From lived experience to leadership: one Board member’s journey with HSNS

As a law student, Maria Rizzetto wanted to contribute to something meaningful. When she discovered an opportunity with the Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) Board of Directors, a personal connection to the organization’s mission drew her in.

As a child, Maria worked with a speech-language pathologist to address a raspy voice that made her difficult to understand. Years later, her father—a respected lawyer in Cape Breton—developed a neurological movement disorder that rapidly impaired his ability to communicate. “It was difficult watching people speak to him like he couldn’t understand them,” Maria shares. “Even harder was watching him withdraw from the world because of it.”

In 2015, he underwent deep brain stimulation surgery and was diagnosed with dysphagia. HSNS played a key role in his recovery, helping him regain communication skills and improve his quality of life.

Years later, Maria joined the Board while still an articled clerk, and with support from former Vice Chair and mentor Tammy Manning, she found her place quickly. “I was welcomed, respected, and heard from day one,” she says. Today, she holds the role of Vice Chair and chairs the Nominating Committee.

Now practising criminal, family, child protection, and general litigation law in Cape Breton, Maria says regional representation has deepened her perspective. “Our organization serves all of Nova Scotia. It’s important that our Board reflects that.”

Maria particularly values the opportunity to meet staff and clients during site visits. One moment that stayed with her was hearing from a Patient Advisor who, like her father, had lost their ability to communicate during their career. Watching them not only recover their voice but also contribute to the Board reminds Maria how impactful HSNS’s services can be.

Outside of her legal practice and Board commitments, Maria stays deeply engaged in her community. She serves on the boards of the Savoy Theatre, the Cape Breton Music Cooperative, and the Three Brothers Project, and is also a Patient Family Advisor with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Health Care Redevelopment Project.

In her downtime, Maria enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends, and can often be found at local sporting events, theatre productions, and live music shows.