Our Team

Wendy Duke, M.Sc., RSLP, CCC-SLP – Clinic Director

Areas of practice: adult brain injury rehabilitation, stuttering, aphasia therapy, voice therapy, accent reduction, medical-legal work, autism (RASP certified)

Locations served: Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver

• Master of Science, Speech-Language Pathology, University of British Columbia
• Bachelor of Arts, Linguistics, University of British Columbia

Wendy Duke is the founder and clinical director of Columbia Speech and Language Services, Inc. For more than 30 years, she and her team have co-developed many important and pioneering speech and language therapy programs for British Columbians. Unique programs in which Wendy has had a hand developing include: community-based service for clients with brain injury, intensive stuttering treatment therapy, social communication skills group programs for people with brain injury, expert witness work in the area of speech-language pathology, and one of only 11 programs world-wide providing intensive comprehensive treatment for people with aphasia.

Prior to founding Columbia in 1987, Wendy had worked at all levels of health care in British Columbia, including acute care, in-patient and outpatient rehab, and extended care. She was keenly aware of the gaps in service as her clients with brain injury were discharged to the community where little or no service was available to them.

In 2013, Wendy was honoured by her peers as the recipient of the “Honours of the Association Award” from the BC Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists for her numerous contributions to the field through clinical teaching, development of services for people with brain injury and for people who stutter, and service to the profession and its consumers over many years. In her acceptance speech, she attributed any success she has had to her exceptional team of clinicians and administrators, many of whom have been with her for more than 15 years.

Wendy is an honourary clinical assistant professor in the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Audiology and Speech Sciences at the University of B.C. where she is also a long time sessional instructor in the areas of acquired language disorders (such as from acquired brain injury and stroke). She has also taught related courses at Douglas College and at UBC’s Department of Special Education. She is passionate about educating the public, allied health professionals, insurers and future SLPs on how people’s lives are affected by communication challenges.

Wendy is also a Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP). 

“Communication is what allows us to participate in society on many levels – at work and at play and at school. It’s never hard for me to convince people of the value of speech and language therapy because I really believe in it,” Wendy says.