Dr. Pamela Filiatrault-Veilleux completed a SSHRC funded PhD at Université Laval, in Quebec, Canada, where she explored inferential comprehension abilities of young preschoolers aged 3-6 years, leading to the creation and publication of a free accessible assessment tool. In 2020, she completed a SSHRC funded postdoc with the Centre for Research on Early Child Health and Education at Simon Fraser University, in British Columbia (Canada), which aimed to explore the impact of plurilingualism on language and cognitive processes involved in early literacy and reading comprehension. On September 1st 2023, Dr. Filiatrault-Veilleux joined the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, at the University of Alberta. She has active research partnerships with researchers from Canada and internationally, and her current main research interests focus on listening comprehension abilities of young children. She is registered as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) with the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA), the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC (CSHBC), the Ordre des Orthophonistes et Audiologistes du Québec (OOAQ) and certified with the Speech-Language and Audiology Canada (SAC).
Research Assistants
My name is Jayda Yoxall and I am currently in my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology. I have a B.A Psychology degree with a minor in Linguistics. I have worked for the lab for over a year now and my interests are in language development and comprehension in younger children, specifically in non-typically developing children and autistic children. In the past I have worked as an interventionist for autistic children, a respite worker and educational assistant among other roles. Through my work in the lab it has allowed me to see the research side of being a SLP and I look forward to all the projects occurring this year!
My name is Sidus. I am currently working towards a psychology undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta. I previously completed an IB and Alberta high school diploma at M.E. LaZerte High school. I have a deep appreciation for language and how it helps us to communicate stemming from time spent abroad in the army. I am currently working on the English side of the GlobalTALES project in the lab and look forward to seeing what our results will show us about how children tell stories.
My name is Imogen Delmotte, and I am a Kinesiologist hoping to transition into Speech-Language Pathology. I graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and have since worked in roles focused on child development. My experiences with the Centre for Autism Services Alberta and Free Play for Kids have shaped my understanding of the importance of effective communication for growth and socialization of children. As a Research Assistant on the project "Making the Invisible Visible," I am excited to contribute to the research exploring inferential comprehension in children with ASD and/or DLD, blending my interests in communication and child development.
Cléa Thibeault, Research Assistant
My name is Cléa Thibeault, and I am currently an undergraduate student at the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology. I am passionate about bilingualism and fascinated by how people learn and use languages. My previous research experience focused on children’s cognitive development, as well as French dialects and accents. Currently, I am a research assistant in the lab, supporting the French side of the GlobalTALES project.
Speech-Language Pathology Students; Year 1
My name is Claire Neufeld, and I am currently completing my Master's of Science in Speech-Language Pathology here at the University of Alberta. I previously completed my Bachelor's of Science degree in psychology with a minor in linguistics at the University of Lethbridge. I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent children and youth to support them in speech and behavioural development. I recently facilitated a conversation skills group which has inspired my thesis topic about the functional impacts of personal narrative and theory of mind skills in children with DLD. In the field of speech-language pathology, I am interested in continuing to work with children with language disorders, autistic children, and other special populations.
My name is Emma Derworiz and I am currently completing my Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. In the language comprehension lab, my thesis will explore how challenges with inferential comprehension impact the daily lives of children with autism. Before entering the SLP program, I completed a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Psychology at the University of Alberta. Alongside school, I have worked and volunteered with neurodivergent children for the past 5 years, which sparked my enthusiasm to join the LC lab!
My name is Hannah and I am currently pursuing my Master's in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Alberta at the Augustana Campus. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Psychology, also from the University of Alberta- Augustana Campus. I am passionate about analyzing children's language abilities particularly in the French-English bilingual context. Additionally, I am eager to contribute to such a large scale international study and (hopefully) provide rural context data from here in Camrose, AB
My name is Danielle and I am currently a Speech Language-Pathology graduate student at the University of Alberta (Augustana campus). I have completed a Bachelor of Science in Applied Animal Biology at the University of British Columbia. This year, for my CSD 900 capstone project, I am supporting the Global TALES research project under the supervision of Pamela Filiatrault-Veilleux.
My name is Livy and I am currently completing my Master's in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. Previously, I completed a Bachelor of Science Honours in Psychology with a minor in Speech-Language Sciences. During my undergrad, I completed a thesis that used neuro-imaging to examine the impact of mind wandering on neural plasticity and learning. Since 2021, I have also been volunteering and working with children and adults with various speech and communication disorders. I am interested in learning more about children with autism and complex language comprehension!
My name is Chloe Formanek, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from MacEwan University. Over the past two years, I worked as a literacy assistant, supporting elementary-aged children in developing their reading and language skills. I have an interest in working with children and exploring the role of early intervention in improving educational outcomes.
My name is Lily and i’m currently in my first year of SLP! Prior to this, I completed my undergraduate degree in Linguistics at the UofA. My main research interests are language and communication differences in neurodivergent people. Within the lab I am excited to be working on the CSD 900 project: Making the Invisible Visible!
My name is Jenae Gauthier, and I am a graduate student in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology from the University of Alberta. I am passionate about expressive and receptive language development in young children. Currently, I am involved with the making the invisible visible project which examines inferential comprehension difficulties in children with autism and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
My name is Isabella Marchiori, and I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. I completed an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Cognitive Science at Carleton University. My passion lies in advancing our understanding of neurodiversity to improve support for neurodiverse individuals. I’m especially interested in shining a light on the experiences of females on the autism spectrum by increasing awareness and enhancing their representation in research.
My name is Brittany Guenot, and I am currently a first-year student in the Master of Speech-Language Pathology program at the University of Alberta. I hold a Master of Education degree from the University of Windsor, which I completed in 2020, and I have spent the past decade working as a high school French teacher. My previous research focused on special education, with particular attention to the needs of the francophone population. However, after volunteering at a rehabilitation hospital, I developed a strong interest in the speech and swallowing challenges faced by individuals with neurological disorders. I am eager to embrace any opportunity that will help me expand my knowledge and better prepare me to support the diverse needs of individuals as a future speech-language pathologist.
Hello! My name is Shayma Shah, I am currently doing my masters in Speech-Language Pathology! In addition I have a bachelor's in Linguistics and Modern Languages! I am part of the ANWAR and am very excited to continue add my research an knowledge to the amazing work that this project has done so far!
Volunteers 2025-2026
My name is Katelyn, and I currently work as an Early Childhood Educator. I am in the fourth year of my undergraduate degree, aspiring to be a bilingual Speech Language Pathologist. My role in the lab mainly involves transcribing, organizing and scoring language assessments for the Global TALES project, en français!
Hello! My name is Clair McLeod, I recently completed my Bachelor of Science in Speech & Hearing Science at Arizona State University. In 2018 I completed the Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Diploma Program at MacEwan, and have worked as a SLPA since, primarily working with pediatric populations. I am excited to be starting at the U of A in Fall 2025 for their MSc Speech Language Pathology program! I have been involved with Global TALES, primarily helping with transcription, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to support data collection in the future.
My name is Leah and I am currently completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics at the University of Alberta. I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent children to support their emotional and social literacy. I am excited to be involved in the Global TALES study and the ICNA study in the LCL lab!
My name is Jasman Sidhu, and I am currently an undergraduate student at the UofA completing a B.A in Linguistics and Psychology with a minor in Native Studies. My experience working directly with children who possess a wide range of language abilities has made me passionate about language development in children, especially those with language disorders. I am excited to volunteer with the LC Lab and learn more about language comprehension!
My name is Shehlin Sandhu, and I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta. I’m Punjabi-speaking with a strong interest in language development, bilingualism, and culturally responsive approaches in speech-language pathology. I am currently volunteering in the Language Comprehension Lab to gain hands-on experience with psycholinguistic research. I hope to pursue a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and contribute to creating more inclusive tools and research that better support bilingual and underrepresented communities.
The University of Alberta respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway/ Saulteaux/Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant community.