At Home with Stuttering: 2026 CSA-NLSA Joint Conference

Workshop proposals for the CSA-NLSA joint conference are now open! We invite you to submit a proposal by completing the Workshop Proposal Form by April 17, 2026. 

Welcome Message

Join us at the 2026 Canadian Stuttering Association & Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association Conference: At Home with Stuttering, in picturesque St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Perched on a rock at the edge of the Atlantic, St. John’s is known for its brightly coloured row houses, rugged coastline, warm hospitality, and rich ocean culture stemming from early settlers. In Newfoundland and Labrador, visitors are affectionately known as “Come From Aways,” reflecting a culture that embraces newcomers exactly as they are with open arms.  

This year’s theme invites us to reflect on what it means to feel truly “at home,” not only in a place, but within ourselves. At Home with Stuttering speaks to acceptance and the freedom to speak without fear or censorship. It is about embracing our stuttering as part of who we are, rather than something to hide. It is about creating space where every voice belongs. 

Our conferences have long been a gathering place for connection, learning, and celebration. Whether you are a person who stutters, a family member, a clinician, an educator, or an ally, you will find a community that understands, supports, and uplifts. Together, we share experiences, build confidence, deepen understanding, and strengthen the bonds that remind us that we are not alone. 

In St. John’s, a city shaped by resilience, warmth, and the meeting of land and sea, we invite you to come as you are. Come to learn. Come to connect. Come to feel at home with your stuttering, and with one another. 

Workshop Proposals

Workshop proposals for the CSA-NLSA joint conference are now open! This is a meaningful opportunity to support and engage with the stuttering community. We invite you to submit a proposal by completing the Workshop Proposal Form by April 17, 2026. 

If you’re interested in leading a workshop but aren’t sure where to begin, we’re here to help. Reach out to us by email, and we’ll work with you to develop and bring your workshop idea to life. 

Keynote Speakers

There will be two keynotes, one for each full day of the conference. 

Catherine Moroney

Redefining “overcoming stuttering” (when you can’t not stutter)

I have fully accepted the fact that I will always stutter in a fashion that is immediately obvious to anyone who hears me say more than three or four consecutive words, and as such I have been forced to redefine the traditional notion of what success means.  I therefore want to broaden the definition of “overcoming stuttering” to celebrate not only those who have succeeded by ceasing to stutter, but those of us who have made their way in the world while continuing to stutter.  It is not a choice to have a disability but it is a choice to be disabled by it.

About the speaker

Catherine is a physicist and software engineer who has had a long career (30+ years) of studying the importance of clouds in the climate system by generating and analyzing satellite data, most of which has been spent at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California Institute of Technology/NASA).  Despite having lived a long time in the US, she considers Canada to be her home and is an alumnus and former staff member at both McGill University and University of Toronto. She has been active in the national and international stuttering communities since the early 1990s and has served on the CSA Board of Directors as Secretary from 2019, with no end date in sight.

William G. Webster

Interference and the stuttering experience

This presentation will focus on the brain and stuttering and how we may be able to control our stuttering by controlling our brain. More specifically, it will focus on interhemispheric neural interference operating on vulnerable speech motor mechanisms in people who stutter, considering the nature of this interference and ways it can be modified. Drawing on the results of his neuropsychology research program exploring what is different about the brain of the person who stutters and what underlies variation in stuttering severity, he will tie these findings with his personal and professional experiences to provide a practical framework for strategies to control stuttering and enhance oral communication ease and success.

About the Speaker

William (Will) Webster is a retired university professor, former dean, and a person who stutters. He graduated from McGill University (B.Sc. 1965) and completed graduate studies at Cornell University (MA 1966) and Pennsylvania State University (Ph.D. 1970). He was Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology at Carleton University, where he established an active research program focused on brain mechanisms underlying stuttering. In 1989, he co-authored with Marie Poulos Facilitating fluency: Transfer strategies for adult stuttering treatment programs, and in 2025 published Stuttering and its management: What the brain tells us. Will later served as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Brock University, Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western University, and from 2005 to 2016 as Dean of the Faculty of Health Professions at Dalhousie University. He currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Hotel

We are pleased to offer a negotiated conference rate of $229 per night at the Delta Hotel, located right in the heart of downtown St. John’s, steps from the waterfront. The hotel is surrounded by a vibrant mix of bars, restaurants, and local attractions, making it an ideal place to stay while experiencing the energy and culture of the city. Delta Hotel is wheelchair-accessible.

To secure the conference rate, reservations must be made by Wednesday, July 22, 2026. We encourage you to book early to ensure you meet this deadline. Please note that reservations may be cancelled free of charge up to 48 hours prior to arrival.

The booking link will be provided in your registration confirmation email after you complete conference registration. This process ensures that the discounted rate is reserved exclusively for conference attendees and cannot be accessed by non-CSA members.

This negotiated rate is available for up to three days before and three days after the conference. We suggest you consider visiting the province before and after the conference.

Check-in is after 3:00 PM, and check-out is by 12:00 noon.

Registration

The deadline for early bird registration is June 28, 2026. As a bonus, early bird registrants will be entered into a draw for swag at the conference.

With your 2-day or 1-day conference registration, you will receive buffet meals at breakfast and lunch, as well as refreshments during morning and afternoon breaks. Those registered for 2 days will be invited to our Friday evening Meet & Greet Reception, with hors d'oevres (appetizer dishes) included and a cash bar. There is a separate charge for the Saturday night banquet. 

* Family registration is subsidized and is intended for a child who stutters (age 17 and under), one or both parents, and their siblings. More on our youth and kids programming can be found below.

Cancellation policy: All registrations for the conference event are final and non-refundable.

Banquet, Talent Show, and Dance

A highlight of the conference, the Saturday night banquet offers a chance to dress up and enjoy an evening of great food, entertainment, and camaraderie. Attendees can look forward to a delicious three-course meal and entertainment. It’s a perfect opportunity to relax, celebrate, and connect with both new and familiar faces. 

The evening’s menu will feature a fresh garden greens appetizer, entrée options including braised beef or seared Atlantic salmon, and a caramel truffle cake for dessert. A children’s meal (chicken fingers, fries, a cookie, and a drink) will also be available for a reduced price. Dietary restrictions, including vegan and other special dietary needs, will be gladly accommodated.

Kids Camp

We are excited to announce our full day Youth Program will be continuing this year with an underwater theme! Come and have a “whale of a time!” at our two-day "camp style" program for youth who stutter and their siblings/allies ages 6 to 12. Campers will explore their various communication abilities and work to build their self-confidence through various ocean and underwater-themed activities involving meaningful and fun crafting, improv, drawing, writing, games, and more! Campers who attend this full day programming will build lasting bonds with peers who share common experiences and who understand what the other is going through, being free to practice speaking with other children their age. With a sign in & out system at the end of the day and for lunch, and adults always present, parents can be rest assured that their child is in good hands while they attend their own workshops throughout the morning and afternoon at the conference!
 
Parents
In addition to Kids’ Camp, and general conference programming, we’re offering a range of sessions specifically for parents to connect and learn! 
   •    Parents Round Table with Eeva Stierwalt – Meet and connect with other parents at the conference.
   •    What Would You Ask?: Young Adults Panel for Parents – This is a chance to ask burning questions to a panel of mature, well-spoken young adults, gaining insights into how you can best support your child who stutters.
   •    From Our Family to Yours with Alexandra D’Agostino-Seguin and Eeva Stierwalt - Has stuttering ever felt like an elephant in the room between you and your child? In this joint workshop for parents and their children, parents will explore opening the lines of communication surrounding stuttering between them and their child, and promoting and growing the bond that they share to make for an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss!

Getting There

Take advantage of a 5% discount by flying with Air Canada. Use the following promotion code: WJ6GJH91.