Board of Directors and Volunteers

The CSA is a small group of volunteers who devote their time to the cause of helping other people who stutter by providing information and offering support.

Board Members

Eeva Stierwalt, London, ON - National Coordinator

Lisa Wilder, Toronto, ON - Webmaster, Editor

Carla Di Domenicantonio, Burlington, ON - SLP Liaison

Arun Khanna, Toronto, ON - Finances

Catherine Moroney, California, USA - Secretary

Alexandra D'Agostino, Ottawa, ON - Family and Children’s Programming Coordinator

Anna Huynh, Toronto, ON - Fundraising Coordinator

Michelle Weinshtein, Toronto, ON - Social Mediaa Coordinator

Lauren Linkie, Vancouver, BC

Dennis Potharst, Halifax, NS - Marketing and Communications Coordinator

Nathan Rattansey, Toronto, ON - Regional Support Coordinator

Suhail Ravjani - Volunteer Coordinator

John Kenney, Otttawa - Coordinator, Employment Advocacy

Advisory Board members

Daniele Rossi, Toronto, ON

Jaan Pill, Toronto, ON

David Stones, Stratford, ON

Casey Kennedy, Toronto, ON





 

Get to Know the Volunteers at the Canadian Stuttering Association!

The Canadian Stuttering Association is entirely run by our motivated, committed and compassionate volunteers. Here are a few words from our volunteers about who they are and what the Canadian Stuttering Association means to them.

Eeva

Eeva Stierwalt, National Coordinator

A few words about Eeva:

Eeva's daughter, Alexandra D'Agostino, is a person who stutters and has been on the CSA board of directors and the conference planning committee for two years. Providing support for Alexandra over the years has given Eeva a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by people who stutter. Previously Eeva has worked as a long-time volunteer on the Steering Committee of the Innovative Interfaces Inc. Users Group, an international organization with university, public, special and school libraries as members. She lives in London, Ontario.

Lisa

Lisa Wilder, Webmaster and Web Editor

A few words from Lisa:

I got involved with CSA when I helped out with the National conference in 2007, as I had fond memories of the conferences I attended in the 1990s. A lot of people who stutter are reluctant to get involved in support groups, but it can be a life-changer. That's why the conferences are, to me, the most important thing we do, enabling real-life encounters with other people who stutter. I think it's remarkable that CSA has been around for so long purely on the dedication of volunteers. I am currently self-employed and work as a graphic designer and content marketing specialist. I've also been known to fiddle around painting, writing, reading, taking dance lessons and doing yoga.

Alexandra

Alexandra D'Agostino, Family and Children’s Programming Coordinator

A few words from Alexandra:

My name is Alexandra D’Agostino and I have stuttered since I was 7. I graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a BA Combined Honours in Psychology and Anthropology in 2017, and am now a soon to be graduate of the Nipissing University Nursing Scholar Practitioner Program. Music is one of my passions, (I play 7 instruments!), as well as helping people and volunteering. I have spent 5 years volunteering with the National Stuttering Association in the United States, where I spent 3 of those years serving on their Teen Advisory Council. When I was invited to be on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Stuttering Association in 2014, I was thrilled to be able to volunteer with an association that was closer to home. Being on the Board of Directors has been such an extraordinary, and honouring experience to have had the opportunity to help revitalize the CSA from the ground up. By volunteering with the CSA and NSA, I hope to change other people’s lives, as the two stuttering associations did for me.

Anna

Anna Huynh, Fundraising Coordinator

A few words about Anna:

Anna Huynh is currently studying Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) at the University of Toronto. Being a person who stutters, she is passionate about supporting people with communication disorders. She is the President of Hear2Speak, a not-for-profit organization that supports speech-language and hearing healthcare, and is actively involved in SLP research. Anna is excited to be serving as the Fundraising Coordinator for the CSA. She is looking forward to getting to know everyone in the stuttering community!

Arun

Arun Khanna, Accountant

A few words about Arun:

Arun has been involved with the CSA for almost thirty years. He handles financial matters and conference planning.

Lauren

Lauren Linkie, Support Group Coordinator

A few words from Lauren:

My first introduction to the stuttering community was at the annual CSA conference in 2014 while a graduate student of the University of Toronto Speech-Language Pathology program. The conference inspired my interest in stuttering and since that time I have travelled across North America and Europe to learn how to be a better ally and advocate for people who stutter. I feel privileged to have made many friends in the community and I am excited to play a small role in developing the CSA as a resource for connecting and supporting people who stutter. In my free time you can catch me with coffee and a book or listening to live music in Vancouver, BC.
I won’t be running support groups myself, but will be helping and supporting those interested in starting up and running support groups across the country, as I develop this new role on the CSA Board.

Carla

Carla Di Domenicantonio, SLP Liason

A few words from Carla:

I developed an interest in working with people who stutter following graduation from Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toronto, which within a short time led me to seek a position dedicated to helping children, adolescents and adults who stutter. SpeakEasy Canada and the National Stuttering Project, two North American self-help and support organizations of the time, opened my eyes to the ‘real world experience’ of being a person who stutters, at home, work, play, and, most importantly, in therapy. The impact on my approach to stuttering therapy was profound. As the SLP Liaison for the CSA, I hope to bring the same ‘enlightenment’ that I gained many years ago to new and established Speech-Language Pathologists and speech-language pathology students across Canada, so that they, too, may feel better equipped to work with individuals who stutter, and perhaps even uncover a passion for working in this area. In addition to the CSA Board, I proudly represent Canada as a member of the International Cluttering Association and the Lidcombe Trainers Consortium.

Catherine

Catherine Moroney, Secretary

A few words about Catherine:

Catherine has stuttered all of her life and fully expects to continue to do so. She’s been active in the stuttering community (both in Canada and the US) for over 20 years and loves going to conferences to stay up and drink and talk all night long where there’s no worry about when that next block is going to strike and spoil the punchline. In her professional life, she’s a physicist and software engineer working for NASA on analyzing satellite data. She grew up and went to school in Montreal and Toronto and despite living in the US for many years, considers Canada to be home although she refuses to be dragged into a Montreal vs. Toronto flame-war!

Dennis

Dennis Potharst, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

A few words about Dennis:

Dennis joined the Canadian Stuttering Association in March 2020 and is a person who stutters since he was a child. As a marketing and communications professional, he enjoys using the written and spoken word to express thoughts, ideas, and concepts, and is eager to contribute to the many projects undertaken by the CSA. He is honoured to join the Board and is excited to help raise the profile of the CSA both regionally and nationally. Born in Sudbury, ON and raised in Calgary, AB, Dennis now calls Halifax, NS home.

Nathan

Nathan Rattansey, Regional Support Coordinator

A few words from Nathan:

I was first introduced to the stuttering community at a CSA event hosted by the University of Toronto showing a special screening of My Beautiful Stutter. The screening was followed by a panel discussion from individuals who stuttered which was an incredibly moving experience. As Regional Support Coordinator, I coordinate self-help groups nationwide, connecting and supporting people who stutter. I also act as a Grant Advisor to the CSA, where I explore new sources of funding for CSA initiatives. In these roles, I am committed to raising awareness around stuttering and the unique challenges people who stutter have to overcome. If you have any inquiries about the CSA, the work we do, or how you can get involved, I can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Do not hesitate to reach out! As someone who grew up often feeling alone in my speaking trials, I have personally found it helpful talking to other individuals who stutter and sharing in their experiences and perspectives).

Michelle

Michelle Weinshtein, Social Media Coordintor

A few words about Michelle:

Michelle Weinshtein is an undergraduate student in her final year at Western University for Medical Sciences. She attended her first CSA conference in 2019 and was granted the CSA Scholarship for a student who stutters. She was quickly invited on the board in 2020 as the Social Media Coordinator. Michelle hopes to continue her studies in the health & wellness field, with a general goal in making a profound difference in an individual’s life. When she isn’t busy studying- she enjoys reading, meditating, and going on walks.

Suhail

Suhail Ravjani, Volunteer Coordinator

A few words from Suhail:

My name is Suhail Ravjani and I have stuttered, covertly, since childhood. When I attended the CSA conference in 2018, the events/workshops and the network of fellow stutters inspired me to be open and accepting of my stuttering. Following this inspiration, I started my volunteering journey at CSA in 2019 and recently was honored to be accepted as a CSA Volunteer Coordinator and Board member. I am a CPA by profession, full time dad of two teenagers and love playing badminton and watching cricket.

John Kenney

John Kenney, Coordinator, Employment Advocacy

A few words from John:

I’m John Kenney and a neurodivergent person who stutters. I’m also a Senior Policy Advisor in the federal public service living and working in Ottawa, although my heart is in Nova Scotia, where I grew up. I’m passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As the CSA’s Employment Advocacy Coordinator and 50 Million Voices representative, I want to help create a world where everyone who stutters can bring their whole selves to work, enjoy fulfilling employment, and where more organisations across all sectors benefit from the talents and strengths of people who stutter. I enjoy the outdoors and camping, road trips and travel, pack walks with my dog, Morris, and partner, Charmaine, and listening to as much music as humanly possible.

Become a Member!

Support the Canadian Stuttering Association by becoming a member. Get updates and receive our upcoming monthly newsletter.

Fill out the Membership Form today!

Note: We will issue a tax receipt for donations of $20.00 CAD and above. Thank you for your support.