MIDWIVES OF MUSKOKA
Barbara Borland, RM
Barbara Borland graduated from the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University in 1999, and began working with Countryside Midwifery Services in Millbank Ontario, serving a predominantly Old Order Mennonite and Amish population. After the home birth of her second daughter in 2000, Barbara began working with the newly formed Cambridge Midwives. Two and a half years later, after the home water birth of her third daughter, Barbara accepted a position with the neighbouring Community Midwives of Brantford. In 2005 Barb, along with now retired midwife, Dianne Smith opened the midwifery practice in Muskoka.
Aside from her midwifery degree, Barbara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph, with a major in Women’s Studies and a minor in Psychology. She has also worked as a Pastry Chef, and a Counselor in a women’s crisis shelter and at a residence for teenage mothers. Barbara’s work within these diverse communities has given her a unique understanding of the varying needs of women and a passionate desire to help her clients have the most up to date information, as well as the wisdom of the ages, and be allowed the space to make their own informed decisions about how and where they give birth to their babies.
Sarah Jean Smith, RM
Sarah grew up in the Ottawa area and in Nashville (Music City, USA). Muskoka and Huntsville have been her home since 2000. She loves living in Muskoka in the straw-bale house she built and working in Muskoka as a Registered Midwife.
Sarah graduated from Ryerson University’s Midwifery Education Programme in the Spring of 2007. Her training has been with midwives in Owen Sound, Collingwood and Thunder Bay. She has also done placements with doctors and nurses in the Huntsville and Orillia hospitals and at Mount Sinai. Sarah has worked with urban, suburban and rural women.
Sarah also has a degree in Women Studies from Trent University, which has been beneficial to her midwifery practice. Sarah sees midwifery as the perfect way to combine a social-science heart with a science-leaning brain to create an exciting and rewarding career.
Dawn Dawson, RM
Shortly after the home water birth of her second child (who was lovingly caught by a Midwife of Muskoka), Dawn decided to finally pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a midwife. Dawn graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University, with honors, and is now thrilled to join the midwives who inspired and mentored her every step of the way. Throughout her education, Dawn was guided by a variety of health care providers including midwives, an obstetrician, labour and delivery nurses, and lactation consultants. Before becoming a midwife, Dawn spent many years working in Canada and Switzerland as a Registered Massage Therapist, specializing in prenatal massage. She also assisted the Midwives of Muskoka as a second attendant and volunteered with the Friends of Muskoka Midwives. Dawn is thrilled to continue to grow her family's roots in this beautiful region and committed to providing safe, woman centered care for Muskoka families.
Jocelyn Latter, RM
Jocelyn has lived and worked in Muskoka with her partner and 2 children (both born to Midwives of Muskoka) for 13 years prior to relocating to Quinte to work as a midwife there. She is now thrilled to be back home, serving the clients and families in this region. Jocelyn graduated with honors from the Midwifery Program at Ryerson University, where she trained with health care professionals in Toronto, Barrie, Collingwood, Parry Sound, Orillia and Bracebridge across a range of professions.
Prior to her career in midwifery, Jocelyn worked as a wilderness instructor and heritage carpenter in various locations across Ontario and Alberta. Through these avenues, the roots of her passion for what midwives do began long before she was a midwife. From wilderness travel, Jocelyn saw time and again how overcoming physical and mental challenges can transform perceptions of self; and through carpentry, she learned that respect for traditional skills and patience with the process yields the best results.
In midwifery, she has found a way to combine many of her strengths, such as patience, teaching, hands-on-skills and shoveling snow in a hurry. Jocelyn is proud to be able to bring her skills and advocacy back to families of Muskoka.
Kathleen Perecko, RM, MHS
Kathleen is a midwife, wife, and mother. She graduated from the midwifery program through Laurentian University, and has a graduate degree through Athabasca University. Her thesis was written on obstetrical trauma in maternity care and healing aware practices for maternity care providers, which has foundationally influenced her practice. Kathleen's approach to midwifery includes being intentional with the relationships she build with families in her care, encouraging non-hierarchical and collaborative relationships with families and colleagues, and working within a social justice framework. Kathleen enjoys opportunities to engage in research, mentor students, and teach.
Kathleen has worked in both BC and Ontario, in rural and urban settings, on islands and in the far north. She loves being a midwife - it is an art and a science, but most of all it is an honour to be involved in the transformational experiences of birth and parenting. Kathleen truly believes that when people are supported and valued, they have space to explore and make decisions that are right for them. By investing in families and communities, she believes midwifery care can change the world.
When Kathleen is "not working", chances are she is running after her three young kids, enjoying a big cup of coffee, or trying to take a nap.
Jessica Valcourt-Gagnon, RM
Hello/Aanii Friends!
Jessica is so excited and grateful to be a member of Midwives of Muskoka. She began her education in health sciences at Georgian College, and it was during this time she discovered and gained interest in a holistic approach to health care. After some research, and volunteering at a midwifery practice she discovered the world of midwifery and immediately knew it was meant for her. Jessica is one of the last students to graduate from Laurentian University with a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery. During the four years in the program, she had the opportunity to work in Markham, Downtown Toronto, Alliston and Muskoka working alongside midwives, obstetricians, nurses and lactation consultants. Jessica is from Serpent River First Nations, Ontario and primarily grew up in Northern Ontario. She loves living in the country and is excited to get to know the surrounding communities here in Muskoka. Jessica is honoured and truly appreciates the opportunity to provide care to families within the community she is now calling home.
When Jessica isn't catching babies, you can find her drinking coffee, exploring the outdoors, hiking or painting!