Rachel is the Administrative Receptionist at Community Midwives of Thunder Bay. Rachel grew up in Thunder Bay and is a graduate of both Lakehead University and Confederation College. She has a diverse professional background that includes experience working in healthcare, customer service and administration. Rachel finds it very rewarding to contribute her administrative skills to an organization that promotes the health of local women and their growing families.
Alex Sieswerda has been a registered midwife in Thunder Bay since 2001. Born and raised in Thunder Bay she has a biology degree from Lakehead University and received her midwifery education at McMaster University. She is grateful to have chosen a carreer that she has continued to love and grow in over the years. When she isn’t practicing, you can find her sailing, quilting, reading or playing board games with family and friends.
Status: Team 🌺 Pink
Nathalie is from Fauquier-Strickland, a small village in Northeastern Ontario. Nathalie started the Programme de formation des Sages-Femmes (Midwifery Education Program) at Laurentian University in 2001. As part of the her education, Nathalie completed placements in Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Kenora, and Moose Factory. Nathalie started her career as a Registered Midwife in Kenora and did locum positions in Hearst and Puvirnituq. Nathalie is now a Partner Midwife at Community Midwives of Thunder Bay, a Neonatal Resuscitation Program instructor and a Fetal Health Surveillance instructor. Nathalie is happy to offer midwifery care in both English and en français and is looking forward to provide comprehensive prenatal care to families and help them achieve a positive birth experience.
Satus: Team 🌺 Pink
Amy is humbled and honored to now have worked in the maternity care setting in Thunder Bay for close to 20 years! Thunder Bay is her hometown and she feels a special connection to the city and the people living here. She graduated from Laurentian University receiving a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree – Midwifery in the spring of 2007. Prior to becoming involved with midwifery, Amy completed a Bachelor of Science degree – Biology at Lakehead University. It is through her own experience of childbearing and mothering that Amy has found herself working in her chosen profession. Amy feels the most important part of midwifery care is being able to provide informed choice to our clients. Encouraging, watching and allowing clients to become primary decision makers in their care is essential to her practice. Being a former midwifery client herself, she feels midwifery provided her a first glimpse and understanding of what compassionate, respectful, holistic, and family oriented medical care could be.
Status: Team 🍊 Orange
Lorena was born in Sudbury and raised in the Fraser Valley (near Vancouver, BC) and is of mixed Italian and Indigenous descent. She has lived in cities big and small throughout Canada and spent a year in Germany. Lorena is a mother of two and it is through her experience of becoming a mother that she was motivated to follow her passion for maternal and child health into becoming a midwife. Lorena loves that she can use both her head and heart while working as a midwife. Lorena graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science (Hon) in Cell and Developmental Biology (2010) and the University of Manitoba with a Master of Science in Community Health Sciences (2016). She has also spent time working and living with adults with developmental disabilities. She graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University (2019) and is deeply grateful to the midwives and communities that shaped her training. When not in clinic or catching babies, Lorena can be found reading, travelling, cooking and spending time in nature with her family. Lorena is strongly motivated to provide compassionate and culturally competent care to the families she accompanies in midwifery care and is grateful to support people during this transformative time.
Status: Team 🍊 Orange
Ashley is a graduate of the Midwifery Education Program (MEP) at Laurentian University, with the class of 2018. She graduated with a Bachelor of Heath Sciences – Midwifery (hons). Ashley is ecstatic and humbled to have joined the fabulous group of midwives in Thunder Bay. She was born in rural Manitoba but has been living in Thunder Bay for over fifteen years. She graduate from St. Ignatius High School and started her university career at Lakehead University before leaving for Sudbury, Ontario to follow her dream of becoming a midwife. Throughout her education Ashley has been able to gain midwifery experience in both Southern and Northern Ontario. She completed her last two years of clinical placement in Thunder Bay where she had the opportunity to learn from Labour & Delivery / NICU nurses, a local Obstetrician, as well as the Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program in a variety of Northern communities. Ashley loves Thunder Bay and the amazing opportunities that it offers. She is so thankful and thrilled to be working in her chosen career in the city where her passion for Midwifery was first sparked!
Status: Team 🍊 Orange
Abby spent countless hours in her final year as a student working with Community Midwives of Thunder Bay. Abby finished her requirements to transition from a New Registrant Midwife to a General Registrant Midwife in the spring of 2023. Abby is enthusiastic, energetic and displays the utmost care and compassion for our pregnant clients and their babies.
Status: Team 💛 Yellow
Ellen is from London Ontario. She felt a calling to midwifery due to the person centred care and intimate nature of the work. Ellen completed her training through the McMaster Midwifery Education program. After graduating Ellen worked in northern BC as a midwife. She started at Community Midwives in September of 2024. Thunder Bay has always been a special place for Ellen after tree planting in the area many years ago. She is excited to be building a community here! Ellen also has a degree in international development. She is passionate about the environment, good food, knitting and getting outside with friends and her dog Lucybell.
Status: Team 💛 Yellow
Status: Joining Team 💛 Yellow July 2025
Heather grew up in rural Manitoba, in the community of Morden. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Winnipeg, as well as a Bachelor of Education with specialization in French at Lakehead University. Prior to pursuing her studies in Midwifery, Heather enjoyed teaching in Thunder Bay and Atikokan. She graduated from the Programme de formation des Sages-Femmes (Midwifery Education Program) at Laurentian University in 2020. Over the course of her studies, Heather has served families across rural Ontario from Palmerston to Temiskaming. Heather has a particular interest in northern communities; she completed an elective placement with an Indigenous Registered Midwife in Thunder Bay followed by her senior year at Community Midwives. Heather spends her spare time adventuring in the wilderness on skis or by canoe. Heather has always been passionate about health and wellness and is excited to continue supporting the families of Thunder Bay by providing quality maternity care. Heather is currently on a well deserved parental leave. She will be returning in January 2026.
Status: On Leave 🤰
Please complete our online ‘Request A Midwife’ form or call us directly at (807)-622-BABY.