Episode 01: Looking Back at "Her" Story: Musings of an Alberta Midwifery Forerunner
In this episode, we talk with Joy West-Eklund, RM (Retired), Alberta midwifery forerunner, founder of community-based midwifery practice, Calgary and District Midwifery Associates (now Briar Hill Midwives), and co-founder of the Briar Hill Birth Centre (now Arbour Birth Centre) in Calgary. Joy joins us to talk about her fascinating career and trailblazing efforts to advance the growth and sustainability of midwives and midwifery services in Alberta.
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About Joy West-Eklund, RM (Retired)
Joy studied midwifery in the 1970s in Sydney, Australia, following several years as a registered nurse in a labour and delivery unit of a large hospital in Calgary. It had long been her dream to be a midwife, and no midwifery education programs existed in Canada at that time.
In 1991, Joy was in the first group of midwives to be part of the Nurse-Midwifery Program at Foothills Medical Centre. Following several years there, she began a community-based midwifery practice, Calgary and District Midwifery Associates, and co-founded the Briar Hill Birth Centre (now Arbour Birth Centre) in Calgary. Birthing people were asking for home births, and Joy had a strong belief in providing that sensible choice. The Program did not support that option.
This was when midwifery was not recognized as a profession, not regulated nor funded, and there was no access to hospital admitting privileges. There was strong opposition from most physicians. One had to be resolute and determined, with the courage of their convictions!
Over the next 30 years or so, amid a busy practice, and mentoring/precepting many students, Joy had a hand in moving midwifery forward, beginning with establishing the Alberta Association of Midwives in 1986. Midwifery was officially recognized in the legislature as a profession in 1992, regulations were developed, and the first group of midwives were licensed and registered in 1998.
After many years and a great deal of effort, hospital privileges were granted in 2000, and Joy was appointed the first Division Chief of Midwifery in the Calgary Health Region. At last, publicly funded midwifery care was available to Alberta women and other birthing people in 2009.
Following that, the College of Midwives of Alberta was established and a baccalaureate degree program initiated in Alberta at Mount Royal University. Joy has enjoyed her time as a visiting lecturer at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, and at Acadia University, Women’s Studies.
She retired from active practice in 2013 and continues to be involved in the College of Midwives of Alberta in various capacities. When she looks back, Joy is most grateful for the privilege of caring for families and attending them during their births and beyond. It has been a most wonderful journey and one that Joy is proud of. For Joy, it is a real delight that her daughter Emily is currently attending Mount Royal University, eager to begin life as a midwife!
