About Us
Welcome!
The Midwives Collective welcomes clients from all backgrounds and identities.
We are primary clinical care providers and social justice advocates who aim to
offer inclusive care for all pregnant people. Please let your midwife know which
pronouns or other words you would like used during your care.
We recognize that we practice on the traditional land of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples, known today as the Esquimalt, Songhees, and W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, whose relationships with these lands continue through the present day. We acknowledge that the traditional birthing practices of these Nations were destroyed by colonization. We commit to being mindful of our roles in ongoing colonialism in birth work and perinatal care, to decolonizing our own practice, and to providing safe and culturally-sensitive care to our Indigenous clients and their families. In solidarity with the ongoing work of decolonization of midwifery practice in BC and throughout Canada, we offer our support to our indigenous colleagues working as midwives throughout BC, and welcome any feedback on our own practices as midwives of settler backgrounds.
Our Team
Maheen Maryam
Registered Midwife, Juniper Team
Maheen (she/her) is originally from Markham, Ontario. She earned her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery from Toronto Metropolitan University (previously Ryerson University). She is passionate about making midwifery care more accessible and ensuring clients feel confident in decision making related to their care. She feels privileged to be a part of such intimate moments in peoples’ lives. Prior to midwifery, she studied Food and Nutrition at Toronto Metropolitan University where she focused on finding sustainable ways to fight food insecurity. In addition to speaking English, Maheen is conversational in Urdu and American Sign Language. She is also involved with the Canadian Association of Midwives’ Board of Directors and is interested in expanding her avenues for advocating for equitable change.
In addition to midwifery work, Maheen enjoys a sunny day with a good book, making and applying mehndi, and being with her family and dog. She is thrilled to be serving the families of Victoria and providing inclusive care for all.
Chloe Dayman
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
It is with great excitement that I join The Midwives Collective as of September 2020 to work with a lovely team of midwives and to care for the families who come to our practice.
My inspiration to become a midwife has perhaps been with me since the day I was born! My parents planned a home birth with midwives in Kitsilano Vancouver at a time when midwifery was neither regulated nor common practice. I was born at home and from that day onward, the seed of midwifery has been planted in my mind and heart. I call Victoria home and have had the pleasure of working as a registered midwife here since 2011.
I see midwifery as a perfect mixture of clinical care, relationship building, and empowerment. In 2007 I graduated from the UBC Midwifery Program. I have had the pleasure of working with many families in both rural and large city settings. I am passionate about working with alternative parenting arrangements–LGBTQ2S families, surrogates & single parents. I look forward to meeting you and helping you through this new & exciting journey of pregnancy and parenthood. As a parent of three busy children myself I can’t wait to guide you through this process!
Akasha Naraine
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
Akasha Naraine (she/her) is originally from Mississauga, Ontario, and is of Indo-Caribbean descent. She is a graduate of the Midwifery Education Program from Toronto Metropolitan University. Prior to midwifery, her university career was quite the adventure as she explored various Health Science programs and fields founded in social justice values such as Peace Studies and Gender Studies. She eventually landed at McMaster University and received a B.A. focusing on Indigenous Studies and Women’s Studies. It was during her time there that she learned how empowering and healing midwifery can be for birthing persons and their families. After learning more of the roots of Indigenous midwifery here on Turtle Island and on her ancestral land of Guyana in South America, she leaped into the world of birthwork and hasn’t looked back since!
She is so grateful for this humbling opportunity to learn and grow alongside her clients and their families during this sacred and transitional time in their lives. She is especially passionate about supporting and advocating for marginalized communities including newcomers, refugees, uninsured clients, clients with language barriers, and clients with limited social supports. She is committed to helping her clients navigate the healthcare system in a safe and respectful way.
In her down time, you can find her spending time with her nieces and nephew, playing the piano, reading, and exploring more of the land.
Andrea Dykstra
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
Andrea has been practicing in Victoria as a Registered Midwife since she graduated from the UBC Midwifery program in 2013. She has enjoyed the holistic nature of midwifery care, its ability to adapt to suit the individual woman and family for whom she cares for. Andrea enjoys the strong relationships that are built through one to one care with clients and families throughout the continuum of the perinatal period, from the first trimester of pregnancy to motherhood.
In addition to her Midwifery degree, Andrea has a university degree in Psychology and philosophy from UBC. In between studies, she has travelled Asia extensively and lived in India and Nepal for several years studying world religion and natural traditional forms of medicine. Andrea loves the incredible natural beauty of Victoria and feel so grateful to live on such a majestic island.
Heather Nelson
Registered Midwife, Juniper Team
Heather was born and raised in Victoria and has worked here as a Registered Midwife since graduating from the UBC Midwifery program in 2008. She has had the privilege and pleasure of working with and learning from a diverse clientele over the past 15 years, including newcomers to Canada, Indigenous families, LGBTQ2S+ families and families affected by poverty. With respectful communication, curiosity, and solid clinical skills, Heather builds strong relationships with her clients and feels great joy in accompanying folks on their journey to parenthood. She is committed to providing accessible, equitable, and culturally safe midwifery care to clients.
Heather worked for 15 years at Access Midwifery, first as an Associate Midwife and then as a clinic owner. With Access closing in September 2023, Heather is excited to continue her midwifery work at The Midwives Collective, working with a dynamic and innovative group of colleagues. Heather served as Division Head for Midwifery in Victoria from 2019-2022. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the University of Guelph.
Heather and her family live near the Gorge Waterway, as uninvited guests on the traditional territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt people. Heather’s two children were born at home, into the capable and caring hands of midwives. Spending time in her garden, on the water, and in the forest fills up her soul. She also can be found cheering on her kids on at sporting and music events, canning and juicing the bounty from her garden, and reading a good novel when time allows!
Maria McKeown
Registered Midwife, Juniper Team
Hello! Bonjour, Ciao, Kwey and Taanishi! My name is Marie-Josée (you can call me Maria or Josée)! I am a midwife of mixed European settler (Italian and French Canadian) and Indigenous (Métis and Algonquin) descent. I grew up in Ontario, and have called Treaty 19 territory home until very recently, when my family and I decided to move to beautiful Vancouver Island!
I came to midwifery after the birth of my first daughter, who was born into the hands of a midwife. It was during this transformational time that I made the decision to follow in the footsteps of my maternal great-great-grandmother, who was a midwife in Molise, Italy. I feel strongly that birth is a sacred event, and feel passionately about informed choice and the powerful impacts that it has.
Upon completing my midwifery studies from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University), I began midwifery practice servicing expanding families throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Prior to entering the Midwifery Education Program, I worked in a bookstore for 9 years and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art and Art History, along with a Certificate in Indigenous Studies, both from York University. Alongside my undergraduate degree, I was also studying concurrently to become a teacher, with specialization in Urban Indigenous Education. I also enjoyed working as a camp counsellor and preschool instructor for many years during my education.
Alongside being a midwife, I am also a practicing visual artist, and my work focuses on pre- and post- colonial depictions of Turtle Island – past, present, and future, seeking to gain a better understanding of both where we came from, and where we are going, so we may continue on this path in a good way.
Alongside midwifery and visual art, my other passions include travelling, cooking, reading, beading, and spending time with my wonderful girls and partner. I am honoured to be a part of this truly special time in your life, and look forward to meeting you!
Samihah Patel
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
Samihah (she/her) completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery at Laurentian University in 2021. She has been registered as a midwife in Ontario since then and has had the privilege of providing midwifery care near Toronto on Huron-Wendat & Haudenosaunee lands, where she grew up.
Samihah has enjoyed having the opportunity to train & work with midwives and other clinicians in the Greater Toronto Area and in Iloilo, Philippines. These experiences have provided her with valuable perspective about midwifery, healthcare & cultural humility that she hopes to bring to clients at The Midwives Collective.
Prior to training in midwifery, Samihah worked as a lifeguard and swimming/ lifesaving instructor. She is passionate about ensuring that all families receive care such that they feel informed and empowered. Samihah feels truly blessed to have the opportunity to provide care to midwifery clients in Victoria and is so looking forward to forming new connections through this profound work.
Dr Emma Noble
Family Physician, Member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
I’m Dr. Emma Noble, a family physician with a passion for helping families navigate early parenthood. I am a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
As a mama of three, I have personally experienced breastfeeding challenges, postpartum depression and many years of sleep deprivation so I understand how overwhelming it can feel at times to be a new parent.
I am here to meet and support you exactly where you are on your breastfeeding/chestfeeding journey. Together we will explore your infant feeding goals and develop a plan that feels enjoyable and nurturing for you and your baby.
Dr Noble is available for breast/chestfeeding medicine consultations at The Midwives Collective by provider or self-referral here.
Frances Millerd
Registered Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
I specialize in postpartum and lactation care for new families. I’m inspired by the true marvel for human lactation and love to help new parents reach their goals for feeding their babies. In those tender early days, I believe that sufficient support and gentle, knowledgeable care can be transformative in building healthy, thriving families. I’m delighted to be offering clinic time at The Midwives Collective as well as home visits in the community.
I worked in full clinical practice in Vancouver and Victoria before specializing in postpartum care and lactation. I’ve served on the Board of the College of Midwives, and I trained through the UBC Midwifery program, graduating in 2014 after clinical placements across BC and in Uganda.
When I’m not caring for new families, I love to bake pies, garden and spend time with my own family, which includes one bouncy toddler and one even bouncier poodle-cross. Before I was a midwife I studied Communications and worked in TV and documentary film. I grew up on Saltspring Island.
Maha Maryam-Killoran
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
Originally from Markham, Ontario, Maha (she/her) was drawn to midwifery because of the client-centred model of care and emphasis on informed choice. Maha holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery from Toronto Metropolitan University (previously Ryerson), and a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science of Language from McMaster University. In addition to English, Maha offers care in Urdu/Hindi and American Sign Language. Through her midwifery training and work in Ontario, Maha had the privilege of working at Canada’s first Alongside Midwifery Unit, the Toronto Birth Centre, and the International Breastfeeding Centre, and hopes to use the skills she gained at these centres to serve the diverse families of Victoria.
In addition to clinical work, Maha is involved in various midwifery-led research projects and is a founding member of the Canadian Alliance of Racialized Midwives (CARM). Maha has also previously served on the Canadian Association of Midwives’ Board of Directors, the Association of Ontario Midwives’ Racial Equity Committee, and the Health Network for Uninsured Clients in the Toronto area. When she’s not busy with midwifery work, Maha enjoys reading, daydreaming about building a birth centre, and spending time outdoors with her family and their three dogs.
Jenny Knoll, RM
Registered Midwife, Sage Team
Hi! My name is Jenny Knoll and I am a 2019 graduate of McMaster University’s Midwifery Education Program. I came to midwifery after studying Anthropology, and then working in obstetrical research as well as a number of odd jobs. After graduating, I worked in southwestern Ontario for 4 years before moving to beautiful British Columbia. I have also done rural and remote locum work in Ontario and Nunavik, Quebec, supporting Indigenous midwives to bring birth back to their communities.
I find so much joy caring for diverse families at such a profound time in their lives: the unpredictable schedule of birth work feeds my passion for adventure and means that no day is ever the same.
In my free time, you’ll find me camping, hiking, cooking, spending time with my rambunctious nieces and nephews, or curled up with a good book.
I look forward to meeting you and your family!
Ilana Stanger-Ross
Registered Midwife, Juniper Team
Ilana (she/her) co-founded The Midwives Collective in 2011. In addition to her UBC midwifery training, Ilana holds a BA in History from Columbia University (New York) and an MA in English/Creative Writing from Temple University (Philadelphia) and is the author of “A is for Advice (The Reassuring Kind): Wisdom for Pregnancy” (Harper Collins: 2019). A former Board Member of the College of Midwives of British Columbia, she now sits on the Inquiry committee for the BC College of Nurses and Midwives.
Ilana has a deep interest in medicine and feminism, which merge, for her, in the practice of midwifery. She has spent many years immersed in the joys and challenges of pregnancy and parenting as both a clinician and a mother, and feels immensely privileged to be part of such an important time in the lives of pregnant people and their families.
Julia Young
Office Manager
Julia has been the office manager for The Midwives Collective for the past three years. She is also a trained doula and a homeopathic practitioner with a specific interest in birth and early childhood. Julia has taught at Pacific Rim College and attended many workshops on birth related issues. She holds a BA in anthropology and prior to joining The Midwives Collective spent many years teaching fine arts to children.
Sarah Atkinson
Registered Midwife, Sage Team (on leave)
Sarah has been a practicing midwife since 2012. She loves providing client-centred, evidence-based care to childbearing families, in Canada and globally. She considers herself extremely lucky to be able to provide midwifery care in Victoria, her hometown.
Sarah holds a master’s degree in Public Health and is passionate about improving equity in global reproductive health and rights. She has spent two years working as a midwife with Doctors Without Borders and continues to be involved in global midwifery work.
Kelsey Christofi
Registered Midwife, Sage Team (on leave)
It is a privilege to be working with and supporting birthing people and their families at The Midwives Collective. I am honoured to bear witness to these transformative family events, and look forward to building relationships within these interactions.
I completed my midwifery training at UBC in 2018; I have worked with midwives and other maternity care providers in Victoria, Nelson, Richmond, Vancouver, and Mbale, Uganda. These opportunities have allowed me to deepen my compassion, skills, and support in my work with families, and to forge heartwarming connections. I am thrilled to be returning to Victoria to work with the lovely families in this community.
Previous to Midwifery school, I completed a Bachelors Degree in Biomedicine and International Development at McGill University in Montreal, and worked in the field of Maternal Global Health and HIV. I am currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Epidemiology at UBC, and for my thesis am investigating reasons for elevated rates of postpartum hemorrhage in Canada’s Northern populations. I am passionate about public health (and statistics!), and intend to continue working towards improving maternity care experiences for families in our country and globally.
I have a passion for serving birthing people of diverse needs in our local and global communities, and promoting equal access to respectful maternity care. Before becoming a midwife, I provided Doula services for clients with multiple social and economic barriers in Vancouver, and have worked as an educator in rural pregnancy health programs and women’s sexual health initiatives in diverse neighbourhoods in the Punjab, India and Uganda. These experiences, among others, have inspired me to become a care provider who facilitates pregnant people birthing their babies with power and dignity.
When taking a break from catching cute babies, I enjoy exploring by bike, karaoke, collecting Star Wars memorabilia, and most of all, adventuring with my new favourite little person- my son Arakletes (Ari). I look forward to meeting you and providing your family with compassionate care and support on this incredible journey!
Our Clinic
At The Midwives Collective, we strive to foster relationships and strengthen families. We are committed to our clients, our profession, and our community. We are leaders, teachers, writers, advocates, and mothers, working at home and abroad to ensure safe, nurturing, client-centered care for all pregnant people.
Our clinic is accessible, child-friendly, and community-focused. We are located in central Victoria, just past the intersection of Cook & Yates.
We have on-site parking and are well served by public transit. Our building offers a Lifelabs and a Rexall pharmacy, as well as its own café, and is fully wheelchair & stroller accessible.
We look forward to hearing from you, and supporting you through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum.
We are a UBC Teaching Practice
The Midwives Collective is a teaching site for midwifery, medical, and nursing students. We are committed to growing our profession and ensuring collaborative care; precepting students allows us to train the next generation of midwives and to introduce midwifery skills and practices to future health care providers.
We hope you will feel comfortable including learners in your care, and will always ensure that this is your choice to make.
A big thank you to birth photographer Shea Long at Coastal Lifestyles Photo and Liz Rubincam at Rubysmith Photography for the beautiful photos on our website, as well as to director Emma Lazenby for the wonderful illustrations from her film, “Mother of Many.”
- Alena
- Angela
- Jessica
- Anonymous
- Dana
-Danielle
Connect with us!
Our clinic is accessible, child-friendly, and community-focused. We are located in central Victoria, just past the intersection of Cook & Yates. We have on-site parking and are well served by public transit. Our building offers a Lifelabs and a Rexall pharmacy and is fully wheelchair & stroller accessible. We look forward to hearing from you, and supporting you through pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum.
Thank you to photographers Shea Long and Ashley Marston, as well as Director Emma Lazenby, for the use of their photos and images.
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