Yesterday's Friendly Rally at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital

Yesterday was the family friendly rally to support the reopening of obstetrics at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital. Quin & I, along with friends, Megan, Corinne, & Jodie, picked up the t-shirts provided by Dr. Jane Fowke, and headed to the rally about 5 PM. There were already a few people there, including Crazy Larry, our local good guy, who had giant balloons for the kids. The donated tent was not anywhere to be found, but the hospital had designated a spot for us to be, in their smaller park lot, in front of the building. They had hired two security guards earlier in the week, so we knew that we would not be let into the building. Local press were already there, from the Canmore Leader and Mountain FM. Eventually someone from the Rocky Mountain Outlook arrived, but the CBC never turn up but wow, the community sure did. I am not good at estimating these things but there were over one hundred people at the peak. Pam arrived with pizzas donated by Panago, and Wild Flour Bakery donated a bunch of food, in fact there was someone bringing it around on trays. Men, women, children, and dogs came out to lend their support. Megan, Jodie, Corinne, and Quin brought their posters to the road to get passing cars to honk. My friend, Kim, who is due on March 17th, came with her husband, Kevin. They are among the couples who did not have their child before Friday's closing of the ward, and will have to go to Canmore or Calgary when Kim goes into labor. She could have walked to BMS, I feel so bad for her. She is taking it in stride but was devastated when she was given the news....



At 6 PM, Dr. David Swann, the liberal leader for Alberta, arrived with Dr. Fowke, to speak with the crowd. From all the research I have done on him, he is a really good guy, who is very into rural community, the environment, and peace. He said that the government has mandated a 20% reduction in health care costs, and that while we are not the only rural community that has had the basic service of obstetrics removed from our hospital, we are the only community that has thus far put up a fight. He was inspiring to listen to, and Crazy Larry handed out transcripts of him going to bat for us in the legislature. Dr. Fowke also spoke, telling us how she had to deliver two babies in Canmore that day, when that hospital was over full, and when in Banff they had plenty of room. One of Pam's friends also spoke, about the horrible experience she had two years ago when she was medi vaced to Edmonton to give birth.





At one point we did march on the hospital, only to be locked out. Aside from this, people mostly spoke to one another about how unbelievable this whole thing is. There were many good signs, one of the best being the one below. And it is true.



Tomorrow there is a town meeting with the hospital administration. We have all been encouraged to attend with our kids. I think Andre will even be able to come with us. The turn out should be even better than the rally. Councillor Stavros Karlos will be asking some very difficult questions, among them many submitted by locals. I am excited about it so I must get to bed... For more photos you can check out my albums on Facebook.

My Little Activist - Banff Mineral Springs Hospital Plans to Shut Down Obstetrics Due to Nursing Shortage

The big news in these part has been the proposed "temporary" closing of the obstetrics services at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, due to a nursing shortage. There have been a few very difficult things to take as a far as this news. First, the Hospital tried to make this decision behind closed doors, but it was leaked to the public, so by the time they were able to come together to make their voices heard, the decision was pretty much made. Secondly, they didn't give any warning to the to the 12 women due to give birth there in the month of March, one of them a very good friend who is about to have her first child. Thirdly, the administrator of the hospital keeps pointing to their dedication to the safety of Moms and Babes in all of her interviews, yet as far as I am concerned they have mentally damaged many of these moms. And since I gave birth to my daughter naturally, I can truly say that being mentally ready is the biggest part. Many of these women have no idea where they may give birth tomorrow, and scores of women who are pregnant and set to give birth from now to 8 months from now, may have their current doctor retire if the service is discontinued. That leaves countless women scrambling for a doctor. Fourthly, the Canmore hospital can't possibly handle the increased demand on their services. Plus, they are 30 minutes away. And if they can't handle the load, women would need to go to Calgary, and hour and a half from Banff. Some women who give birth in Banff come from Lake Louise, Field, and further, so that means 2 - 3 hours for them! For more about this here are a couple of links:
Calgary Herald Article
Rocky Mountain Outlook Article


My friend and "boss" (she doesn't like it when I call her that, but I do work for her) and Ulrike, the woman who arranged the rally to support midwives in Calgary, quickly arranged a rally for last Friday. I LOVE a good rally, but since Pam was set to lead this, and to speak, I told her I would run the shop for the day. Quin and I arrived at 10 AM, I ran out to get permanent markers, and then she and I made signs while Pam wrote out her speech. Quin did go with us to the rally for midwives, and it was important to me to be a part of this rally, and to use it to teach her. She is going to be three in May, and I would not want to be hardcore about driving home our views to her, but I simply told her it is important that she express her opinions when she feels strongly about something, and to speak out so her voice can be heard. I do shelter her from things that are not age appropriate and that could damage her, but I use all other situations are a chance to teach her. Most things can be scaled down to a child's level. They are often happy with very little information, just enough to answer their questions, they don't need or want all the details. I am politically aware, passionate, and not afraid to voice my opinions, so she will continue to have opportunities to learn by my example.

I am currently pregnant, due to deliver in early June. My husband and I have planned a homebirth. We are under the care of an incredible midwife, one of only 32 currently in the province, and the only one closer than Cochrane. I am thrilled that our rally in Calgary did make a chance, and that as of April 1st, 2009, Calgary will cover midwifery services. I am blessed to be under the care of our midwife. Our daughter was "caught" by a midwife in Quebec, at an independent Birthing Centre (freestanding, not in a hospital) and it was an incredible experience. We believe in natural birth, and while some people "worry" about that, I trust my body and instincts, and am capable of giving birth without intervention. I am healthy, have low risk pregnancies, and a previous good birth. Our current midwife is not a direct entry midwife (4 years in University, specializing in pregnancy and birth, but not a nurse) but an RN specializing in obstetrics, so hopefully that dispells our families fears. Anyway, I can write on this more another time. All this being said, the closing of Obstetrics does not affect us nearly as much as it does our currently pregnant friends and neighbors who were planning to delivery at Mineral Springs, but it does affect us because it affects them. And because when I think of all the people who chose to live, work, play, and raise their children in this amazingly unique community, I am saddened to think of all the people who will miss the opportunity of giving birth here. The hospital says any closing will be temporary. Just three months. But many people in the know say that is if happens, it will likely happen for good...


Thanks to the rally the hospital decided to put of the decision for one week. This was a Calgary Herald article resulting from the rally.

I wrote personal emails to the hospital administrator and our local MLA. If you would like to do something to make your voice heard you can check out and join this Facebook group, Bow Valley Residents Supporting Banff's Labour & Delivery Program.

So it seems a decision on whether to close would be made by this coming Friday. However, it has been leaked that there was already a memo sent by internal mail that they will close for three months. Stay tuned for more...

My Little Activist - Banff Mineral Springs Hospital Plans to Shut Down Obstetrics Due to Nursing Shortage

The big news in these part has been the proposed "temporary" closing of the obstetrics services at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, due to a nursing shortage. There have been a few very difficult things to take as a far as this news. First, the Hospital tried to make this decision behind closed doors, but it was leaked to the public, so by the time they were able to come together to make their voices heard, the decision was pretty much made. Secondly, they didn't give any warning to the to the 12 women due to give birth there in the month of March, one of them a very good friend who is about to have her first child. Thirdly, the administrator of the hospital keeps pointing to their dedication to the safety of Moms and Babes in all of her interviews, yet as far as I am concerned they have mentally damaged many of these moms. And since I gave birth to my daughter naturally, I can truly say that being mentally ready is the biggest part. Many of these women have no idea where they may give birth tomorrow, and scores of women who are pregnant and set to give birth from now to 8 months from now, may have their current doctor retire if the service is discontinued. That leaves countless women scrambling for a doctor. Fourthly, the Canmore hospital can't possibly handle the increased demand on their services. Plus, they are 30 minutes away. And if they can't handle the load, women would need to go to Calgary, and hour and a half from Banff. Some women who give birth in Banff come from Lake Louise, Field, and further, so that means 2 - 3 hours for them! For more about this here are a couple of links:
Calgary Herald Article
Rocky Mountain Outlook Article


My friend and "boss" (she doesn't like it when I call her that, but I do work for her) and Ulrike, the woman who arranged the rally to support midwives in Calgary, quickly arranged a rally for last Friday. I LOVE a good rally, but since Pam was set to lead this, and to speak, I told her I would run the shop for the day. Quin and I arrived at 10 AM, I ran out to get permanent markers, and then she and I made signs while Pam wrote out her speech. Quin did go with us to the rally for midwives, and it was important to me to be a part of this rally, and to use it to teach her. She is going to be three in May, and I would not want to be hardcore about driving home our views to her, but I simply told her it is important that she express her opinions when she feels strongly about something, and to speak out so her voice can be heard. I do shelter her from things that are not age appropriate and that could damage her, but I use all other situations are a chance to teach her. Most things can be scaled down to a child's level. They are often happy with very little information, just enough to answer their questions, they don't need or want all the details. I am politically aware, passionate, and not afraid to voice my opinions, so she will continue to have opportunities to learn by my example.

I am currently pregnant, due to deliver in early June. My husband and I have planned a homebirth. We are under the care of an incredible midwife, one of only 32 currently in the province, and the only one closer than Cochrane. I am thrilled that our rally in Calgary did make a chance, and that as of April 1st, 2009, Calgary will cover midwifery services. I am blessed to be under the care of our midwife. Our daughter was "caught" by a midwife in Quebec, at an independent Birthing Centre (freestanding, not in a hospital) and it was an incredible experience. We believe in natural birth, and while some people "worry" about that, I trust my body and instincts, and am capable of giving birth without intervention. I am healthy, have low risk pregnancies, and a previous good birth. Our current midwife is not a direct entry midwife (4 years in University, specializing in pregnancy and birth, but not a nurse) but an RN specializing in obstetrics, so hopefully that dispells our families fears. Anyway, I can write on this more another time. All this being said, the closing of Obstetrics does not affect us nearly as much as it does our currently pregnant friends and neighbors who were planning to delivery at Mineral Springs, but it does affect us because it affects them. And because when I think of all the people who chose to live, work, play, and raise their children in this amazingly unique community, I am saddened to think of all the people who will miss the opportunity of giving birth here. The hospital says any closing will be temporary. Just three months. But many people in the know say that is if happens, it will likely happen for good...


Thanks to the rally the hospital decided to put of the decision for one week. This was a Calgary Herald article resulting from the rally.

I wrote personal emails to the hospital administrator and our local MLA. If you would like to do something to make your voice heard you can check out and join this Facebook group, Bow Valley Residents Supporting Banff's Labour & Delivery Program.

So it seems a decision on whether to close would be made by this coming Friday. However, it has been leaked that there was already a memo sent by internal mail that they will close for three months. Stay tuned for more...

Funding for Alberta Midwives NOW

Today, Andre, Quin, & I went to Calgary to participate in a protest. Actually I would call it more of a rally. It was an event to protest the lack of funding for midwives in Alberta. I have always secretly wanted to be an activist, and this was my kind of rally, upbeat and positive.



I read about it in the local Banff weekly, The Crag and Canyon. May 6th is the International Day of the Midwife. A local woman, named Ulrike, planned this rally because she had her first child with the help of a midwife, in German, at no cost. Much like us, when she moved to Banff, she found out it would cost $3,250 to work with a midwife. She had her second child in Banff, at the Mineral Springs Hospital, with a doctor.



We had our daughter in Quebec, at a birthing centre, with two lovely midwives, at no cost, and it was the best experience we could ever hope for. Throw in on of my best friends, who was not only our doula but who was our chiropractor, and it was more than we could have ever dreamed. We moved to Alberta, the richest province in Canada, and found out that not only would we have to pay $44 a month, each, for our health care, but that if we wanted a midwife it would cost us over $3,000. Alberta is the only province in Canada that regulates midwives but doesn’t fund their practice. It is ridiculous when it has been proven that midwives save the province money, while providing women and men a safe, nature alternative to what has become the traditional, over medicalized North America way of birth.



These issues are something we are familiar with and are close to our heart. We are willing to pay the out of pocket cost if we have a second child because we believe in midwives. However, we would like to see the government fund this. In order for that to happen, in order to make a change, our voices need to be heard. I was thrilled when Andre read the same article, pointed it out to me, and said we should go to this rally. It is important that we be there. And if Ulrike, can arrange this whole event, while breastfeeding her 1 month old son, then we could certainly be there.



It was well attended by both the media and the public, the weather held out and even got sunny at the end. We marched once around the block, and I got extremely emotional, seeing all these people coming together to make their voices and beliefs heard. I will never forget it. Quin seemed quite happy to be there, she even commendeared someone's sign and held it for a long time. I think it was the flowers ;)