Sask. launches occupational therapy, speech-language pathology programs

Students are returning to university soon, and some are about to enter programs being offered for the first time in Saskatchewan.

The province’s master of occupational therapy and master of speech-language pathology programs begin this fall at the University of Saskatchewan.

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“Until now, students had to leave the province to receive this training,” Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said.

Eighty students are enrolled, with 40 in each program.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, it’s a significant expansion compared with the 50 total seats previously available in other provinces through interprovincial training agreements.

A $37 million investment from the province was required to establish the two programs.

“Occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists play a critical role in providing high-quality care across our health system and in communities throughout Saskatchewan,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said.

According to the province’s media release, the two professions provide vital services to people with disabilities, illnesses or injuries, as well as children and seniors.

Both programs are run through the university’s “School of Rehabilitation Science in the College of Medicine, alongside the Master of Physical Therapy program, creating opportunities for interprofessional learning and collaboration,” the release stated.

The government expects that increasing the number of speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists trained in Saskatchewan will improve retention of these skilled professionals and help meet growing demand for their services.

However, in 2025, Speech-Language and Audiology Canada’s provincial advocacy manager, Jennifer Cameron-Turley, pointed out that these students won’t graduate until 2028.

“So, I think it will take a couple of years after that for things to really start seeing improvement, so we can fill those positions that have been chronically empty,” she said.

Packing up and moving several hours away was previously the only option for students in these programs.

In 2025, Matthew Halter from Saskatoon said he would have loved to stay in his hometown to complete his master’s in speech-language pathology.

“I know that it probably wouldn’t be as bad for other people, but for me, I definitely would have preferred to stay,” he said.

Another student who had to leave for her speech-language pathology studies is Nicole Dabao from Regina.

For her, picking up her life and moving to a brand-new city was a learning curve.

“It’s my first time living alone, and being quite far away from home has been a challenge,” she said in 2025, adding that making friends in the program helped her manage her homesickness.

Dabao and Halter both said they’re glad to see a Saskatchewan-based program finally starting up, even though it came too late for them.

— with files from 980 CJME’s Abby Zieverink