Claire Westfall, SLP

My passion for speech language pathology is rooted in my love for community. A good life is a shared life, and communication is at the heart of connection. Some of my favourite memories include seeing a child proudly say their own name clearly for the first time, hearing that a teen I’d been working with told their mom “I love you,” and watching a child use their new AAC device to say “No, no, no!” to a friend who was bugging them—something they hadn’t been able to express before.

Fun is one of my core values, because a child who is having fun is ready to learn. I approach every interaction as a collaboration. I see myself as part of a team with the child, educational assistants, teachers, parents, and other staff, working together to build a supportive community where children have a voice and adults know how to create spaces that honour that voice.

Outside of work, I spend most of my time with family, friends, and faith, along with a range of creative pursuits. My newest interest is decorative spoon carving. I love the slow, intentional process of transforming a simple block of wood into something smooth, symmetrical, and beautiful.