Greg O’Grady is a person who stutters. Greg was born in Gander NL. After retiring in 2017 from the City of Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services Division after a thirty five year career as a senior Manager, Greg returned home to NL and settled with his family in Mount Pearl.  Greg is a strong advocate of stuttering awareness and raising funds for treatment of stuttering. To ‘give back’ to the clinic that successfully treated him for his severe stutter which hadhelped change his life for the better, The Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto, Greg developed, ‘a million things I need to say’ 1K/ 5K Walk and Run for Stuttering Awareness and Fundraiser in 2012. This event is now an annual event. Shortly after relocating to Mount Pearl, Greg expanded and held the 1st NL, ‘a million things I need to say’ 1K/5K Walk and Run for Stuttering Awareness and Fundraiser in 2018. Since the NL event, Greg has been fortunate to work with a passionate and committed Team of volunteers, who through their dedication and desire to bring hope and empowerment to children, adolescents, and adults who stutter, in 2018 founded the Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association (NLSA), a recognized not for profit organization in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Greg’s life’s Mantra is: giving back and paying it forward to the community has no expiration date.

As a speech-language pathologist, Michelle has been working with persons who stutter, of all ages, for more than 20 years. She is currently a partner at Speech Language Pathology Private Practice in St. John’s. Michelle is committed to helping persons who stutter access the supports they need to meet their own personal goals. She is excited to see the difference that the NLSA is already making to increase support for people who stutter (and their families) and awareness of stuttering in our community.

Andrea Power is a Councillor with the City of Mount Pearl. She also works full time at Sunrise Animal Hospital. Andrea became involved with the NLSA when she attended the first annual Walk/Run “A Million Thing I have to Say”. Through conversations with founder Greg O’Grady she developed a great interest in the cause and joined the planning committee for the NLSA Conference being held in November 2019. Andrea is proud to be a founding member this organization and is honoured to serve as a board member. She believes that organizations such as this one foster stronger communities. She also believes that education, awareness and support is vital and will do everything she can to advance the work of the NLSA.

Jon Garcin is a Speech-Language Pathologist who stutters. He is from Corner Brook and currently resides in Springdale Newfoundland where he works in the school system. Jon struggled with stuttering most of his life and received extensive speech therapy in his early 20’s. With the support and guidance of his therapist, undergraduate thesis supervisor, and close family and friends, Jon decided to pursue a career in Speech-Language Pathology. Fluency enhancing techniques work quite well in establishing fluent speech, however “acceptance” is key. “Acceptance” is achieved through the support of family,friends, and other people who stutter. The NLSA is one of the greatest things to happen to the stuttering community in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Allison O’Brien is a person who stutters. She became a founding member and board director of the NLSA to make a difference. Her goals are to increase awareness, education, and respect for people who stutter. To reduce bullying by children, adults, and employers. To make therapy more accessible and to make society more accepting. Not only for her child but for all children. For the next generation of people who stutter and for every child who is different.

My name is Betty Hearn and I am a Board Member of The Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association. When my son was born on October 18, 1982, I discovered that he was tongue tied. Our Doctor at this time, Doctor Tjan, had to surgically clipped his tongue and put tubes in his ear. The next step was to take my son to Speech Therapy at the Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John’s NL. As a mother of a son with a speech impediment, I understand the need for awareness and support for others with communication challenges. As a member of The Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association, I support their Mission of Advocacy and Support for People Who Stutter. This is the reason why I joined.

Ronan Corr has stutter all his life.  He has been in speech therapy for all of his youth.  Taken the Precision Fluency Shaping Program in the late 1990’s proved to be the most successful.  Afterwards, he joined a Person Who Sutter Toastmaster club to help maintain his speech.  Today he is a web developer who enjoys creating Web Sites and helping individuals get their idea online using WordPress.

Ronan helped put together this website along with the websites for the Stutter Walk and Run campaigns.