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What is CHIPS?
The Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society (CHIPS) is the national professional organization for Hearing Instrument Practitioners who provide hearing healthcare services for hard of hearing people in Canada
CHIPS Board of Directors
CHIPS Executive and Regional Representatives
Chris Helik - Chair
Adele Wiegers, BC-HIS—Director
David Leishman, BC-HIS—Director
| Chris graduated as a Hearing Instrument Specialist from the first Canadian full time Hearing Instrument Specialist program at Sheridan College in 1978. She enjoys close ties with Otolaryngologists who have mentored and guided her professional career. Chris has represented her profession for W.S.& I.B., C.H.I.P.S., advisory committees for the C.P.S.O. and the M.O.H. Assistive Devices Program. Chris has served on her professional association board (A.H.I.P.), in every capacity for over 20 years. For four years, she was a professor of ‘Advanced Hearing Instrument Theory and Application’ at George Brown College, training new Hearing Instrument Practitioners. |  |
Sandy Bichard, M.A., BC-HIS, Secretary of CHIPS
| “For me, one of the best aspects of being a Hearing Instrument Practitioner is that I get to work with such extraordinary people, both clients and colleagues. And the work we do together improves the quality of life for so many.” Throughout her career, Sandy has actively volunteered with provincial and national professional associations, and provincial regulatory authorities. Current and past positions include: Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society, Chair and past Secretary; College of Speech and Hearing Heal Professionals of B.C., Director; Hearing Instrument Specialists Society of B.C., Director and Past-President; International Hearing Society, Committee member; Board of Hearing Aid Dealers and Consultants of B.C., Past Vice-Chair and Director. Sandy has been dispensing hearing instruments in her private practice since the 1990’s and has volunteered on three hearing aid missions to countries with limited hearing healthcare. |
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Adele Wiegers, BC-HIS—Director
| Adele is married to husband David, mother of two children and has three grandchildren. She has been involved in the hearing industry for the past 21 years and is the owner/operator of Swift Hearing Centers Inc. She graduated from the Alberta College and the Grant MacEwan College with a diploma in Hearing Health Sciences. She has obtained her National Board Certification. She has served as the Saskatchewan Representative on the Grant McEwan College Advisory Board for two two-year terms. She has been on the CHIPS board for three years. She has been a member of the Saskatchewan Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society since its installation, is presently serving as Treasurer and has been a director for the last 16 years. She was on the first committee in Saskatchewan to try and get the province regulated. Regulations passed Spring of 2006. Adele is very motivated and enjoys her work. She enjoys gardening, cooking, golfing, and entertaining. Adele and her husband enjoy traveling and visiting with family and friends. |
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Ms. Maggie Arzani, HID—Ontario
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Maggie Arzani graduated from George Brown College in 1997, works in Toronto, and is enjoying her second career in hearing health sciences. Maggie has held several positions on the Executive and Board of the Association of Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Ontario including two terms as President of AHIP in 2007-2009. She currently holds the position of AHIP Vice-President. In addition to these positions, over the years she has represented the profession on various health and educational advisory committees and is involved in liaison and consultation efforts with all major third party contacts.
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Donald Vincent, BC-HIS—Director
| Don is a Hearing Instrument Specialist practicing in New Brunswick's capital city of Fredericton. He is co-owner of Acadia Hearing Aid Co. Ltd. which is in its 30th year of serving central New Brunswick. Don is a graduate of The University of New Brunswick holding degrees in Commerce and Economics. He also holds certificates from St. Thomas University and Universite Laval. Don is active in the New Brunswick Hearing Aid Society. Having held the posts of President and Past President he presently holds the post of treasurer in that society. He is also active with the Atlantic Canada Hearing Aid Association of which he is a member. For the past two years he has been the chairman of the education committee. |
David Leishman, BC-HIS—Director
| David, President of Leishman Hearing Centre and Wensley Hearing Ltd., has been in the hearing aid business for 30 years. David received his Hearing Aid Practitioner's Diploma from Grant MacEwan Community College and has a post secondary degree from Brigham Young University . He has been an active leader in his provincial association (now the College of Hearing Aid Practitioners of Alberta) in the following capacities: 17 years on the Executive Board; Past-President - AHAPA; Chair, Negotiating Committee; Public Relations Committee; Chair, Nominating Committee; CHIPS Provincial representative. David and his wife enjoy traveling and vacations with their children and grandchildren. David is an avid sports fan and enjoys golf in the summer and racquetball in the winter. |
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Claude Forest—Director
Leslie Holden, BC-HIS—Treasurer
Annette Cross Canadian Governor of the International Hearing Society (IHS)
Kim Mummery—Administrative Assistant
| Hearing Aid Acoustician since 1988. Audioprothesiste depuis 1988. Graduated from the College de Rosemont of Montreal in 1988. Gradue du College de Rosemont de Montreal en 1988. Member of the Ordre des Audioprothesistes du Quebec since 1988. Membre de l'Ordre des Audioprothesistes du Quebec depuis 1988. Member of the Hearing Aid Specialist Professional Association of Quebec since 1988. Membre de l'Association Professionnelle des Audioprothesistes du Quebec depuis 1988. Secretary General of the Order des Audioprothesiste du Quebec since 1992. Secretaire General de l'Ordre des audioprothesistes du Quebec depuis 1992. CHIPS representative for Quebec chapter since 1998. Representant du Quebec au sein de CHIPS depuis 1998. |
Leslie Holden, BC-HIS—Treasurer
| Leslie is dedicated and well respected amongst the hearing health care field as well as her clientele over the years. She has been devoted in helping the public with their hearing health care needs for over 33 years. She is a licensed and certified Hearing Instrument Practitioner in the province of MB. Leslie worked at The Bay Hearing Centre, in downtown Winnipeg for 21 years and held the position of manager for 12 years. There she built a respectable reputation and had great rapport with her clientele. In 1996, Leslie created Polo Park Hearing Centre in a desire to better serve the needs of the hearing-impaired in the Winnipeg area. Leslie stood as president of the Manitoba Society of Hearing Instrument Practitioners Inc. and also acts as treasurer for the Canadian Hearing Instrument Practitioners Society. (CHIPS) In addition she is Board Certified by The National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences, International Hearing Society (IHS) and the Manitoba Hearing Instrument Practitioners. She strives to promote hearing health and participates in continuing education, by attending seminars and meetings across Canada, United States, and around the world, to increase her knowledge of today's constantly changing and improving technology. Leslie is active in the community and has been an invited speaker on hearing loss and hearing aids at local churches, senior groups and business groups. One of Leslie's most passionate pursuits in the hearing care field is taking part in missions to 3rd world countries to fit children with hearing aids. |  |
Annette Cross Canadian Governor of the International Hearing Society (IHS)
| Has been in the Hearing Industry for over 17yrs. Annette is the treasurer of the Nova Scotia Hearing Aid Society as well as Conference co-ordinator of the Hearing Instrument Practitioners of Atlantic Canada. Annette has help most positions in her Provincial Associations and believes in being pro active for her Profession. Annette also extends the gift of hearing across the world as she partners with the Starkey Hearing Foundation and has been on 7 missions which she found very rewarding. Annette lives in the beautiful town of Bridgewater with her husband Randall She is very proud to have her son Cole working with her as helping to manage their four offices in the province. |
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Kim Mummery—Administrative Assistant