Graduated the MEP in May 2017. 

Tansi Nitotemtek!

My name is Cheryllee Bourgeois, I am a Metis midwife and follow Cree / Metis teachings in line with my ancestry from the Red River District in southern Manitoba and North Dakota. I have been a midwife here since 2007 and helped to develop and set up SGMT when I was a student midwife at Ryerson.

I worked as a Registered Midwife for 11 years before give-up my registration in 2018 to work under the exemption clause, which is unique at SGMT. This means that I am able to provide care in line with needs identified by the Indigenous community in Toronto. I provide sexual and reproductive health care through the life cycle and I am very committed to both increasing access to Indigenous focused health care and supporting more Indigenous folks to become midwives.

I am very grateful to live and work in the Dish with One Spoon territory as a midwife and to raise my three kids here.

Hi.

My name is Nadia. I have been working as a Registered Midwife since 2007. I graduated with Honours from the Ryerson Midwifery Education Program, and have a prior degree in Environmental Studies. Part of my midwifery training included independently arranged apprenticeships with midwives in Peru and in Argentina. Other than that, most of my training and work experience as a midwife has been in Toronto. I have been with SGMT since 2008. I love the opportunity to get to know pregnant people and families during this unique time in their lives and to facilitate a positive journey through the childbearing year. I love the diversity of clients I work with at SGMT, the great team of midwives and staff, and the focus on providing culturally safe care to Indigenous families and all families we work with. Catching all the beautiful babies as they enter the world is also an absolute privilege and pleasure!

I took a 3 year leave from active practice after the birth of my son in 2015. During that time, I taught prenatal classes and HypnoBirthing. I am happy to be back catching babies. I am from a large Italian family and I can speak some Italian and some Spanish. When I'm not working, I love to get outside in nature, ride my bike around the city or down to the lake, and dance (usually just around my living room these days!). I also love to spend time with loved ones, especially my bright and spirited son and an equally wonderful teenage step-daughter. I look forward to getting to know you and your family as you prepare for the birth of your child!

Hello! My name is Leah and I am thrilled to be a part of the team of dedicated Midwives and support staff at SGMT.

My inspiration to become a Midwife came from stories of my grandmother, who acted as a lay Midwife in the many communities she resided in along the coast of Hudson Bay in what is now known as the territory of Nunavut. I am originally from a small town in Northern Manitoba and am of Scottish, Irish, English and Inuk descent.

I graduated with honors from the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University in 2015, and received the Murray and Eleanor Enkin Graduation Excellence Award. I also hold a BA from the University of Manitoba majoring in Anthropology, with a minor in Native Studies.

It is a privilege to be part of such a momentous time in people's lives, and is humbling to bear witness to the unique path each person travels in being pregnant and giving birth. I strive to provide care that is holistically safe, and upholds individual choice and dignity. I believe that access to high quality healthcare is a right, and am committed to improving accessibility of pregnancy and birth care for people who have historically been overlooked by the healthcare system.

When I am not working as a midwife I enjoy reading, resting, being outdoors, and spending time with my family - especially my young daughter - who also enjoys all of my hobbies, except for resting.

Koolamalsii, nii dishnsi Claire Dion Fletcher. I am an Indigenous Registered (Potawatomi-Lenape) midwife. I graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University. I grew up in Newmarket, , Ontario, where I was an active member of Hands of Hope for Children, Guatemala. My work with this organization that delivered clothing, school, and health supplies to families in Guatemala is where my interest in woman’s health and specifically maternal health began. At Dalhousie University in Halifax, my interest and commitment to maternal health particularly midwifery care grew during my undergraduate studies in Microbiology and International Development.

I am committed to the growth of Indigenous midwifery in Ontario and the expansion of Indigenous content in the program at Ryerson University. I am currently co-Chair of the Toronto Birth Centre Community Council and sit on the Core Leadership of the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives.

Motivated by a firm belief in women’s right to be actively involved in their own health care and a commitment to expanding Indigenous midwifery I love my work with the clients and families of Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto. 

Hello! My name is Natalie, and it is a joy and an honour to work as a midwife at SGMT. I have been a Registered Midwife since 2013, and joined SGMT in 2015.

I am a descendant of Irish and Scottish settlers, and was raised on a farm north of the city. Along with my amazing colleagues, I strive to provide culturally safe care for all families, especially Indigenous families. Miigwetch to the community and Elders for all the teachings I have received.

I am passionate about reproductive rights, and the rights of pregnant people to access good information, to make their own decisions, and to receive good care. I love meeting families and getting to know you and support you during this time of change, challenge and joy.

My name is Brescia Nember Reid (pronounced “bray-sha”).

I am honoured to be a Registered Midwife at Seventh Generation Midwives of Toronto since 2016. In addition to midwifery, I have worked in women’s counseling & advocacy, as well as community arts/expressive art facilitation.

I have a long-standing dedication to reproductive justice and trauma-informed care. I pride myself on being a welcoming healthcare provider for LGBTQ2S families.

I am settler on this land (1st & 7th generation) and respect that we live & practice on the traditional territory of multiple Indigenous communities, belonging to the Dish With One Spoon wampum.

Bonjour! Je m’apelle Brescia!

J’ai le grand honneur d’être un membre de l’équipe de sagefemme Seventh Generation Midwives of Toronto. Pendant mon travail professioniel et pendant mon éducation dans le program à l’Université de Ryerson, j’ai eu l’opportunité de travailler avec des familles à travers le Canada. La santé réproductive est une passion pour moi. C’est un grand plaisir de fair votre connaissance pendant ce chapître de votre famille!

Hola!

Me llamo Gabriela! My name is Gabriela but you can call me Gabby. I’m new around here but I’ve been familiar with Seventh Gen and their work for many years now as my brilliant older sister is a midwife. As someone whose family has indigenous roots in the Andes with the Quechua people, I love being able to provide support to indigenous community members here in Tkaronto, as well as to various immigrant families from Latin America. I provide administrative support to our lovely office coordinator Anna and our sweet receptionist Susan. Looking forward to meeting you at our clinic!

My name is Kendra Pegg (she/her), and I am a citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, although my family and my childhood home are in Treaty 6 Territory. I have lived in T'karonto since 2008 and studied in the Midwifery Education Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am thrilled to be apart of Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto and providing care for families in this community.

I came to midwifery because of a desire to provide clinical care that is gender inclusive and culturally supportive for pregnant people and their families. I aim to provide respectful, evidence-based, person-centered care for all midwifery clients.

Thank you to the families who I have worked with, and to those who I will support in the future!

Hello and welcome to Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto! My name is Claire Osepchook and I am a 5th-generation settler with family from the UK and Eastern Europe. I joined SGMT as a student in 2009 and am privileged to be a Registered Midwife here since 2010.

I love being a midwife and am honoured to work with everyone at SGMT. I aim to support families during the journey of pregnancy and birth and parenthood. I believe in holistic care and in empowering clients to be active decision-makers. I have a background in science and I enjoy gathering and sharing knowledge. I am a parent of two spirited children and I love watching them grow and learn.

Since 2018, I have had a new role at SGMT as a Midwife Hospitalist. I work mainly at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre providing midwifery services for our clients who need to access specialist care in the hospital. For example, I visit families in the High Risk OB Clinic, High Risk In-Patient Unit, and NICU. The midwife hospitalist role is also to increase access to culturally safe care and to facilitate support for Indigenous families accessing care in the hospital. Sometimes pregnant people are transported to Sunnybrook for complications and have no family or friends nearby. The midwife hospitalist can help access resources and support from Toronto's Indigenous community, including Elders and Knowledge Keepers.

Shé:kon/Hello!

My name is Emma Bilodeau and I am Kanien’kehá:ka from Six Nations but I grew up in London, Ontario.

Prior to beginning my midwifery journey I completed a Bachelor of Arts at Western University where I studied sociology. I then decided to pursue a career in midwifery because of my desire to help and give back to my community in a meaningful way.

I am very grateful for the opportunity that being a midwife gives me to connect with other people. I feel a great sense of privilege to be able to work alongside all of the wonderful staff, midwives, and clients of Seventh Generation.

Outside of my career as a midwife I spend a lot of time beading, making beaded art and jewelry.

Hola!

My name is Rocio, Roh-see-oh or Ro go well with me. 

I grew up listening to my grandmother talk about having had all her babies at home, with the care of her midwives who were like family to her. I began my journey into this profession by working with youth, mental health, and harm reduction work. After graduating from York University with two degrees in Environmental and Political science, I began supporting newcomer youth and indigenous families during their childbearing process. This led me to midwifery. 

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and come from mixed indigenous background. I am the proud granddaughter of metiza and Quechua people, and an avid advocate for the reproductive rights of Indigenous women across Turtle Island and the Tayuantinsuyo.

I graduated from the Ryerson Midwifery education program with academic distinction, and I am honoured to be working side by side staff, midwives, and our incredible clients at Seventh Generation. 

---

Hola!

Me llamo Rocio 

Crecí escuchando a mi abuela hablar de su experiencia con los partos de sus hijos, que siempre fueron atendidos en casa con la ayuda de obstetrices. Nosotros en Perú llamamos a las parteras, o matronas obstetrices. Mi jornada en la partería se inició cuando empecé a trabajar en el campo de salud mental y física de jóvenes en particular, en el tratamiento de adicciones. Después de haberme graduado de la universidad de York con bachiller en Ciencias del Medio Ambiente y Ciencia Política, comencé a apoyar a familias inmigrantes e indígenas de todas edades en el proceso de convertirse en padres y madres. Estas experiencias me llevaron a estudiar partería.

Nací y crecí en Lima, Perú, y vengo de una familia mestiza, y de ancestros indígenas. Es con orgullo que continuo a identificarme como la nieta de mujeres mestizas e indígenas, y esta conexión me lleva luchar día a día por la salud y los derechos reproductivos de la mujer indígena, no solo aquí en Turtle Island, sino también el Tahuantinsuyo.

Soy egresada y colegiada de el Programa de Parteras de la Universidad de Ryerson con distinción académica, y estoy muy honrada de ser parte de Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto, y poderles dar el cuidado que las madres y padres se merecen.

Sulpaiki.  All my relations. 

Hello, my name is Susan Johnston.

I joined the SGMT team in August 2015 to  help cover a maternity leave and I've been here ever since. I'm thrilled to be here to provide my scheduling expertise and my immense love of children, babies and pregnant women.

Prior to SGMT I worked in he dental industry for 17 years as a certified dental receptionist/assistant in Alberta and Ontario.

I am grateful for this experience and opportunity to meet so many wonderful new people (clients and staff). It has been very rewarding to be a part of our clients pregnancy experiences, meeting their families and especially their new additions!

I am so excited to be returning to SGMT after two years working at a practice situated in the Dowtown Eastside (DTES) in Vancouver. Our midwife team worked closely together to provide care to community members from the DTES, queer and trans families, and as part of the Native Youth Health and Wellness Centre at the Urban Native Youth Association.

Prior to becoming a midwife I worked in the fields of HIV research, harm reduction, and research ethics. I recall the day that I decided that midwifery was my calling as I walked through Kensington Market in Toronto. I realised that ushering people and families as gently and respectfully as possible through this momentous life transition was my passion and that I could combine that passion with my interest in evidence-based approaches to care while facilitating informed decision-making for clients. I graduated from the Ryerson Midwifery Education Program in 2013.

I am a biology nerd who also loves crafting (especially sewing), baking, and generally anything that leaves a big mess. I love to walk. I feel that I observe so much more on my feet than I do with any other mode of transport and I find it crucial to my creative and critical thought process.

I am a settler of European descent. In the past, I have lived in Vancouver, Victoria, Ottawa, and Toronto with my family. My extended family includes members of the Nishnawbe Aski (Lac Seul), Skwxwú7mesh, and Cheslatta Nations. I have three children and have myself been a grateful recipient of midwifery care. I know what a transformative experience childbirth can be for a family. I am pleased to be able to offer this experience to others.

Kamusta po. My name is Jasmin.

I'm a first generation Filipinx settler here on Turtle Island. I have had the

honour of working with birthing people for over 20 years. After graduating with honours from the University of Toronto, I studied with the midwives at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee. In 2007 I completed my Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery at Ryerson. Along the way I volunteered for Toronto Public Health and worked as a doula, and helped establish the Labour Support Program at Jessie's Centre for Teens. Prior to joining SGMT, I provided midwifery care for communities in Scarborough and West Durham region. I have had several careers, but to me midwifery is the most humbling, exciting, and satisfying.

Equity and diversity issues are very important to me, so I strive to be an ally as well as care provider for all midwifery clients, regardless of their circumstances. When I'm not working on the needs of midwives and birthing families I like to read, be active outdoors, go on adventures, and make art.

Hello - I’m Meredith (she/her). I am from mixed British Isles settler and West Indian heritage.

I completed my Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery at Ryerson in 2020. Before entering midwifery, I worked for four years as a doula and prenatal educator, supporting families as they welcomed new babies in all settings across the city. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in English from McGill (2007), where my love of literature and storytelling was kindled. Birth is the best story of all, in my opinion, and I feel privileged to be a part of each one.

When I’m not doing midwifery, you’ll likely find me exploring nature with my three year old, or reading books about trees.

Hello! My name is Kate Macdonald (she/her). I am honoured to be here at SGMT, where I have been working as a Registered Midwife since 2019. I am a descendent of Irish and Scottish settlers and grew up in Hamilton in a large family.

Prior to midwifery, I worked in child development and family support. I have always had a passion for birth and reproductive rights, and my own experiences with midwifery led me to this career. It is a true privilege to work with this incredible team and with all the growing families that come into our care.

When I'm not catching babies I can be found camping, climbing, and exploring the city with my kids.

I am a Community Birth Worker at SGMT. I am Lenape and Moravian of the Thames First Nation, Turtle Clan.

Aaniin, my name is Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat and I am an Indigenous Birthworker and member of Wiikwemikong Unceded First Nation. It has been an honor to join the Ode’imin Giizis Doula Collective and the Baby Bundle project since moving Toronto a few years ago.

I appreciate many things about helping but one of the most profound opportunities was entering the area of Birth work years ago while I lived in amiskwaciwaskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). It was over a decade ago I began as a perinatal outreach worker in the inner city and eventually became a full spectrum doula. Honoring our Indigenous knowledge in birthing can be a liberating and healing practice. My own great, great, Grandmother we called Nokomis Gchi’mama, was a midwife in our community of Wiikwemkoong and our family often refer to her wisdom, kindness and Love as important values that are being passed on in current Indigenous birthwork practices.

Gchiimiigwechendam, I am thankful for the Baby Bundle Team, the SGMT Midwives and the opportunity to work out of the wonderful space at the Toronto Birth Centre.

Shė:kon!

My name is Gillian, I am Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) and Onontowane’á:ka (Seneca) from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and I belong to the Turtle Clan. I am of mixed ancestry, the other sides of my family are Scottish and British. My pronouns are they/them and I identify as Two-Spirit/ Indigiqueer. I am so honoured to be a Community Birth Worker with the Baby Bundle Program and Call Auntie :)

I volunteer with Action Canada’s access line, and I am an Auntie with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network. I am so honoured to be a part of Odemin Ghizis Doula Collective and find great joy in supporting Indigenous folks in all stages of life cycles.

What keeps my fire lit is community organizing, community care, land-based teaching and learning, learning my language one mispronounced word at a time, and radical reproductive justice and birth keeping practices. I have deep respect for our plant relatives and hope to continue learning from and with them.

In my free time you will find me floating on my paddle board singing and sharing stories with the water.

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