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Grace Brinkman, RM
My interest in midwifery began in 1984 at
the home birth of my nephew. It was at this birth that I
truly understood the incredible support midwives could give
to birthing women. In the following years, I gave birth
to my three children and educated myself in the Art of midwifery.
I began my career in Midwifery in 1990 in the Kootenay
Mountains of BC; there I had a small home birth practice.
This small practice grew over the next nine years. I pursued
every course offered that was related to my calling, traveled
to Vancouver for workshops and brought in educators to my
community to teach the local group of midwives.
In 1995-96 I lived in and received further midwifery training
in a birth center in Texas.
In 1998 following midwifery legalization in B.C., I practiced
in the Kootenay, and Victoria, as a conditional midwife
and in July of 1999 I practiced in White Rock, Langley,
Surrey, and Vancouver as a General Registrant.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to witness and be part off
the birth of the diverse families in my practice, they have
all enriched my life beyond knowing.
I have a strong commitment to women and their families
as the women themselves define their family. I also believe
that education de-mystifies and helps integrate all the
unique aspects of childbearing.
It is with this in mind that I look forward to sharing
my midwifery knowledge and experience with the birthing
families in my practice.
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June Friesen, RM
When my 3 children were growing, I was a
La Leche League Leader. I learned about breastfeeding
and to appreciate women's ability to change their lives.
In the 1980's I spent 3 years in Zaire,
Africa with my family where I viewed first hand the impact
culture has on birth. During the 1990's I apprenticed
in a midwifery practice, certified as a
lactation consultant and practiced as a primary care midwife
in Saskatchewan. I have been active in provincial and
national midwifery associations.
I've been registered to practice midwifery
in BC since 2000. My motivation has been to make the midwifery
model of care available to women whereever they choose
to give birth. With my practice partner Grace, I am pleased
to be involved in this growing profession, providing care
to women and providing an opportunity for midwifery students
and midwives from other countries to experience midwifery
practice in BC.
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Corine Pautler, RM
I attended a midwifery assisted home birth
at age twelve, and since then I have always wanted to be
a midwife. I graduated from Queen's University in Kingston,
Ontario in 2001 with a BAH in Women's Studies and Health
Studies. Following this education I began the Midwifery
Education Programme at Laurentian University in Sudbury,
Ontario. I trained in various locations throughout Ontario
and was pleased to work with a diverse clientele including
Mennonites and newcomers to Canada. I was pleased to complete
my studies and clinical practicum in 2007 receiving a BHSc
specialized in Midwifery.
I began my career as a midwife in Canada's arctic community
of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut located on the Hudson Bay. Working
with the predominantly Inuit population was very interesting
and rewarding. My trust in natural childbirth was strengthened
further in this remote site. It was beautiful to see pregnancy,
birth and breastfeeding as such an integrated and accepted
part of the Inuit culture. Spending the fall and winter
in the Arctic gave me insight into the challenging social
and environmental conditions faced by Inuit peoples of Canada.
This past spring I became a proud aunt to my sister's
son and enjoyed helping her during the incredible transition
from pregnancy to becoming a new parent. In my spare time
I enjoy time with friends and family, music, traveling and
photography. I am happy I have relocated from Toronto to
Vancouver to begin the next chapter in my career. I am very
excited to meet and establish relationships with clients
of Commercial Drive Midwives. There is a photo included
of me and my nephew to help me become a familiar face in
the community.
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