Advancing access, empowering voices, and building momentum

This past year at Hearing & Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) was shaped by our continued commitment to the strategic goals of accessibility, communication, and engagement. Together with our Board, staff, patient partners, and community collaborators, we advanced key initiatives that improve access to quality care for Nova Scotians. We remain proud of the energy and innovation shown across the organization as we continue to grow and adapt to evolving community needs.

A major focus this year was addressing inequities in preschool hearing and speech wait times across the province. With $1.4 million in new funding from the Department of Health and Wellness, we piloted group service models and hybrid virtual/in-person care to reach more families, more efficiently. We also launched a trial of evening and weekend hours to better support families with busy schedules. These innovations reflect our long-standing commitment to equitable and timely access for all Nova Scotians.

While preschool services were a key focus, adult hearing and speech services remain a priority. Stroke, brain injury, ALS, and age-related hearing loss can all significantly impact quality of life and social connection. Yet this area has seen little new funding for decades. As demand continues to grow, we remain committed to advocating for resources to address these concerns.

This year also marked the launch of the HSNS Innovations Fund, with the first grant awarded to Patient Advisor Ferne Mardlin-Smith. Her Life After Stroke project is a client-led initiative supporting stroke survivors with communication challenges after hospital discharge—helping them stay connected through peer networks and skilled volunteer support. We’re incredibly proud to see this first project come to life and grateful to Ferne for turning lived experience into meaningful change.

In another step forward, we introduced Patient Advisor positions with a seat at Board meetings, deepening our commitment to include client voices at every level.

Our work in equity, diversity, and inclusion also evolved with the expansion of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation, Accessibility (EDIRA) Committee to include reconciliation and accessibility. A key milestone was a Board-led Indigenous engagement process, including a workshop led by Houston Barnaby of Balsam. That process led to a Board-approved call to action and a draft EDIRA action plan—an important step forward in our journey toward reconciliation with our Indigenous communities.

To ensure the wellness of our workforce, we engaged a consultant to help develop a comprehensive talent management plan. The plan introduced new bursaries, a workforce survey, and actions to support wellness and retention. We also launched Best Practice Councils in audiology and speech-language pathology to give staff a stronger voice in shaping clinical priorities.

We were heartened by the feedback from our new hires, who cited our inclusive culture, meaningful work, and support for work-life balance as key reasons they joined HSNS.

One of our standout achievements this year was completing a two-year informed consent project. Many of our clients face communication challenges, and this work helped ensure every client can truly understand and participate in decisions about their care.

We also piloted a new appointment reminder system in Cape Breton, tested new screening technology to reduce wait times, and began exploring remote audiology testing—all driven by community feedback and clinical insight.

Managing waitlists remains a constant and pressing priority, one that has shaped HSNS for more than 60 years. Behind the scenes, our teams continue working hard to deliver timely, high-quality services, even as demand and complexity increase.

Community feedback also guided major decisions like the upcoming relocation of our largest clinic in Halifax. Clients and staff alike emphasized the importance of accessible transit, free parking, and a bright, welcoming space. We’re excited to open our new Mumford Road site in 2025, marking the start of a new chapter for care in the HRM.

We’re also expanding opportunities for public input, from QR codes in waiting rooms to online policy feedback. We’re making it quicker and easier than ever for clients and caregivers to share their voices and help shape how services are delivered.

HSNS is fortunate to be working with many partners in its efforts to provide quality and culturally safe audiology and speech-language pathology services. Of note is the spring announcement of funding from the Focused Research Investments program, naming HSNS as a partner with the IWK and Tajikeimɨk for the seven-year project Etuaptmu’k W’loti: Using Mi’kmaw Knowledge to Create Health and Wellness Solutions.

Looking ahead, our current strategic plan is coming to a close. We’re now preparing to co-create a new one with input from staff, communities, and clients. We’re also getting ready for Accreditation Canada’s site visit in fall 2025, a rigorous process that few organizations our size pursue. We welcome the challenge and are confident in the foundation we’ve built.

To everyone who contributes to our mission—staff, Board, volunteers, advisors, clients, and partners—thank you. You inspire us every day. As we move into this next chapter, we do so with renewed purpose to fulfil our vision: Every person deserves a voice. Every voice deserves to be heard.

Mark Landy, Board Chair Anne Mason-Browne, CEO