Meet the Midwives

Eline Vonk, RM

Team Huckleberry

I am thrilled to have found and joined qathet Midwifery Care after moving to the qathet region and I am grateful to live and work on the traditional lands of the Tla'amin people.

I am originally a Dutch midwife and graduated in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Midwifery in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Looking back, I am in awe that I could work and learn from such an established and ancient birthing culture. Coming to Canada in 2018, I studied Public Health and behavioural change with the University of Maastricht until I enrolled in the UBC Internationally Educated Midwifery Bridging Program. My last two years before moving up to The Sunshine Coast have been with a busy and vibrant practice in Vancouver. I have a natural interest in diversity and culture and I am privileged that this brought me to work as well in Uganda, the Caribbean and India.

I feel incredibly committed to be working with families and I value providing care that feels informed, connected and empowering.

When I am not working, you can find me on my sailboat, doing pottery and going for long walks in nature.

Mandy Verghese, RM

Team Huckleberry

It is one of my greatest pleasures to journey with women and their families as they grow, birth, and raise their babies.

I grew up in Richmond, BC and Germany and have lived and breathed birthwork since my teenage years when I attended my first birth as a doula fresh out of high school. I began my midwifery training in Scotland in 2012, followed by the UBC bridging program for internationally-educated midwives. In addition to midwifery, I am also a womb continuum practitioner; women’s bodywork specializing in pelvic health from menarche to menopause.

Along with my 15 years of experience in birth work, I have journeyed the intensity of birth and transformation of motherhood twice. Both of my births nurtured faith, intuition and self-responsibility; values that I encourage in my clients as well.

I’m forever learning, deepening in my work, practicing herbal medicine, loving my husband and kids, and enjoying Powell River.

Carlie Sanford, RM, IBCLC

Team Cedar

It is my pleasure to be joining the team at qathet Midwifery as of January 2024. I look forward to serving the families of this beautiful community, and to be living and working on the traditional lands of the Tla'amin people.

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast myself, and am overjoyed to return home and to a more quiet/rural area to raise my own family.

I am both a Midwife and Lactation Consultant, and have been working in the lower mainland for the past five years gaining experience and serving a large variety of families from diverse backgrounds. Prior to that, I spent time in various small communities such as Salt Spring Island, Seabird Island, and Sechelt.

Working with families during the transformation of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum is my great privilege and passion, and I look forward to joining you on your journey!

Aly Jones, RM

Team Cedar

Aly (she/her) is a settler born of Danish and English ancestry, raised in Naramata BC on the unceded territory of the Sylix people. She graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in 2009. Aly strongly believes in providing respectful care for every individual regardless of their socio-economic status, gender, sexuality, race, culture, or religion.  She is passionate about informed choice and autonomy in healthcare.

When she’s not catching babies, you can find her cooking up yummy feasts with her wife and baby, mountain biking, camping, gardening, and playing the fiddle.

Locum Midwives

Kayley Redgers, RM

Elisha Manson, RM

Our locum midwives enable us to support Powell River’s pregnant population continuously in a sustainable way. They cover our sick leaves, maternity leaves, and holidays.

Maternity Care in Powell River

Hospital Births

Any care you receive while in the hospital will be carried out by the midwife or family physician on call that day, with shared care from our obstetrician if needed.

Home Births

The midwives are on call 24/7 for planned home births.