Meet The Midwives

Guelph Midwives is a collective of practitioners focused on promoting normal birth and client-centred care throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum. All of our Midwives are registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario and maintain current certifications in CPR, NRP and Emergency skills. Click on each pod below to see team members.

Guelph Midwives is also a teaching practice. Each team of midwives is complemented by the involvement of a student. By welcoming student involvement, you are helping to grow the midwifery profession!

Pod A Pod B Pod C Pod E Pod F

IWONA KEMPA

Iwona Kempa received her midwifery education in Poland. She graduated from Midwifery College in 1987 and worked in a Level 3 Obstetrical Hospital in Warsaw. During her five years of work in Poland, she conducted over 200 deliveries. In Canada, she successfully completed the Midwifery Prior Learning Assessment in 1998. Iwona joined Guelph Midwives in 2000 and has attended over 1100 births as a primary and secondary midwife. Iwona was Chief of the Department of Midwifery at Guelph General Hospital between 2006-2012. She also held the position as chair of the Obstetrical Quality Care Committee at Guelph General Hospital for 6 years. She is a Partner with Guelph Midwives.

GLORIA GIRARD

Gloria Girard I learned so much from my own midwives about choice, and compassionate, empowering care. It was after my own childbearing experiences that I decided to pursue this amazing career of midwifery. I’ve since had the opportunities to work in the GTA, Waterloo & Wellington regions, and with a short spell in Nunavut. In each of these places I have loved welcoming new families into being, in all their diversity. When not working, I try to take full advantage of the surrounding wild places with hiking and foraging plants, or just hunting vintage and catching up on reading.
I look forward to meeting you all and being part of your care!

SARAH CRESSMAN

Sarah Cressman (she/her) graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University in 2005. She practiced midwifery in downtown Toronto for 6 years and joined Guelph Midwives in 2012. Sarah seeks to provide compassionate care that is from a trauma-informed and anti-oppressive framework. She has a special interest in perinatal mental health and welcomes working with parents in the LGBTQIA community.
Sarah lives in Guelph with her young children.

SHANA BLACKBURN

Shana Blackburn graduated from the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University in 2003 and has been practicing with Guelph Midwives since that time. Prior to obtaining her degree in Health Sciences in Midwifery from McMaster, she studied for two years at the University of Guelph majoring in Biology with a focus of electives in Women’s Studies. Shana was drawn to midwifery at a young age after attending several births while still in high school and witnessing midwives at work. After over a decade of practice, Shana remains passionate about her work as a midwife. Shana has volunteered her time on several leadership committees at Guelph General Hospital including the Maternal Newborn Quality Team. In her free time, she loves going on canoe trips with her family and hiking with her dog. Shana lives in Guelph with her partner and two children.

LEAH SIEBERT

Leah Seibert (she/her) has been a midwife since 2008, when she received her Bachelors of Midwifery from the University of British Columbia. She practiced midwifery in Vancouver until 2022, and also taught emergency and newborn resuscitation skills to student midwives and registered midwives for many years in BC.

To Leah, midwifery is both an art and a science, a career and a calling. She feels honoured to be able to accompany families along their journeys of pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Having grown up in Guelph, she is very pleased to be returning to her roots and is excited to become re-acquainted with the city and region.

Katy Saffery

LAUREN MOLYNEAUX

Lauren Molyneaux graduated from the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University in 2016. Prior to working as a Registered Midwife, Lauren obtained her degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009 and worked as a Registered Nurse in many areas of nursing including home and hospital settings in the Guelph area. It was during this time she went on a mission’s trip to Costa Rica where she started the path of midwifery as she thrived on witnessing and helping guide women through this natural part of life. Since graduating from Midwifery, she has since worked in the Waterloo and Wellington regions. She has and continues to feel privileged to witness a woman’s journey into motherhood as well as welcoming children into families lives. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her partner and son outside exploring on land or on water. When not outside, Lauren enjoys being curled up knitting with a hot tea in hand.

LEAH BARRIAGE (On Leave)

Leah Barriage graduated from the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University in 2017. She had an interest in pregnancy and birth since a young age and realized she could turn her interest into a career after discovering midwifery. Throughout her midwifery education, Leah completed placements all over Southern Ontario, including working with midwives, nurses, social workers and obstetricians. Following her senior year at Guelph Midwives, Leah was thrilled to join the team as a registered midwife. She is excited to continue working in the Guelph area, supporting families as they grow!

NATALIE DYKSTRA

Natalie (Godwin) Dykstra graduated from McMaster University with a degree in Health Sciences (Midwifery) in 2019. Following her senior year with Pod F working both in Guelph and Fergus locations, she was hired to officially join the team. Spending her childhood overseas she has a respect for diversity and the commonalities humans share. Prior to becoming a midwife, Natalie previously worked as a research scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa studying gut health and probiotic use for babies born via caesarian section. She received her Master’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa in 2006 working in Crohn’s and Colitis research. She is published and has delivered talks at pediatric conferences in North America discussing the microbiome. Her fascination with human biology and the birth process, combined with a passion for informed choice is what led Natalie to become a midwife. She is honoured to be part of such a supportive team of healthcare providers. When not catching babies, Natalie may be found spending time with her partner and daughters camping with boardgames and a coffee in hand.

SAMANTHA LANDRY

Samantha Landry is a recent graduate of the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University. Prior to her midwifery training she completed a Master of Science degree in Family Relations and Human Development at the University of Guelph where she focused on the psychophysiology of sexual health. This in combination with her midwifery education have allowed her to keep researching the experiences of folks with alternative family structures with pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Sam is particularly passionate about reproductive justice, inclusive practice, and making midwifery more accessible. Originally from small-town New Brunswick, Sam is part of the Midwifery Association of New Brunswick and hopes to one day see midwives practicing in her hometown. In her free time she likes spending time with her family and chosen family, crafting and quilting, and camping.

GABRIELLE HAMMOND-KANNEGIETER

Gabrielle Hammond-Kannegieter graduated from midwifery school in Heerlen, the Netherlands, in 1993. She worked in both solo and group practices, attending both home and hospital births. Gabrielle immigrated to Canada in 1995 and now lives in Elora with her husband, four children and sixteen animals. She became eligible for Ontario registration through the Prior Learning Assessment program of the College of Midwives of Ontario, and was registered in June 1997. She has attended over 1200 births. Gabrielle is one of the founding members and partner with Guelph Midwives and past liaison Midwife at Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Fergus.

MATAYA MILNE

Mataya Milne (She/Her) graduated from the McMaster Midwifery Education Program in 2022. During the program, she did placements in: lactation specializing in NICU lactation support, pelvic floor physiotherapy, crown point expanded midwifery scope, obstetrics, nursing, NICU, and of course midwifery. Her senior year of midwifery placements was with Pod F where she was hired to return as a midwife. Prior to her midwifery degree, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Science specializing in Health Research from the University of Waterloo. Mataya provides care for births at home and hospital, holding privileges at both Groves Memorial Community Hospital and Guelph General Hospital. Mataya chose to pursue midwifery because the model of care being founded on informed choice and continuity of care allows her to create strong relationships with her clients. Her hope is that her clients feel safe and empowered during their pregnancies, births, and postpartum journeys. Outside of midwifery, Mataya and her partner live with their 2 cats on a few acres just outside of Fergus. Between visits and births Mataya can usually be found reading a good book or knitting baby hats. When she is off-call, she can be found playing piano, harp, working with her hands in the garden, at the pottery wheel, or with a paintbrush.

MICHELE TUCK (On Leave)

Michele Tuck has been practicing midwifery since graduating from the McMaster Education Program in 2018. Prior to completing her midwifery training, she earned an Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of Waterloo. Before joining Guelph midwives, Michele served clients in Fergus and further north where she gained valuable experience in home births. Since becoming a midwife Michele has worked at Groves Memorial Community Hospital and is now delighted to be working at Guelph General Hospital as well. Michele has a deep love for community, connection and team building. She also enjoys being active and brings lots of positive energy to her midwifery care. Do not be surprised, if on her off-call time, you see her on a hike with her family in tow (big dog, 2 kids, chickens and her always supportive partner). Michele feels strongly connected with the midwifery profession as she is passionate about empowering individuals to help them maintain their autonomy over their health care, during such a vulnerable yet exciting time in one’s life. Michele is looking forward to meeting you and your growing family.