Cora Beitel, Registered Midwife

I am a founding member of the Strathcona Midwifery Collective. This exciting collaboration brings together my love of midwifery and my dedication to community care and reproductive justice. I aim to provide inclusive, supportive and informative care to all of our clients and their families. My team has a focus on caring for trans and queer families, Sanctuary clients (uninsured people with precarious immigration status) and returning clients from past pregnancies. I am also happy to care for anyone who feels that my team would be a good fit!

I grew up in Montreal on the traditional territory of the Kanien'keha:ka, as a European settler of Jewish heritage, I am fluent in French and speak some Spanish. My pronouns are they/them. After moving to Vancouver in 2000, I presented workshops on reproductive health and fertility awareness. Shortly after, I trained and began working as a doula, infant feeding counselor and youth counselor in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It was after my oldest kid was born at home in 2003, with the assistance of midwives, that I felt ready to pursue formal midwifery training.

While completing my Bachelor of Midwifery at UBC, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse clientele in both rural and urban areas across BC. Over the years, I have focused on caring for people who may face barriers in accessing healthcare as a result of their immigration status, income, sexual orientation or gender identity.

In addition to my clinical work as a midwife, I co-facilitate and organize the Trans and Queer Pregnancy and Parenting Group at our clinic and online. This is a monthly group that provides support, resources and community dialogue for trans and queer folks on the parenting journey.

I also work as an inter-disciplinary educator with a focus on gender affirming care in midwifery, obstetric and nursing, my intention is to support health care workers to provide safer and more accessible care to everyone accessing pregnancy, birth and postpartum services.

I am continually inspired by my community and the families I serve. I keep growing through this work and gain so much from the people who pass through my care.

When not at work I'm usually hanging out with my family, cycling, weight lifting, knitting, or canning. I try to get out of the city and into the mountains or to the Gulf Islands hanging out with my goat friends as much as possible.

Kirsten Taylor, Registered Midwife

I am ecstatic to be working among the fantastic midwives at Strathcona Midwifery Collective. You’ll find me working along side Cora on the Dandelion team. I can’t wait to continue providing care to families of all shapes in Vancouver. I am a settler of Scottish and English ancestry. I feel extremely grateful for the open hearts of every family in our care, and am forever thankful for those who have invited me to be a part of their pregnancy and birth stories. I deliver midwifery care in English and some Spanish, and my pronouns are she/her.

I grew up in rural Nova Scotia, in the unceded lands of the Mi’kmaq people. I remember being obsessed with pregnant people when I was a child, often making my dolls pregnant and staring at bellies. I was first properly introduced to midwifery while in a development course during my first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Dalhousie University, in 2012. This sparked my ever-evolving and growing passion for feminism, reproductive rights, and birth. In 2016, I graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery from McMaster University with Honours. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to work in Toronto for the first several years of my practice and then made the move to BC in 2021. I have a special interest in working with families who are new to Canada, and queer families.

When I’m not ‘midwifing’, you can often find me dancing around my house, reading, getting tattoos, doing yoga, or nearby the ocean. I have been dancing for over 16 years, and in 2012 founded a dance/art collective with a close friend and collaborator in Nova Scotia. Being a dance artist has helped me connect deeply with movement and the human body, and I bring that knowledge back with me in to the world of birth.

Madelyn (Del) Conyers, Registered Midwife- joining fall of 2024

Hello! I am Madelyn or Del (she/they). You will see my face alongside Cora on the Dandelion team this autumn of 2024. I was raised in a rural town in Nova Scotia on the ancestral and unceded land, Mi’kma’ki. I was first introduced to midwifery when a family friend welcomed me into her home to be part of the birth of her third child. This pivotal experience sparked my interest in midwifery and incited a journey to gather knowledge about empowering birth experiences. My learning continued at McMaster University where I graduated from the midwifery program in 2023. I then had the pleasure of starting my practice as a midwife this past year in Kitchener-Waterloo, the territories of the Neutral, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people.

I had amazing experiences throughout Ontario and am excited to take the next step in my path as a midwife by joining the wonderful care team at Strathcona Midwifery Collective. I will be part of the Dandelion team and am eager to continue the focus of care for queer/transgender clients along with Sanctuary clients and all of the families accessing our care. I am overjoyed to uphold the commitments of both holding space for families, and of working alongside clients to strengthen confidence in their bodies during the life changes of pregnancy. The birthing experience is something that continuously humbles me and remains an honour to navigate alongside clients, whether a first child or a new sibling of many!

When not actively practising midwifery you can find me cooking at home with my little cat, and sous-chef, Aine! I am excited to begin exploring the new outdoors of the area through camping and hiking as well. Overall, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of your family’s birth experience and look forward to meeting you!

Stephanie Dow, Registered Midwife - on leave until Jan 2025

Hello! I have been working at Strathcona Midwifery Collective since 2014.

Cora and I have been on the red team together for many years! I have always been interested in working in healthcare, but it took some time before I found Midwifery, and knew that this was what I was meant to do. I aim to provide midwifery care that is centered around informed choice for birthing people and their families.

I am a settler of European ancestry, and I grew up in Orangeville Ontario on the traditional territory of the Anishnabek, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), and Ojibway/Chippewa people. Before pursuing midwifery, I obtained an undergraduate degree in human geography from Queen's University. Once I knew midwifery was the path I wanted to follow, I completed the 4 year Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University. During my training I had experiences working with midwives, nurses, obstetricians, and lactation consultants around South Western Ontario. I also did some training with midwives in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

I value the unique experiences that every person and family bring to their pregnancy, birth, and early postpartum days. I am committed to supporting your autonomy throughout this process, and strive to provide information and support to facilitate your decision making. It's an honour to work with you during this time.

When I am not at work, I am hanging out with my two best friends. My partner, and our little one, who was born in June 2020 (a pandemic baby!) We enjoy camping, swimming, cooking, and quiet movie nights together.

Carolyn Saunders, Registered Midwife

My path to midwifery began in my teenage years when I was exposed to the homebirth movement in Ottawa, Ontario. Ina May Gaskin's "Spiritual Midwifery" was an eye-opening journey into family-centered pregnancy care, and natural birth outside of the hospital. It was a book I passed onto my older sister during her first pregnancy. Sharing in her pregnancies and births and seeing her approach each experience with such amazing strength and courage made a lasting impression on me. We both went on to pursue careers in Midwifery. She now practices in Stittsville, Ontario.

My formal training in Midwifery began in 2003 when I was accepted into the University of British Columbia Midwifery Program. Since graduating in 2007 I often remark how fortunate I have been to work with such amazing families who continually teach me more about the complexities of this work and the importance of respecting the beauty and uniqueness of each experience. In addition to my midwifery training, I have completed a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Biology. Anthropology has given me an understanding of the cultural diversity of our province and an appreciation of the rewards of working with people from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. Summers spent studying birds in northern Canada in 2002 and 2003 gave me a deep respect and appreciation for biological processes, in particular the miracle of reproduction and the creation of new life.

Over the years I have been involved in a number of research projects in the field of midwifery and reproductive health including publishing papers in the Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research & Practice as well as the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada. As part of the clinical faculty of the Department of Family Practice at UBC I enjoy numerous opportunities to contribute to the education of midwifery students. It is work I really enjoy and hope will help expand excess to midwifery care across the province. In 2003-2004 I was involved in a project whose aim was to facilitate better communication between health care providers and their clients. Through this work I developed a strong commitment to empowering people to make their own health care decisions. It is my philosophy that a client should leave midwifery care feeling empowered by their birth experience, feeling that they have done their very best, and feeling greater confidence in their own body. I hope that I can help pregnant clients to accomplish these goals.

In my free time I can often be found riding my bike, strolling through the Vancouver Art Gallery or taking a walk in the mountains. I gave birth to my daughter Violet in 2009. My own parenting journey is now something I can share with the families in my care. I look forward to supporting our clients and families through their own birth and parenting journeys.

Callaway Stephanson-Pate, Registered Midwife

Hello! My name is Callaway (she/her) and I am very excited to be working with the Plum team at Strathcona Midwifery Collective.

When I was young, I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be involved in birth work. Upon discovering midwifery, I immediately fell in love with the focus on providing informed choice, evidence-based care and the ability to build relationships with clients and their families.

I graduated from the McMaster Midwifery Education Program, and through my time there, had the opportunity to learn from midwives in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.

I moved to BC in 2016 but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Dakota, Dene, Métis, and Oji-Cree people. In my free time I love to travel, explore the west coast, hike and do yoga.

I am very grateful to be a part of your care and look forward to meeting you!

Jessica Wilson, Registered Midwife- starting Fall 2024

My name is Jessica Wilson and I will be joining the Plum team in the fall of 2024. I am grateful to live and work on the unceded land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) people. I am excited to be joining the incredible team of midwives at Strathcona Midwifery collective, providing care to my community in east Vancouver.

I completed my Midwifery training at UBC and completed practicums in both rural and urban sites. While doing my training I spent time in the FIR clinic at BCWH where I enjoyed working with folks with addictions in pregnancy. This is an area I hope to continue to work in going forward. One of the reasons I am so excited to work at Strathcona is to work in a clinic that creates a safe space for queer families to receive midwifery care. Strathcona has a longstanding reputation for supporting Queer and Trans folks in pregnancy and providing additional support groups and educational opportunities that I can’t wait to be a part of. I have recently completed my Lactation Consultant training and am excited to integrate this learning into my midwifery practice and support families through breast/chest feeding.

I came into midwifery through a curiosity of engaging with birth through a trauma informed care lens. Midwifery encompasses many aspects of health care that I am interested in. Namely, providing person centered, trauma informed care. I really enjoy educating folks about their bodies and empowering them to make choices that feel like the best for them and their families. I have an extensive background in depression and anxiety research and practice, as well as an addictions background. I enjoy incorporating that experience into working in these areas of midwifery.

About me: For fun, I love back country hiking and camping in the mountains, surfing in Tofino, and exploring the interior and islands of BC. I am often on the move traveling as much as I can. I am also an artist and will be caught painting once and a while, and I love a good book cozied up with my dog.

Aimee Odegard, Registered Midwife

I’m Aimee (she/her) and I am so grateful to be part of the Plum Team at Strathcona Midwifery Collective.

I am a settler of Scandinavian and Mennonite ancestry and was born in Mission, BC, the unceded land of the Stó:lō people. I now live in Vancouver, on the unceded land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. I live right here in Strathcona with my husband and 4 wild kids, ages 11-17. Prior to completing my midwifery degree at UBC I was a birth photographer and doula for 8 years. Over the course of my degree at UBC I worked with clients throughout BC, in Abbotsford, East Vancouver, Hazelton, and on FIR square at BC Women’s hospital (with parents who use substances during pregnancy and after birth).

The first time I witnessed and photographed a birth I knew that this was a profession I wanted to pursue. There is such beauty and strength in the birth process. For me, being a midwife means walking alongside people during one of the most powerful and vulnerable times in their lives.

The journey through pregnancy to birth and parenting, is often full of uncertainty and questions. It’s my joy to come alongside people during this time, answering questions and building confidence. I look forward to serving the people of the neighbourhood I live in, with a focus on providing kind and competent care for those who may not have been treated with warmth in previous medical encounters.

When I’m not doing the work of midwifery, I love to immerse myself in the wild beauty of the world—whether foraging in the forest, tending to new life in my garden, or playing on the beach with my kids. I live in wide-eyed wonder at everyday miracles. And that’s how I approach the entry into parenthood.

Olivia Sims, Registered Midwife

Hello and bonjour! My name is Olivia (she/her), and I am thrilled to be joining the Strathcona Midwifery Collective.

Before midwifery, I pursued a science degree at the Université de Saint-Boniface, in my hometown of Winnipeg, which is Treaty 1 Territory, the traditional lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Dakota, Oji-Cree and Dene peoples, and the Métis Nation homeland. My passions and interests regarding reproductive healthcare, holistic and family-centered care led me to midwifery.

Throughout my degree from McMaster University, I had the privilege of learning and practicing with families and health care professionals in a variety of settings including Ottawa, Thunder Bay, and Winnipeg. I am fluent in English and French and look forward to providing care in both languages.

In my off-call time, I enjoy being outdoors: hiking, climbing, canoeing, or simply walking my dog. After spending most of my life in the prairies, I am excited to explore Vancouver and call it home.

I look forward to meeting you and being part of your care.

Xanthe Faulkner, Registered Midwife

Hi, my name is Xanthe (pronounced Zan-tha), and I’m thrilled to settle into my first year of professional practice here at Strathcona Midwifery Collective. Coming to this profession has been like coming home – being with pregnant and birthing people, walking with them and supporting this transformational phase of their lives means everything to me.

Originally from Ottawa, traditional, unceded Algonquin Anishnabek territory, I’ve moved back and forth across the country several times over the years. I also moved through several lifetimes of employment! A decade working in live theatre, a decade teaching yoga, dealing in stretchy pants and working as a doula… My next path came clear while I was living in London, Ontario, when my son was born at only 27 weeks gestation. Through the thorough and compassionate care I received from my midwives in the face of this alarming early birth and a long NICU stay, I came to understand the importance of truly attentive prenatal and postnatal care. Later, my daughter was born at BC Women’s Hospital the day before I was accepted into midwifery school, which seemed a good omen. While training at UBC, I was honoured to spend time at various clinics across the lower mainland, with the midwifery team at Seabird Island First Nation Health Centre near Agassiz and most recently at Pomegranate Community Midwives.

In between all this, I’ve continued to take my now 5- & 8-year-old kiddos on overambitious camping trips. I garden by instinct, engage in massive canning projects and then struggle to give away the excess jars. I’m active in the recovery community, get excited about audiobooks and continue my lifelong yoga practice from home these days. I’m so happy to be here, and I’m so excited to meet you.

Laura Wood, Registered Midwife

I truly value the joys, challenges and diverse experiences of midwifery. I was drawn to midwifery by a desire to engage in birth work in a way that fundamentally recognizes pregnant people as primary decision makers, respects their choices and supports pregnancy and birth as normal life events.

I am a settler of English, Scottish, and Ukrainian ancestry. I grew up in Calgary, in the Treaty 7 region, on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, and the Métis Nation. My pronouns are she/her. I was first introduced to midwifery through a friend who had a midwife for her own pregnancy, and from there read every book I could find on midwifery. I was fascinated by a profession supporting a wholistic approach to pregnancy and birth, and knew it was right for me.

Along my path to midwifery, I completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alberta, studying Psychology and Indigenous Studies, trained as a doula, worked as a sexual health educator, and completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I worked for several years at BC Women’s Hospital as a Registered Nurse, before continuing my dream of becoming a midwife and enrolling at Toronto Metropolitan Univerity (formerly Ryerson University) in Toronto.

I graduated with honours from the Midwifery Education Program in 2014. Upon graduation, I practiced for several years in Mississauga, where I had the privilege of working with many families new to Canada, from very diverse social and cultural backgrounds. I am continually humbled by the strength of birthing people and the awesomeness of birth. I love being a midwife; I’m constantly learning and growing in this profession, and working with families on their journeys to becoming parents is a privilege I feel honoured to hold.

In my spare time I’m kept very busy with my young family, and love to get outdoors- enjoying Vancouver’s many parks, beaches and trails. I look forward to meeting you and being part of your care!

Stephanie Crouch, Registered Midwife

Hello! My name is Stephanie Crouch, and I am excited to work with you during this very special time.

While I am new to the west coast, I have been practising midwifery for close to 20 years in the Toronto area, on the ancestral lands of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/Chippewa people. This time has given me the opportunity to work closely with many people new to Canada from around the world. I enjoy learning about new cultures and traditions around pregnancy, birth, infancy, and parenting. During this time, I spent ten years working part-time with a gynecologist whose focus is on pelvic floor health, and this has become a passion for me.

Finally, as a mother of four children, I recognize how challenging adjusting to life with a new baby is. I have seen that with the right support, it can be smooth(ish!) and rewarding. I look forward to being a part of that support network for my clients. “It takes village to raise a child”: Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your village, I look forward to growing together.

Charlotte Grant, Registered Midwife - on leave

My name is Charlotte (she/her). I have spent the last three years working as a midwife at Bloom Community Midwives and look forward to this next chapter at Strathcona Midwives Collective.

Prior to pursuing midwifery, I completed a degree in Honours Anthropology and Anthropological Archaeology from UBC. Alongside my passion for BC-based archaeology, I began delving into the body of research surrounding anthropology and birth, and learned more about the style of care offered by midwives. It was actually at an archaeological field school that I made the exciting decision to apply for the UBC Midwifery Program, when my colleagues pointed out that even in the middle of a dig, I couldn’t seem to stop talking about midwifery!

During my time in the UBC Midwifery Program, I had the privilege of training with midwives and doctors in New Westminster, Vancouver, Nelson, as well as in the communities of Hoima and Masaka in Uganda during a 6-week global health placement.

I am continuously amazed by the strength of families as they embark on their unique journeys through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood, and I am honoured to be a part of your experience.

When I’m not catching babies, you can find me baking a loaf of sourdough bread, cooking, doing jigsaw puzzles, drinking way too much Earl Grey, snuggling my kitty (O’Malley), or outdoors running on the seawall.

Meet the Midwives

We are a dedicated group of midwives who are passionate about birth and family-centred care. We strive to provide warm and respectful care that responds to each person’s individual needs.

Our Midwives: