ACO Staff
Gillian Gailey, Executive Director
Gillian, is a Speech Language Pathologist and co-founder of Aphasia Centre of Ottawa. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto (M.H. Sc Speech Language Pathology 1983) and is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists of Ontario. Gillian has been the Executive Director of ACO since its inception in 1990 and has devoted her career to ensuring families in the Ottawa region have access to the support of an Aphasia Centre. She has led the development of a wide range of services facilitating recovery of full potential and long term support for individuals and families living with chronic aphasia.
Joanne Winckel, Co-Director of the Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Program
Joanne is a bilingual speech-language pathologist with undergraduate degrees in Biology and Education, and a Master of Health Sciences from the University of Toronto. She is registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. Joanne has extensive clinical experience in providing communication support for people with aphasia and group therapy and facilitates workshops on these topics.
Emilia Perri, Communicative Disorders Assistant
Emilia is a registered Communicative Disorders Assistant with CDAAC. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Linguistics from the University of Ottawa, and completed the Communicative Disorders Assistant program from Georgian College (2009). She practices group and individual therapy for both stroke and non-stroke clients at ACO. Emilia also manages the website, social media and oversees many of the daily activities at the centre.
Joanna Dickson, Communicative Disorders Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
Joanna is a graduate of the Speech and Language Sciences Program (Honours B.A.) from Brock University. After completing an internship here and graduating from the CDA program at Georgian College we were delighted to have Joanna join our staff in the fall of 2015. She is currently facilitating a number of communication groups at the Centre.
Stephanie Isaacs, Communicative Disorders Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in Linguistics from Carleton University and studied Speech-Language Therapy in Edinburgh, UK at Queen Margaret University. She has completed the Communicative Disorders Assistant program from St Lawrence College (2016), graduating with distinction. Stephanie is a registered Communicative Disorders Assistant with the Communicative Disorders Assistant Association of Canada.
Evelyn Weger, Co-Director of the Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) Program
Evelyn is a registered Social Worker and a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers Provincial Board of Directors. Evelyn graduated with a BA and a BSW from the University of Victoria before completing her MSW at Carleton University. Throughout her career she has dedicated herself to empowering others through counseling, advocacy, education and resources.
Hélène Lepine-Igric, Social Worker
Hélène is a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work (2008) from the University of Ottawa. Hélène has experience working in Palliative Care, Geriatric Psychiatry and care coordination. Hélène works with new members to the Aphasia Centre of Ottawa Stroke program, as well as provides counselling services and ongoing community linkage to our members.