Serving All of Ontario and focusing on improving services in the north
Our team
Jane Mason
B.A.S. in Communicative Disorders M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
Speech-Language Assistant Jane is originally from Minnetonka, MN. She attended the University of MN-Duluth where she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Communicative Disorders and then went on to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology. In 1987, Jane moved to Thunder Bay where she provided speech-language therapy to preschool and school-age children across clinic, school, and daycare settings. She has over 25 years of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist working with disorders and delays of articulation, phonology, language, and stuttering. Of particular interest to Jane is literacy, the development of oral language into written language and reading.
In 2021, Jane retired her registration with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario as a Speech-Language Pathologist. After two years, she is excited to return to the field in the role of Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. When not working, Jane spends time with her husband, family, and pets in their country home. Some of the activities she enjoys are reading, cooking, gardening, hiking, and snowshoeing.
Nicole Pajala
Founder of Wildlings Speech Therapy
Speech-Language Pathologist
M.S. Ed-SLP Reg. CASLPO
Nicole is born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario. She completed her Honours Bachelors of Art in Psychology at Lakehead University. She furthered her education completing her Communicative Disorder Assistant certificate from Durham College. Nicole decided to pursue her Masters in Science of Education in Speech-Language Pathology and graduated in 2014 from SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, New York.
Throughout Nicole’s school experience, she worked with various populations in the community settings including, daycares, schools, and a rehabilitation role for brain injuries. Following graduation as a Speech-Language Pathologist, she has worked for the past 10 years with pediatrics from birth to geriatric and palliative care. She used her knowledge in daycares, schools, community visits, childcare centres, tele-therapy for rural communities and long-term care facilities.
In 2019, Nicole embraced her new roles as a mother. Her passion grew to support other mothers and babies, which emerged from seeing a gap in service in the North. She strives to support mothers/fathers, infants and children with issues related to nursing, feeding, speech and language. Nicole enjoys learning about oral structures, breastfeeding support, tethered oral ties, phonological awareness or pre-literacy skills, speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders, and supporting the family as a unit to meet their goals. Nicole enjoys a creative approach to therapy and establishes connection based on client interests.
When Nicole is not working, she enjoys time with her family. She enjoys nature, paddle boarding, cooking, or creating art.
Nicole has Additional training with the following courses:
She has completed a comprehensive 12-week course to becoming a pediatric feeding therapist that focuses on early development. Content taught included: Normal Prenatal Development & Birth to 6 Months, 6 Months to 1 Year, 1-2 Years and Beyond, Assessment, Treatment, Tethered Oral Tissues, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, & Various Medical Complications (NICU, craniofacial disorders, neurological, cardiac and/or gastrointestinal issues, airway considerations), instrumental assessments and the IDDSI framework.
She is trained in the introduction course which focuses on teaching the technique of PROMPT. The trainings are hands-on tactile-kinesthetic input and emphasizes the need to integrate this into a holistic therapy approach.
She is trained in the following four courses: Introduction to OMT & Assessment, Tongue Tips: An OMT Program for Ages 8+, Tiny Tongue Tips: An Early Intervention Program for 3-6, and Thumbs Up!: A 30 Day Oral Habit Elimination Program