Hat making was a family affair last week at Haliburton School of Art + Design. From left Brittany Godlien Morgan Rich Layla Rich and Mary Ann Rich all from the same family model the hats they created in Millinery – The Art of Hat Making taught by Karyn Gingras. /JENN WATT Staff By Angelica Ingram
After nearly seven years of being tucked away in the lower level of Stedman’s Mall the Haliburton-Bancroft Midwifery Services has relocated to a bright spacious location on the corner of Victoria Street and Pine Avenue.
This past summer the practice moved to its new home at 64 Victoria St. a move the founder is very excited about.
Rebecca Weeks started the practice following a conversation she had in 2006 with area doctor Norm Bottum.
Not long after the clinic opened the Central East LHIN announced it was removing the sole birthing bed in the area said Weeks.
The clinic however forged on and now has three midwives on staff including Weeks Lori Steele and recent addition Tiffany Holdsworth-Taylor.
The midwives have hospital privileges at three nearby facilities: Orillia Bracebridge and Peterborough.
They are also highly trained to conduct home births a choice that is quite common amongst their clients said Weeks.
Funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care the services are free and the midwives are available and on-call 24/7 for their clients.
This year has a been a busy one for the practice with Weeks estimating the midwives have had between 30 and 45 clients.
Many of their clients come back to the practice for the delivery of their next baby or just for a visit.
“It’s always interesting to see them after they were just a tiny baby” said Weeks.
The walls within the new location are covered with collages of baby photos and smiling families sometimes there’s even cards of thanks written by the mothers or the children.
Across the top of the walls a string of hearts floats throughout the house each with its own name and birthdate representing the babies the midwives helped bring into the world.
The photos and crafts demonstrate the special place the practice has in the hearts of those who come through the doors.
“It’s great working in a small community” said Weeks.
The Midwifery Services of Haliburton-Bancroft can be reached at 705-457-9992 or visit www.haliburtonbancroftmidwives.ca.
