Our Staff
Julie Venhuizen, M.H.Sc., S-LP(C)
Owner & Speech-Language Pathologist
I am a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). I have been registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario since 2004. I received my undergraduate degree in Health Sciences from the University of Western Ontario and moved on to the University of Toronto to obtain my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Since graduating from the University of Toronto I have worked at Lear Communication. As of May 1st, 2016 I was given the amazing opportunity to purchase Lear Communication’s Waterloo clinic and we became Sound Expression Speech and Language Services. I am excited to enter this new stage in my career as both the owner of a business and a practicing SLP.
I work with clients of all ages and I can assist with a wide range of communication difficulties including articulation and motor speech disorders, fluency disorders, voice disorders, language-based learning difficulties, stroke, acquired brain injury, and swallowing disorders. I have experience working in private practice, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and within clients’ home environments.
I am a member of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) and I am certified through the National Association, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC). Some of the highlights of my career have included organizing an advertising campaign for ‘May is Better Speech Language and Hearing Month’ to raise public awareness about the importance of SLPs to support people experiencing communication difficulties. I have also provided education about an SLPs role in treating people with Parkinson’s Disease to the Parkinson’s Support Group of Kitchener as well as provided Communication training and Safe and Effective Feeding training for staff at local long term care facilities. I had my “15 minutes of fame” when I appeared on the local CTV news to talk about voice disorders and stuttering. I invest myself fully in assisting my clients to reach their full potential and I have a genuine interest in their well-being and future successes. If I can help a child say their name correctly when they introduce themselves; help an adult tell their spouse “I love you” following a stroke; or assist a young adult to return to school after a car accident then I have done my job well!
As well as an amazing career, I have been blessed with a beautiful family. I am the busy mother of four young children. I enjoy being active; spending time with friends and family; trying new foods and recipes; and reading.
Annmarie Foster, M.H.Sc.
Speech-Language Pathologist & Marketing Manager
I have been working as a registered speech-language pathologist (SLP) since 2007. I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Health Sciences and obtained my Masters of Health Science from the University of Toronto. Currently, I serve a large caseload of children, teens and adults with diverse speech, language, literacy, fluency, voice and cognitive-communication goals. I have experience working in schools, nursing homes, hospitals, private practice and within multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams.
I am committed to mentoring students, providing community education, and advocating for the profession. I am involved in McMaster University’s career mentoring program, have conducted vocal hygiene and effective voice use seminars for sales trainers, and have lectured Communication and Safe and Effective Feeding Modules for the Restorative Care Education and Training program with the Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging. I have also presented at the Brain Injury Association of Niagara Conference on returning to school after brain injury and have developed a series of informational handouts to assist family physicians in educating their patients on speech and language disorders.
I have a genuine interest in others and their well-being. I am talkative, but also a good listener. I take time to establish good relationships with my clients and help them set achievable goals with functional outcomes making treatment both fun and meaningful. Whether I am supporting a child who is learning to say ‘R’, helping a student understand a school assignment, teaching strategies for fluent execution of a presentation or assisting someone in getting back to work after sustaining a brain injury, I appreciate the unique abilities of the individuals I work with and am rewarded daily by their successes.
I have strong family values and enjoy family tradition. I live an active lifestyle and enjoy traveling, outdoor activities and eating chocolate chip cookies.
Jilienne Reusser,M.Cl.Sc.,S-LP(C)
Speech-Language Pathologist
I feel very lucky to work as a speech-language pathologist. It is truly a privilege to walk with clients and families and be a part of their lives for a short time as they build or rebuild communication and/or swallowing skills. At Sound Expression, I enjoy working with a variety of client populations differing in age, experience and lifestyle.
I completed my undergraduate degree at The University of Waterloo in Biomedical Science and received my Master of Clinical Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University. I also obtained my Bachelor of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. I started working at Lear Communication in 2014 and stayed on as part of the team when we became Sound Expression in May 2016. Before working at Lear I worked in acute care at Cambridge Memorial Hospital treating patients with swallowing difficulties.
In addition to my work with Sound Expression, I am employed with Care Partners, working with patients and families in their homes who have experienced a stroke. I enjoy the variety of settings I currently work in, including the office, client’s homes, long-term care homes, hospitals and the community.
I am a member in good standing with The College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO), Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC), The Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) and the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT). I am Hanen certified for “It Takes Two to Talk”, a family centred approach to language learning for children. I have completed Level 1 and 2, post-graduate courses in Cognitive-Communication Disorders in addition to a variety of other continuing education courses.
In my time outside of work I enjoy being active and outdoors, having coffee with friends, and spending time with my family!
Mary Hiltz, B.A.
Communicative Disorders Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator
I am a Communicative Disorders Assistant and a registered member of The Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. I received my undergraduate degree in Linguistics and Developmental Psychology from Carleton University. At Georgian College, I received the Communicative Disorders Assistant post-graduate certificate. I have also taken courses of interest through the University of Waterloo and Cape Breton University. A lifelong learner, I have had the opportunity to learn through volunteer experiences, with both adults and children. My volunteer experiences have helped to shape the person I am professionally and personally, and so I am thrilled to have the role of Volunteer Coordinator at Sound Expression.
Before joining the team at Sound Expression, I worked in Nova Scotia for a few years primarily in the preschool population, gaining much experience in all areas of speech and language development. I have worked on a team that provided rehabilitation for individuals following a stroke and spent a few years as a facilitator of an Aphasia group.
In my free time, I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen, enjoy being outside snowshoeing or hiking, reading, and playing piano or guitar. I love to travel, which is how I ended up living in Nova Scotia for the past two years after falling in love with the East Coast on a trip! I am happily home now though, and enjoying spending time with my family and friends. Joining the team at Sound Expression is exciting to me as I look forward to a varied caseload that involves constantly learning and adapting to help each individual reach their functional goals. I strive to help clients feel confident using their strategies while having fun, and feel empowered to reach their goals.
Laura Brooks, M.Sc.
Speech-Language Pathologist
I am a registered Speech-Language Pathologist with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and am a member of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA). I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo in the Health Studies, Coop program, where I first encountered Speech-Language Pathology while working in an Acquired Brain Injury Day Program. After my undergraduate degree, I completed a Master of Science in Public Health and Health Systems at the University of Waterloo. During that degree, I investigated the experiences of patients as they transitioned through the Canadian health care system. I then completed my Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at McMaster, and began working in a collaborative therapy centre focused on providing services for autistic students and children with developmental disability or genetic differences. I am thrilled to now be a part of the Sound Expression team!
I’ve always loved working with people. Every day is different, meaningful, and fun! Working as a Speech-Language Pathologist allows me to hear a person’s story, understand what is important in their life, and apply current research to create the most relevant and functional therapy plan for each individual that I work with. I strive to work with people to create goals that are relevant to their lives, supported by their strengths, and incorporate activities they enjoy.
Supporting development and rehabilitation of communication skills is such a rewarding experience and there is nothing better than seeing an individual’s progress toward their goals. Communication is such an important part of day-to-day life. I feel so lucky to work with people of all ages in accomplishing their communication goals.
When I’m not working, I enjoy getting outside, staying active, spending time with friends and family, and painting.