Countryside Midwifery Services
Palmerston Midwives
Allie Nickels, RM
I grew up in Sauble Beach and Meaford area leaving for school in Guelph and Hamilton.
I fell in love with midwifery care while at the University of Guelph and know it is a privilege to serve local families.
I believe wholeheartedly in informed choice and am happy to have a role in supporting families as they grow.
When I am off call I love to go to the beach or share a meal with friends and family.
Amy Sjaarda, RM
I was born and raised in rural Ontario, and am so pleased to be caring for and serving the communities around Countryside Midwives. I have been practicing midwifery in this community since 2010 and continue to learn about the beauty and wonder of birth in all its forms from the families I meet. My family and I currently live by Mount Forest on a small farm and enjoy all that the area has to offer.
Cathy Kipp, RM
I am from Meaford Ontario and completed my Midwifery training in England where I met my husband. He has been an essential part of the work I do by keeping life flowing with our 3 children and supporting me to do this work that I love. I have been a midwife at Countryside since 2001 and am passionate about holistic health care and helping women through the birthing process.
Emily Roth, RM
My name is Emily and I have been practicing as a midwife since 2015. I came into midwifery after working on a research project at McMaster University during my first degree in kinesiology. I fell in love with the holistic approach midwifery provides to women and am excited to be here at Countryside where alternative natural and herbal options are offered. I believe strongly that women should be supported and empowered to make decisions in pregnancy and the postpartum. I grew up on a dairy farm in New Hamburg and have since moved to Listowel. In my spare time I will usually be found doing some variation of physical activity or with my dog Arlow.
Mhairi Colgate, RM
I grew up across southern Ontario, and fell in love with midwifery when my sister was born at home when I was 6.
I completed my training at a birth center in El Paso, Texas, and worked in Manitoba before coming home to Ontario to join Countryside. I love rural life, and enjoy the local trails with my husband and three dogs.
Sabrina Blaise, RM
I grew up in rural areas west of Ottawa and in Quebec. I knew by the end of my first pregnancy in 1999 that I wanted to become a midwife. I felt blessed to receive the care I had in that first pregnancy and believed so strongly in women’s right to choice in childbirth that I felt compelled to join this courageous growing profession. I graduated from Ryerson University’s Midwifery Education Program in 2010 and began practicing at Countryside, where I’ve happily been ever since. I trained and worked as a Registered Massage Therapist for a decade before becoming a midwife, and I continue to study part-time, completing a Masters degree in health professions education in 2015, and currently working toward my doctorate. My family calls Mount Forest our home, and I’m very grateful to live and work in this lovely area.
Milverton Midwives
Catherine Goudy, RM
I decided to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a midwife after being a stay at home mother. I returned to high school in January of 2000 and after graduating from high school I spent one year at a midwifery school in Gainsville Florida. In the fall of 2003 I was accepted into the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University and went on to graduate in 2007 with a BHSc Midwifery! I have been working at Countryside Midwifery Services since graduation.
My husband Vern and I have three grown children Lesley, Josh and Carrie. We have been extremely blessed with seventeen fantastic grandchildren who fill our lives with love.
My commitment to midwifery follows a belief in Upholding and Growing in the art of traditional midwifery. My life has been enriched by the caring group of skilled midwives I work with at Countryside, as well as the families whose births I have been privileged to be a part of!! My love for practicing Midwifery has grown over the years. I Love this work and this community!!
Cindy Soulliere, RM
I have a passion for rural health, informed choice and outreach to women and their families. I grew up in a small town in Essex County and have lived in Wellesley since 2006 when I started here at Countryside Midwives. It is such a privilege to have the opportunity to work in this community and be part of a vibrant rural area with so many amazing people and families.
Jill Nafziger, RM
Hi, my name is Jill Nafziger and I have been working as a Registered Midwife at Countryside Midwifery Services since 2013. I live in Stratford with my husband, and when I’m not catching babies, I enjoy reading, crocheting, camping and playing board games.
Lia Fisher, RM
I grew up in Cambridge, ON. I attended McGill University for Anatomy and Cell biology, then Laurentian University for Midwifery. I currently live in Stratford, ON with my family. I have a 2.5 yr old daughter Emelia, husband Matthew and another little one on the way January 2020.
I became a midwife through my passion for holistic healthcare, feminism, nerdy anatomy fascination and admiration of the strength of women. I enjoy cooking, yoga, board games, hiking and various outdoor adventures.
Valérie Groulx, RM
Hi, my name is Valérie (Val) Groulx. I grew up east of Ottawa in a little French community. From there I have moved many places for my studies in midwifery before finally settling in Listowel to work at Countryside. To be able to be part of such a special time of change in families and helping parents make choices that are right for them is what makes midwifery unique to me. When I'm not working you will find me taking care of my two cats and my ever-growing plant collection, or trying new recipes.
Tiffani Sabri, RM
Hi, my name is Tiffani and I was raised in both Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford. Before I became a midwife, I completed a degree in fine arts at the University of Waterloo. It was after the birth of my first baby that I was drawn to midwifery. I love getting to know my clients and supporting them to make the choices that are right for them and their family. When I am not catching babies, you can find me spending time with my family and making art. I look forward to supporting the wonderful families in this community!
Adrienne Ryan, RM
Madeleine Clin, RM
Madeleine is an amazing midwife who founded what we now know as Countryside Midwives. Many people over many communities will have had her as their midwife, and she has helped generations of families to welcome their babies. Madeleine retired from on-call life in 2020, and hopes to continue being involved in the community for locum work and through her work at the Association of Ontario Midwives.