Meet the team

Meet The Team

Mahnaz Najafian, RM

Registered Midwife

Mahnaz started exploring midwifery at a young age and knew it was the path for her after hearing the stories of women and birth from her Grandmother, a midwife. In her home country of Iran, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery degree from Shiraz University in 1989 and practiced for six years before immigrating to Canada. During this time, Mahnaz was awarded the role of supervisor and managed the daily tasks of a hospital’s labour and delivery unit including 7 midwives. She became licensed to practice in Ontario in 2007 and worked with the rural practice in Leamington, Midwifery Collective of Essex County. Given her experience, Mahnaz was a natural fit for Midwives of East Erie which she joined in January 2010. She is able to offer care in English and Persian, and feels a special bond to other immigrant women who are facing the challenges of living in a new culture.

Monica McPherson, RM

Registered Midwife

Monica has graduated, with honours, from the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery at McMaster University in 2017. She has strong Acadian roots, born and raised in Saint John NB. Midwifery seems to be in her DNA as her great grandmother was a midwife in the north shore of NB.

Monica’s love for Midwifery has been shaped throughout the years. Her passion for women’s issues has lead her to the field of social services where she spent many years advocating for women and families. Then after having children she went back to school at which time she developed a deep appreciation for science. Her passion for women's issues and science collided and the calling to Midwifery was birthed. She has not looked back since and continues to be thankful and honored to be with women in the profession of Midwifery.

Monica is married and the proud mom of 5 children. She feels privileged to work alongside such talented Midwives at Midwives of East Erie. Together serving families in the community that she is raising her own family in, Haldimand/Norfolk County, and has called home for over 17 years.

Jem Deguire, RM

Registered Midwife, Locum for East Erie

I am so grateful for the gift of joining you and the birth work communities along
Lake Erie this winter and spring. What a humbling opportunity.
I graduated from McMaster University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Health Sciences
degree in Midwifery and since then have been gaining wisdom through
experiences learning from babies, birthing people, their supports and my fellow
colleagues. I spent the first six years of practice working primarily in Southern
Ontario and the last decade doing locum midwifery work in Nunavik. In late 2017
I moved onto Wolastoq land in New Brunswick to pivot my lifestyle toward off grid
homesteading, self sufficiency in a small community and birth work. Since then I
have had a little girl and am keen to spend more time in the Great Lakes area,
closer to family and my roots.

I have a strong commitment to holding space for folx to navigate and experience
their unique journey into parenthood. I equally value supporting my colleagues in
their irreplaceable and important work as midwives. I am working toward trauma
informed, anti-racist and safer care.

When not practicing as a midwife I can be found swooning over my family,
sewing something adorably fun or making art with forest flora and sidewalk chalk.

Terri Lynn Blizman, RM

Registered Midwife

Terri Lynn (Jelsma) Blizman is honoured to return home to practice midwifery in the community she was born and raised in after completing the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University (2020). She previously received her Honours Bachelor of Science in biology at Queen’s University in 2005. She has worked as a veterinary assistant, surgical attendant and office manager in Toronto, but felt the pull to move home to Norfolk. After having her two children and working as a second attendant at births, she decided to pursue a career change. The experience instilled a passion for supporting and educating the families of her community about their pregnancy and birth options.

Dale Whyte

Administrator

Dale is a valued member of our team. She is a mom of three boys and two daughter-in-laws, and a nana to two. After having retired from teaching secondary school math in June 2018, she joined our team. "It's been a joy to work with these amazing midwives and getting to know a bit about each new client. The babies are a bonus of the job and a reminder of the important work that we all do". Dale recently moved from Cayuga back to her home town of Grassie where she has built a new home with lots of work to be done on her days off.

Jennifer Thompson

Administrator

Jen is a valued member of our team. She is a proud mom of two. She has lived in Haldimand for many years and enjoys reading and drinking tea. She has worked with teens in her local community for many years and has been heavily involved in many community activities.

Michelle Bertrand

Second Attendant

Michelle attended her first birth at the age of 15 and has been fascinated with pregnancy and labour since. Growing up in Fairbanks Alaska she often shadowed her best-friend’s mother, a traditional midwife and experienced firsthand how beautifully calm and empowering birth could be. She became a certified Doula in 2004, maintained her Health Care Provider CPR and completed the Neonatal Resuscitation Program through McMaster University. Most recently, Michelle has graduated from Mohawk College, with a Practical Registered Nurse degree and currently works at a local physicians office. At home, Michelle is the proud mother of 4 amazing children and wife to her wonderful husband.

Chantal Gowing

Second Attendant

Hi, my name is Chantal Gowing, I am a mother of four children, three of which were delivered by the Midwives of East Erie from the comfort of home. Through the journey of becoming a mother, I realized my passion for the entire birth experience. I decided to become a labour doula and have been practicing since 2015. I was hired as a second attendant with the Midwives of East Erie and I am extremely excited to be a part of this wonderful team.

Shauna Guthrie

Second Attendant

I have been living in Simcoe for the past 15 years. I have been married to my best friend Nathan for the past 8 years and together we have 3 beautiful children!

I am a nurse at Norfolk General Hospital and became passionate about birth and women empowerment during my pregnancy. I am overwhelmed with the power and strength that comes from women during this transitional time in their lives and it encourages me to see women from all walks of life being new life earth side!

Frankie Guthrie

Second Attendant

Since a teenager Frankie has always been interested in pursuing a career in the medical field. After graduating from York University with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing she has worked in a variety of different settings from palliative to home care as a registered nurse. Frankie is currently a nurse at Norfolk General hospital.

After having her first baby at home under the care of the Midwives of East Erie, she became passionate about home births and has since joined the team as a second attendant.

At home Frankie is the proud mother to two cute little girls and wife to her very supportive husband.