’s something special about Hannah. Not only has she been a client at the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research ­(ISTAR), she’s also been a volunteer—using her personal ­knowledge to help those still taking part in stuttering programs. And to give back to the institute that gave her a voice. “I started treatment at ISTAR when I was 15,” explains Hannah. “My father’s cousin was doing her placement as a speech-language ­pathologist at the institute and she recommended it to us. I had been getting some treatment from a local speech therapist in my hometown, but it wasn’t as intensive as ISTAR.” Hannah received treatment at ISTAR on-and-off until she was 21. Now 24, she is using her newly minted speech tactics to help out where she can. “When I finished my therapy, I knew I still wanted to be involved with ISTAR somehow. That’s when I got into volunteering.” As a volunteer, Hannah was able to use her experience with ­stuttering to help other clients bolster their skills and become b ­ etter communicators by assisting them with their speech exercises.

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Photo: 24-year-old Hannah Sysak went to ISTAR to receive treatment. While she came out with a repository of valuable speech tactics that now allow her to use her voice, she also left with the drive to help others like herself.

“One of my volunteering duties was to help clients practice their phone skills. So I would be on one end and they would be on the other, and we would go through different phone scenarios,” said Hannah. “It’s really cool being able to see a client talk one month and then see how far they’ve come in the next month. You can really hear the difference. You can see that it makes an impact.” With Hannah going through therapy herself, and then w ­ itnessing the change in other clients’ speech, it was all she needed to take the next step in having a bigger impact in the lives of those with speech challenges—enrolling in the MSc Speech-Language ­ Pathology ­program in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine for the 2018 year. “Being someone who received speech therapy myself and knowing how debilitating it can be, and how great it feels when you can finally speak, I want to do that for someone else—I want to make a difference in someone’s life.” Especially if that someone happens to be an ISTAR client. “I’d like to go back to ISTAR someday, at the end of my degree. But this time, I want to be the one helping clients find their voices.”


Learning (and shining) among the stars Speech-language pathologist reminisces on her time at ISTAR and how it helped her become the clinician she is today In the midst of an u ­ ndergraduate degree, Bethany Hartman had no idea ISTAR would soon play a big role in her professional life. In fact, she didn’t even know the clinic existed. Her strong interest in ­ fluency led her to the Organization of Alberta Students in Speech ­ (OASIS) conference where she came f­ace-to-face with a new opportunity. “I attended the OASIS conference during my undergraduate degree where ISTAR had a booth set up,” Hartman explained. “I chatted with representatives about who and what ISTAR was. I was able to learn all about the great placement and volunteer ­opportunities. I really looked forward to the chance to apply for a placement with them if/when I got into the MSc Speech-Language Pathology ­program.” Two members of Hartman’s family stutter. However, stuttering was not something that was often or easily discussed. She found ­herself growing more curious—what exactly is a stutter? This was ­something she hoped she could find the answer to at ISTAR with the help of a placement.

While Hartman loved the work she got to do at ISTAR, it was the people that really made her experience shine. “My favourite part about this placement was the clients and ­clinicians. The program is fast-paced and intense, but you feel like a family after just a few hours on the first day. It was remarkable to reflect back on the first time we met our clients on day one and compare to how we all had grown by day 15. I wanted to be a speech-language pathologist to help people communicate in the best way possible, and this experience has ­ showed me how to do that. The transformations I witnessed were amazing.” Now that she’s well into her career, Hartman believes the skills and experience she gained at ISTAR helped make her the ­speech-language pathologist she is today. “As I complete my first full year of working, I often find m ­ yself reflecting on my experience and am truly thankful for the ­ opportunity I had to grow and learn at such a prestigious ­ research-oriented place. I highly recommend that other speech ­ students consider completing a placement at ISTAR.

To her delight, she got exactly what she’d hoped.

Everyone there is dedicated to providing the best support and therapy to the people who walk through their doors, whether they be volunteers, future clients or doe-eyed clinicians who don’t really know what’s in store for them. The people at ISTAR are truly one of its greatest assets.”

“ISTAR was the third and last of my external placements for my graduate degree. I spent four weeks learning how to identify and count stutters, how to teach and explain some of the causes and processes of stuttering, how to structure and plan a therapy ­session and treatment plan, and so much more.”

Photo: Bethany Hartman, who has been working as a speech-language pathologist for over a year, credits ISTAR with giving her valuable skills needed to help individuals with ­communication challenges.

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New space, new ­confidence: ISTAR Calgary clinic ­expanding to ­continue helping those who stutter Nine-year-old Daniel used to have ‘bumpy’ speech. But thanks to ISTAR, he can now speak with ease. Talking, gabbing, chatting—what should be an easy task for many of us was holding Daniel Hoffart back from living his life. In January 2016, the Hoffart family realized that Daniel had a ­stutter. Speaking became so difficult for the seven-year-old that his ­mother, Tricia, started to fear nothing would correct it. That’s when she found the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research—and that’s when everything, including Daniel’s speech, became much more hopeful. “It was hard to get my words out. It was very frustrating. L ­ uckily, kids never bothered me about it but it was just so frustrating,” ­explained Daniel. Even Tricia started to feel the frustration, and that’s when she knew her son needed help.

“We noticed it subtly at home for the first while, assuming it was ­related to stress as it started almost immediately after ­finding out that he may require tonsil and/or adenoid surgery that f­ollowing summer,” said Tricia. “We hoped it would just dissipate but it ­ worsened quite rapidly. It went from occasional disfluency to ­ ­multiple ‘bumps’ in every sentence. He struggled to get through almost any sentence without disfluency in up to three different words.” But now, at the age of nine, Daniel has no trouble speaking his mind. On Friday, April 27, Daniel proudly shared his story at the ­ISTAR Calgary office’s grand opening. The event, which started at ­ 11:00 a.m. at the University of Alberta’s Calgary Centre, featured lunch, tours and a chance for guests to talk about their positive ­experiences with ISTAR. With more room to treat clients, the new space will allow ISTAR’s Calgary branch to expand and be better equipped to help clients like Daniel.

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Photo: Daniel Hoffart and his mom Tricia presenting at the ISTAR Calgary grand opening.

“Our sessions at ISTAR were like coaching sessions, enabling me to learn and practice the skills I needed to help my son, as the bulk of the work happened at home,” said Tricia. “We had to carve out time every day to work together, focusing on his fluency as we increased the complexity of the activities.” Although treatment wasn’t always conducted in a clinical ­setting, Tricia appreciates the time, effort and care put into her son’s ­treatment plan. “One of the things that I appreciated most about Daniel’s treatment program was that it empowered me to help my ­ son. ­ Our ­ speech-language pathologist, Elizabeth, provided the ­support, modelling, tools, and guidance that I needed in order to be able to help Daniel regain his ability to clearly and confidently ­communicate. That’s huge.”

“After treatment I saw Daniel return to his previous level of ­confidence, to be more comfortable speaking with people,” said ­Tricia. “I do think that ISTAR is a very valuable resource for ­people who stutter. It is my opinion that working with a team who has ­enhanced knowledge in stuttering assessment and treatment l­ikely helped to facilitate faster remission of Daniel’s symptoms. I am ­extremely grateful for the support that ISTAR has given us. More space allows for more opportunities to grow the service, whether that be more clients, more therapists, or more ­opportunities for group work. It’s very exciting.”

For more information about the ISTAR Calgary branch, visit istar.ualberta.ca.

And thanks to a bigger, more modern space, other clients will soon be able to exude confidence as well.

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“I felt like I was given a new chance at life” For 15 years, Colette Fournier has been ­giving back to the program that led her on the path to success

Photo: Colette Fournier with her husband and two sons.

For many years, Colette Fournier struggled with speech issues. She brought her stutter with her to elementary, junior high and high school, and it clung to her for two years during university.

Fournier continued to use her skills for three years while in the RCMP, but ultimately moved on to pursue her dream job—­something she could finally do now that she had the confidence to use her voice.

But now, her struggle is just a distant memory. Her new life as a client turned donor is a tribute to the hardships she overcame with the help of ISTAR.

In 1997, she was accepted into the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine and completed her medical degree in 2001. She went on to pursue her family medicine residency in 2003, ­followed by emergency medicine in 2010.

“I’m very passionate about ISTAR due to the huge impact it has had on my life. I wanted to give back to the program that was such a critical part of my story.” Her biggest challenge began when she was offered and accepted a position with the RCMP in Regina, Saskatchewan. With her career on the line, she decided enough was enough. “My speech controlled me—I had absolutely no control over it. As a result, I was very self-conscious for all of my school years,” F ­ ournier explained. “I ran into some fluency difficulty during my RCMP ­training program in Regina. My speech was identified as a red flag and I feared it would hold me back from graduating.” Although the stutter was uncomfortable and often times ­stressful, she never expected it to have such a severe impact on her ­professional life. That’s when she decided to seek help from a speech-language ­pathologist, who recommended her to ISTAR. “I entered the intensive program at ISTAR and it was life-changing,” said Fournier. “I can now communicate with the knowledge and skills to control my speech in most situations.”

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“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I would not be able to practice as a physician without my ISTAR training.” Now that Fournier is no longer controlled by her disfluency, she wants to make sure that others who may be going through the same thing she went through are able to get the treatment they need—something she has been doing for the past 15 years. “I started donating to ISTAR on a monthly basis once I was ­working as a full-time physician. I believe everyone who stutters should be given the opportunity to receive treatment and find their voice without financial barriers.” She hopes that others will follow in her footsteps and donate to the programs, whether it be financial or through the gift of time. “I would encourage anyone who is able to donate to ISTAR. Many stutterers suffer in silence. They deserve to be heard.”


CONTACT: John Voyer 780-248-5781 | jvoyer@ualberta.ca Tax receipts will be issued from the University of Alberta for donations over $20


Photo: ISTAR Research Director Torrey Loucks conducts a study with a participant.

Raising voices with ­research At ISTAR, we offer specialized treatment to children, teens and adults who stutter and struggle with other communication ­challenges. We also conduct research into the cause of stuttering and how it can be treated most effectively. Research conducted at the institute is fundamental to one ­overarching goal: helping clients speak clearly and with confidence. Here is a snapshot of the current research taking place at ISTAR that is helping clients raise their voices:

Speech Movement Variability This speech production study looks at the benefit of ­ stuttering t­reatment. We are measuring speech movement variability in ­persons who stutter over the age of 16. A motion tracking ­camera is used to follow the facial movements during speech. We ­collect speech movement data at the beginning of treatment and at the end of treatment. We hope to recruit clients involved in the ­intensive program and the weekly program, but we are also ­looking for ­individuals who have never stuttered. The study takes about 45 minutes to complete.

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Decision Making and Stuttering Treatment This study assesses the relationship between mental processes and stuttering treatment outcomes. Executive function is related to how people make decisions and process information. We will use this ­information on how people who stutter make decisions in r­elation to treatment outcomes in order to improve the ­effectiveness of treatment. The study takes about 70 minutes to complete.

Inhibition and Stuttering This study tests how people inhibit or refrain from moving. The ­ability to refrain from moving is just as vital as making a ­movement. There is research suggesting that stuttering could involve a ­difference in how speech is inhibited. We will be testing inhibition in people who stutter over the next year. The study takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Interested in furthering our research at ISTAR? Volunteer to p ­ articipate in a study at bit.ly/ISTARstudies.


“Buy Bobby a puppy”: Bilabial sounds could be key to unlocking speech variability in stutterers New ISTAR study looking at whether speech therapy reduces movement variability in stuttering A new study from the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and ­Research (ISTAR) is looking at whether or not stuttering ­treatment actually changes the way a person speaks by reducing the ­variability of speech. While stuttering is defined as a communication challenge that c ­ auses the flow of speech to be broken up in repetitions, prolongations, or abnormal stoppages of sounds and syllables, ­ there’s still no explanation for why it develops. As the newly appointed research chair in stuttering, Torrey Loucks is determined to make a breakthrough. “We know that the opposite of stuttering is fluency. So what makes fluency? What makes speech flow easily?” There are many factors that play into a person’s stuttering—­ environment and physical make-up being two of the most prominent—but there’s still no definitive answer as to why they ­ make a person more prone to developing this speech challenge.

Photo: A new study from the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research (ISTAR) looks at variabilities in speech when it comes to people who stutter.

allows the person’s speech movements to be tracked. Once the participant has been set up, they are given various ­bilabial—‘b’ and ‘p’ sounding—words and sentences to repeat. Some of the sentences and words are familiar to the English ­language, such as ‘buy Bobby a puppy,’ while others are just pseudo-words that test novel speech combinations. “The speech movements are the source of variability. So when you track the movements of speech articulators, such as the upper and lower lip and jaw, you can find these variabilities in the movements themselves. You wouldn’t be able to find these just by recording a person’s speech,” Loucks explained. “By using the bilabial words— some real, some not—we introduce complicated speech patterns that are often seen in a person who stutters. They have a hard time with ‘b’ and ‘p’ sounds.” What Loucks is hoping to see is whether or not speech i­ntervention decreases the variability when a person is using their most ­preferred or natural way of speaking—whether the therapy is changing the speech system itself.

But Loucks wants that to change. “We’re looking at people who stutter as well as people who do not,” said Loucks. “We want to know what exactly causes ­stuttering so we can get closer to finding the best way to manage it and, ­ultimately, to eliminate it.” The study uses state-of-the-art motion tracking technology based on infrared light emitters that attach to the participant’s face. This

“We know if we teach a person to speak in certain ways, it will ­reduce stuttering but it may not feel natural for them. There will be times when they use these therapy skills and other times when they switch back to the way they prefer to speak, which feels more ­normal to them. In this study, we want to know if therapy also ­benefits their typical or preferred speaking style,” explained Loucks. “Therapy is making a change in their speech system but we want to extend the benefit to every speaking interaction.”

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Hello

Smooth Talk

Goodbye

2017-2018 AT A GLANCE ISTAR welcomed Ashley Saunders in November 2017.

ISTAR said goodbye to clinician Jacqueline Quittenbaum and ­executive director Dr. Anwar Haq.

Ashley, who is joining us as our newest clinician, completed her Bachelor of Arts with a major in Speech and Language Sciences at Brock University in 2010. She then completed a post-graduate certificate in the Communicative Disorders Assistant Program at Georgian College in 2012, followed by a Master of Science in ­Education at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York in 2017.

Jacqueline started as a clinician at ISTAR in 2008. She was a ­valuable addition to our team and worked with clients of all ages, delivering stuttering and speech therapy. She trained students in our intensive clinics and participated in conducting research. She made a lasting impression on both our team and her clients. Dr. Haq served as our executive director. Although our time with him was brief, the impact he had on our staff, clients, donors and friends was immense. His optimism and passion for the work that we do was evident to everyone with whom he interacted.

Ashley has clinical experience working with clients ranging from preschool-age to adulthood, and with a variety of c ­ ommunication challenges and disorders. At ISTAR, Ashley works with individuals through the Communication Improvement Program (CIP), as well as with children, teens, and adults who stutter.

We thank both of these talented and dedicated individuals for their service to ISTAR and to our clients.

$183,927.62

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11

420

donated to support stuttering research and treatment

students completed clinical placements

students completed ­research placements

clients received treatment (408 Canadians and 12 international)

Congratulations to the following scholarship recipients: Lindsay Ferguson from the University of ­Alberta (Elks & ­Royal P ­ urple Fund for Children Scholarship), B ­ ethany ­Hartman from the U ­niversity of Alberta (­Deborah Kully/­Alberta Elks F ­ oundation ­Scholarship in S ­ tuttering Treatment and Research), Elysia ­Saundry from the ­ University of Toronto (Deborah Kully/­ ­ Alberta Elks Foundation ­ ­ Scholarship in Stuttering Treatment and Research), and Anna ­Tendera from ISTAR (Dr. ­ Einer Boberg/Alberta Elks ­ Foundation ­ Memorial Graduate Award in Stuttering Treatment and Research).

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ISTAR participated in Pink Shirt Day, the 2nd ­Annual ­ISTAR ­Family Fun Day, the O ­ ASIS student ­conference, and the U ­ niversity of Alberta Open House.

The ISTAR Calgary clinic made its official move to the University of Alberta – Calgary Centre on ­September 23, 2017. The grand opening was celebrated in April 2018.


! U O Y K N A H T For over 32 years, donors have been making a difference in the lives of ISTAR clients. Children, teens and adults have been able to receive much-needed fluency treatment thanks to the generous gifts we receive.

A BIG THANK YOU also goes out to our dedicated volunteers for making this past year a great success.

— April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018 —

$20,000 - $100,000

Alderliesten, Hans & Jannie

Castor Elks Lodge #138

Benjamin, Marc & Laurie

Clendenning, Paul

Bentley Royal Purple Lodge #264

Crowsnest Pass Elks Lodge #584

Big Valley Elks Lodge #147

Crowsnest Pass Royal Purple Lodge #159

$5,000 - $19,999

Block, Garth & Paula

Delia Elks Lodge #489

Boser, Kelvin & Callista

Edgerton Royal Purple Elks Lodge #224

Calgary Elks Lodge #4

Camrose Royal Purple Lodge #49

Edmonton Elks Lodge #11

Dr. Geoff B Marshall Medical Imaging Professional

Caroline Elks Lodge #353

Edson Elks Lodge #87

Chauvin Elks Lodge #261

Elk Point Elks Lodge #460

Ranelletti Family Foundation Inc.

Connelly, Phil & Kirsteen

Felts, Dennis

Realtors® Community Foundation (Edmonton & area)

Cormack, Robert

Gardner, Greg & Nancy

Sexsmith Royal Purple Elks Lodge #266

Drayton Valley Elks Lodge #391

Green, Marie

Elk Point Elks Lodge #460

Hall, Lisa

Ferguson-Pel, Dr. Martin

Hebb, Kevin & Fran De Beer

Fort Saskatchewan Royal Purple Lodge #212

Holowaychuk, Dennis

Grande Prairie Elks Lodge #285

Kirscht, Shannon

Greenberg, Sheila

Kowton, Sue

Hughes, Dr. David G.

Lee, Laurie

K J Roofing

Living Sounds Hearing Centre Ltd.

Knight, Dr. Brian & Mary

Madill, Helen

Lawson, Ronald (Professor Emeritus)

Manning Elks Lodge #286

Leduc Elks Lodge #156

McLennan Royal Purple Lodge #62

Lloydminster Royal Purple Lodge #105

Moore, Gordon

Mannville Royal Purple Elks Lodge #205

Murray, Dr. Frederick

Matwichuk, Kendra

Okotoks Elks Lodge #31

McAdam, Mitch

Pashniak, Lisa

Mosley, Bryan

Pietrusik, Celina

Myrnam Royal Purple Lodge #242

Pietrusik, Donna

Olds Elks Lodge #100

Rapp, Cristine

Orlecky, Loretta

Reid, Laural

Pill, Jaan

Rogers, Alex

Rosalind Elks Lodge #209

Ross, John

Rowlett, James

Saunders, Rose

Sherwood Park Elks Lodge #481

School District No. 27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin)

Shulko, Tyra

Shaw, Blair & Marie

Stanford, Henry & Dr. Lois

Somogyi, George & Judith

Superfluity Shop

St. Albert Elks Lodge #585

The Dinner Optimist Club of Edmonton

Stawnichy’s Meat Processing

Trochu Royal Purple Lodge #71

Swanson, Leonard & Ruby

Warner Elks Lodge #222

Trenville Royal Purple Elks Lodge #248

Warner Royal Purple Elks Lodge #72

Trochu Elks Lodge #168

Whimsical Cake Studio

Vermilion Elks Lodge #131

Williams, Barb

Voyer, John & Lee

Alberta Elks Foundation The Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children

Corporation

$1,000 - $4,999 Acme Royal Purple Elks #103 Alberta District #14 Elks Associazione Trevisani Nel Mondo (Edmonton) Bara, Dr. Barry & Sheelagh Barrhead Elks Lodge #332 Bhayat, Dr. Qudsiyyah Boberg, Julia Bougher, Carolyn Breton Elks Lodge #42 Butte Elks Lodge #268 Cameco Corporation Carstairs Elks Lodge #556 Delburne Elks Lodge #206 Desaulniers, Dr. Pierre Eaglesham Royal Purple Lodge #318 Edmonton Community Foundation Flynn, Dr. Peter Halkirk Elks Lodge #361 High Prairie Elks Lodge #279 Hythe Royal Purple Elks Lodge #106 Johnston, Dr. David & E. Jun Johnston, Gord Kinnon, Tony Kully-Martens, Deborah Marshall, Geoff & Dr. Colette Fournier Marshall Michael B. Niven Professional Corp Pilger, Richard & Marion Rumbold, Arnold & Grace Sexsmith Royal Purple Lodge #266 Stavely Elks Lodge #112 Stettler Royal Purple Lodge #60

$50 - $249

Vegreville Elks Lodge #143

Andreasen, Jamie

Von Niebelshutz, Alex & Lisa Rossi

Barons Elks Lodge #224

Wightman, Laird

Beaverlodge Elks Lodge #249

$250 - $999 Agrium Inc. Ahorro, Nathania Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan

Warren, Douglas Wiegand, Derek Wiens, Dr. Douglas Wilson, Ester Zalmanowitz, Connie

Bell, John Benson, Tiegan Bercov, Marcia Bloomer, Vaughan Camparelli, Diana

We would also like to thank all of our planned gift donors who included ISTAR in their wills in 2017-2018.

15


! s U n Joi

Two Good Knights: The Music of Tom Jones and Elton John — Hosted by the Foundation of ISTAR —

Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Mayfield Dinner Theatre 16615 109 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB

Help raise awareness for ISTAR and celebrate International Stuttering Awareness Day by attending Two Good Knights—an evening of scotch and wine ­tasting, raffle-style games, a dinner buffet, and, of course, the music of Sir Tom Jones and Sir Elton John. Ticket sales will help support ISTAR, and more specifically, the Client Assistance Program, which helps provide treatment to those in need so they can speak with confidence and without fear.

Support ISTAR: bit.ly/2KnightsInfo

We hope to see you there!


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