Virginia Collins - Founder & Faculty
Virginia is an educator, author and passionate supporter of normalizing birth for all women. Her journey began in 1982 when she attended childbirth education classes in preparation for the birth of her first of her two sons. She knew right away that she had found her calling.
Her wealth of experiences included: clinical and administrative support in a multidisciplinary family practice, and a high-risk obstetrical practice, clinical research coordinator in women’s health, childbirth educator, curriculum developer, perinatal bereavement facilitator and birth attendant.
Through her activities and advocacy work in health care Virginia has developed workshops and trainings which promote, support and protect the sacred journey of pregnancy and birth, for all mothers and babies.
Virginia is an educator, author and passionate supporter of normalizing birth for all women. Her journey began in 1982 when she attended childbirth education classes in preparation for the birth of her first of her two sons. She knew right away that she had found her calling.
Her wealth of experiences included: clinical and administrative support in a multidisciplinary family practice, and a high-risk obstetrical practice, clinical research coordinator in women’s health, childbirth educator, curriculum developer, perinatal bereavement facilitator and birth attendant.
Through her activities and advocacy work in health care Virginia has developed workshops and trainings which promote, support and protect the sacred journey of pregnancy and birth, for all mothers and babies.
Debbie Fazio - Founder & Faculty
Debbie is a Parenting Coach and Founder of Precious Moments Babeez. She is an educator, Newborn Care Specialist, Happiest Baby Instructor and the only Board Certified Sleep Consultant in Canada. Her combined experience, trainings and certifications have enabled her to support families with a variety of baby related issues. Being a mother of 3 children, including a set of twins, has enabled Debbie to be compassionate, non-judgmental and knowledgeable in her role assisting parents. Debbie has supported many families (both with one baby and multiples) in Canada and across the nation with issues from newborn care and safety, feeding and sleep for baby as well as support the postpartum parent. She is committed to empowering parents with the tools to assist them in transitioning into parenthood with confidence and love so that they can fully enjoy the precious moments with their baby. Debbie has over 8000 hours working directly with babies and over 6000 of those hours is working with twins & triplets.
Debbie is a Parenting Coach and Founder of Precious Moments Babeez. She is an educator, Newborn Care Specialist, Happiest Baby Instructor and the only Board Certified Sleep Consultant in Canada. Her combined experience, trainings and certifications have enabled her to support families with a variety of baby related issues. Being a mother of 3 children, including a set of twins, has enabled Debbie to be compassionate, non-judgmental and knowledgeable in her role assisting parents. Debbie has supported many families (both with one baby and multiples) in Canada and across the nation with issues from newborn care and safety, feeding and sleep for baby as well as support the postpartum parent. She is committed to empowering parents with the tools to assist them in transitioning into parenthood with confidence and love so that they can fully enjoy the precious moments with their baby. Debbie has over 8000 hours working directly with babies and over 6000 of those hours is working with twins & triplets.
Caitlin - Faculty of Breastfeeding
Caitlin is a breastfeeding/ lactation expert. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Mohawk College Breastfeeding Program instructor, and runs a private lactation consulting business that supports mothers in their homes or at my privately run breastfeeding clinic.
She became passionate about breastfeeding after the birth of her first son. The arrival of her baby was not traditional as he was whisked away from her to the neonatal intensive care unit. While in NICU, her only responsibility as a mother was to nurse her baby. Her breastfeeding relationship continued to grow and she quickly discovered that she wanted to help other mothers enjoy the breastfeeding experience.
After 10 years as an elementary school teacher, she left her profession for her passion and joined the world of mums and babies.
Caitlin is a breastfeeding/ lactation expert. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Mohawk College Breastfeeding Program instructor, and runs a private lactation consulting business that supports mothers in their homes or at my privately run breastfeeding clinic.
She became passionate about breastfeeding after the birth of her first son. The arrival of her baby was not traditional as he was whisked away from her to the neonatal intensive care unit. While in NICU, her only responsibility as a mother was to nurse her baby. Her breastfeeding relationship continued to grow and she quickly discovered that she wanted to help other mothers enjoy the breastfeeding experience.
After 10 years as an elementary school teacher, she left her profession for her passion and joined the world of mums and babies.
Anna - Faculty of Anatomy & Physiology
Anna is a qualified obstetrician from the reputed Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, in South India. The Vellore institution is among the finest of its kind in South Asia. After 20 years of obstetric practice in public health oriented programs in rural India and Kuwait, Anna earned a Master’s degree in Public Health with a Maternal and Child Heath focus from Boston University, USA.
Since then she has managed Maternal, Newborn, Child and Reproductive Health projects in USA, Canada, Afghanistan, Sudan and South Sudan. Along her professional journey of over thirty years, she recognized her own flair for training while enjoying mentoring junior colleagues, nurses and midwives. She spearheaded the elaborate training program to retrain medical professionals in Kabul, Afghanistan for International Medical Corps with funding from the Department of Health and Human Services of the US Government. As a consultant to the Canadian International Development Agency under the Federal Government of Canada, she assessed the Health System Strengthening maternal and newborn care services in hospitals in South Sudan. Anna served as Senior Project Manager for the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child heath under SickKids. She served as advisory committee member developing prenatal key messages for Ontario with the Best Start Resource Centre. As consultant clinical trainer, she is currently developing training modules for clinical staff working among the vulnerable mothers and newborns in refugee camps in South Sudan. The above training is a collaborative effort by International Medical Corps, Save the Children, UNICEF and Johns Hopkins University and has the potential to scale up. She is passionate about sharing her skills and knowledge to improve the quality of life of new mothers and newborns wherever they are. She owns and operates her own consulting company ‘Safe Motherhood’.
Anna is a qualified obstetrician from the reputed Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, in South India. The Vellore institution is among the finest of its kind in South Asia. After 20 years of obstetric practice in public health oriented programs in rural India and Kuwait, Anna earned a Master’s degree in Public Health with a Maternal and Child Heath focus from Boston University, USA.
Since then she has managed Maternal, Newborn, Child and Reproductive Health projects in USA, Canada, Afghanistan, Sudan and South Sudan. Along her professional journey of over thirty years, she recognized her own flair for training while enjoying mentoring junior colleagues, nurses and midwives. She spearheaded the elaborate training program to retrain medical professionals in Kabul, Afghanistan for International Medical Corps with funding from the Department of Health and Human Services of the US Government. As a consultant to the Canadian International Development Agency under the Federal Government of Canada, she assessed the Health System Strengthening maternal and newborn care services in hospitals in South Sudan. Anna served as Senior Project Manager for the Provincial Council for Maternal and Child heath under SickKids. She served as advisory committee member developing prenatal key messages for Ontario with the Best Start Resource Centre. As consultant clinical trainer, she is currently developing training modules for clinical staff working among the vulnerable mothers and newborns in refugee camps in South Sudan. The above training is a collaborative effort by International Medical Corps, Save the Children, UNICEF and Johns Hopkins University and has the potential to scale up. She is passionate about sharing her skills and knowledge to improve the quality of life of new mothers and newborns wherever they are. She owns and operates her own consulting company ‘Safe Motherhood’.
Julie-Anne Mauno - Faculty of Peripartum
Julie-Anne is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker with 22 years of experience in the perinatal support field. She has worked alongside public health nurses, nutritionists, doctors and midwives to provide education, resources and specialized support to expecting parents during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. She has developed curriculum and facilitated prenatal and parent education classes for both private clients and public organizations including one of Montreal’s public health units. Julie-Anne developed the infant and pregnancy loss progressive healing group “Our Babies, Our Grief” with Home Hospice Association and is a facilitator of the OBOG program. Julie-Anne also mentors others who are eager to serve in the field of perinatal support. She is passionate about her work and continues to bring awareness to the importance and value of professional perinatal support for parents. She has 7 children of her own. She lives in Northern Ontario, where she runs a private perinatal support business, working with parents in surrounding rural communities.
Julie-Anne is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker with 22 years of experience in the perinatal support field. She has worked alongside public health nurses, nutritionists, doctors and midwives to provide education, resources and specialized support to expecting parents during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. She has developed curriculum and facilitated prenatal and parent education classes for both private clients and public organizations including one of Montreal’s public health units. Julie-Anne developed the infant and pregnancy loss progressive healing group “Our Babies, Our Grief” with Home Hospice Association and is a facilitator of the OBOG program. Julie-Anne also mentors others who are eager to serve in the field of perinatal support. She is passionate about her work and continues to bring awareness to the importance and value of professional perinatal support for parents. She has 7 children of her own. She lives in Northern Ontario, where she runs a private perinatal support business, working with parents in surrounding rural communities.
Shawn Gallagher - Faculty of Hypnosis for Birth
Shawn is an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, a Board Certified Hypnotist, a HypnoFertility® practitioner, and a Childbirth Educator. She is the staff hypnotist at the ALIVE Holistic Health in Toronto.
Shawn created the ChildbirthJoy Prenatal Hypnosis series in 1999. She sees clients privately for a wide range of presenting issues including childbirth preparation, fertility issues, habit change, sleep issues, and more. Her approach includes a non-judgemental and flexible style that is especially helpful for those dealing with anxious feelings.
Shawn was a Registered Midwife (co-founder of Midwife Alliance, Toronto with hospital privileges at St. Joseph's Health Centre), Preceptor for the Midwifery Education Program in Ontario and an Association of Ontario Midwives Emergency Skills Examiner. She has attended hundreds of births as a Doula. Shawn was part of the small group of midwives who were the first to be integrated into Canadian healthcare when legislation was decreed in Ontario in 1994. As a pre-legislation midwife, she was the Treasurer of the Ontario Midwifery Consumer Network (OMCN) and interacted with parents, consumers and healthcare professionals to lobby the provincial government for legislative change. She started teaching prenatal classes in 1985 at the Midwives Collective of Toronto, later branching into private groups and then a combined prenatal hypnosis program.
Shawn is the mother of two, both born at home. She has a liberal arts B.A. from the University of Toronto and is a published author in the Bearing Witness: Childbirth Stories Told by Doulas series.
Shawn is passionate about providing excellence for the field of hypnosis preparation for birth. She has an extensive library in this field and has amassed considerable research that helps ensure that PNSW practitioners are familiar with the many prenatal hypnosis programs and are comfortable with supporting birthing parents who elect to use hypnosis.
Shawn is an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, a Board Certified Hypnotist, a HypnoFertility® practitioner, and a Childbirth Educator. She is the staff hypnotist at the ALIVE Holistic Health in Toronto.
Shawn created the ChildbirthJoy Prenatal Hypnosis series in 1999. She sees clients privately for a wide range of presenting issues including childbirth preparation, fertility issues, habit change, sleep issues, and more. Her approach includes a non-judgemental and flexible style that is especially helpful for those dealing with anxious feelings.
Shawn was a Registered Midwife (co-founder of Midwife Alliance, Toronto with hospital privileges at St. Joseph's Health Centre), Preceptor for the Midwifery Education Program in Ontario and an Association of Ontario Midwives Emergency Skills Examiner. She has attended hundreds of births as a Doula. Shawn was part of the small group of midwives who were the first to be integrated into Canadian healthcare when legislation was decreed in Ontario in 1994. As a pre-legislation midwife, she was the Treasurer of the Ontario Midwifery Consumer Network (OMCN) and interacted with parents, consumers and healthcare professionals to lobby the provincial government for legislative change. She started teaching prenatal classes in 1985 at the Midwives Collective of Toronto, later branching into private groups and then a combined prenatal hypnosis program.
Shawn is the mother of two, both born at home. She has a liberal arts B.A. from the University of Toronto and is a published author in the Bearing Witness: Childbirth Stories Told by Doulas series.
Shawn is passionate about providing excellence for the field of hypnosis preparation for birth. She has an extensive library in this field and has amassed considerable research that helps ensure that PNSW practitioners are familiar with the many prenatal hypnosis programs and are comfortable with supporting birthing parents who elect to use hypnosis.
Maude Perreault- Faculty of Nutrition
Maude is a registered dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario since 2011. Clinically trained in dietetics at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montréal, QC, she has a strong passion for supporting new families.
Following completion of a MSc in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, she is currently finishing her PhD in Medical Sciences, Division of Metabolism and Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Maude’s clinical and research interests include maternal and infant nutrition, with a focus on the developmental origins of health and disease. Her doctoral studies are supported by prestigious scholarships such as the CIHR Vanier doctoral award and a Career Enhancement Award from the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientists Program.
Her academic and research achievements have been recognized with awards such as the Joanne Schweitzer Clinical Nutrition Abstract award and the Nestlé Nutrition Student and Trainee oral competition finalist award from the Canadian Nutrition Society, as well as the Graduate Programs Excellence award and the Graduate Leadership award from the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.
Maude is the cofounder of Family & Co. Nutrition, an online and community-based service offering perinatal and pediatric nutrition coaching for parents. Her goal is that all new parents feel confident and competent raising happy eaters.
Maude is a registered dietitian with the College of Dietitians of Ontario since 2011. Clinically trained in dietetics at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine in Montréal, QC, she has a strong passion for supporting new families.
Following completion of a MSc in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, she is currently finishing her PhD in Medical Sciences, Division of Metabolism and Nutrition in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Maude’s clinical and research interests include maternal and infant nutrition, with a focus on the developmental origins of health and disease. Her doctoral studies are supported by prestigious scholarships such as the CIHR Vanier doctoral award and a Career Enhancement Award from the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientists Program.
Her academic and research achievements have been recognized with awards such as the Joanne Schweitzer Clinical Nutrition Abstract award and the Nestlé Nutrition Student and Trainee oral competition finalist award from the Canadian Nutrition Society, as well as the Graduate Programs Excellence award and the Graduate Leadership award from the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.
Maude is the cofounder of Family & Co. Nutrition, an online and community-based service offering perinatal and pediatric nutrition coaching for parents. Her goal is that all new parents feel confident and competent raising happy eaters.
Margaret R.M.T.- Faculty of "Comforting Touch"
Passionate about her profession and the diversity that she has created within it, Margaret Wallis-Duffy also feels blessed to be surrounded by a compassionate and professional team at Wallis for Wellness.
As the founder of Wallis for Wellness, Margaret opened its doors in April of 1992 as a single practitioner facility. It quickly grew into the well-respected, integrative wellness clinic that it is today!
With a background in Kinesiology from The University of Waterloo and as an Internationally Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Margaret has completed research workshops at The Touch Research Institute at The University of Miami's Jackson Medical Center and at the Touch Research Centre in Montreal. She has also completed her certification with special needs babies. As a result of this expertise, Margaret has worked with professionals at both Mount Sinai and Sick Children’s Hospitals in Toronto.
She is always looking for ways to share her motto in life…”Attitudes are contagious…is yours worth catching?”
Passionate about her profession and the diversity that she has created within it, Margaret Wallis-Duffy also feels blessed to be surrounded by a compassionate and professional team at Wallis for Wellness.
As the founder of Wallis for Wellness, Margaret opened its doors in April of 1992 as a single practitioner facility. It quickly grew into the well-respected, integrative wellness clinic that it is today!
With a background in Kinesiology from The University of Waterloo and as an Internationally Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Margaret has completed research workshops at The Touch Research Institute at The University of Miami's Jackson Medical Center and at the Touch Research Centre in Montreal. She has also completed her certification with special needs babies. As a result of this expertise, Margaret has worked with professionals at both Mount Sinai and Sick Children’s Hospitals in Toronto.
She is always looking for ways to share her motto in life…”Attitudes are contagious…is yours worth catching?”
Brian Russell, M.S., RMFT
Faculty of Supporting Fathers/Partners
Brian is the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario, which is devoted to promoting responsible father involvement in Ontario and has acted as a catalyst for other provinces and territories within Canada to form their own regional father initiatives. He is also a Marriage and Family Therapist in Toronto. He brings an important perspective to the couple relationship in families, where trust and respect are key elements to building strong families. He is married with three teenage daughters.
Faculty of Supporting Fathers/Partners
Brian is the Provincial Coordinator for Dad Central Ontario, which is devoted to promoting responsible father involvement in Ontario and has acted as a catalyst for other provinces and territories within Canada to form their own regional father initiatives. He is also a Marriage and Family Therapist in Toronto. He brings an important perspective to the couple relationship in families, where trust and respect are key elements to building strong families. He is married with three teenage daughters.
Laurel Crossley, B.A. Child Studies
Faculty of Mindfulness
For over 25 years, Laurel's teaching and speaking has spanned the globe. She is a Certified Adult Teacher having taught many campuses at Sheridan College for 14+ years.
She has made it her mission to ensure that families are well - mind, body and spirit. Her speaking and teaching come from lived experience as well as her 20+ years coaching families (parent and child). She teaches from the heart, incorporating humour and real life experiences that connects to every audience (adult, student or parent) in a way that stays with them long after they’ve heard her speak.
She is the Founder of Children's Wellness International (an online conference dedicated to supporting whole child wellness) and the creator of numerous children's programs including Meditating Munchkins™, Crazy for Crystals™ and Yay! Yoga™ which all support children's mental health. Her TV Series and Podcast Help! We've Got Anxiety!™ brings families content that supports family well-being!
Faculty of Mindfulness
For over 25 years, Laurel's teaching and speaking has spanned the globe. She is a Certified Adult Teacher having taught many campuses at Sheridan College for 14+ years.
She has made it her mission to ensure that families are well - mind, body and spirit. Her speaking and teaching come from lived experience as well as her 20+ years coaching families (parent and child). She teaches from the heart, incorporating humour and real life experiences that connects to every audience (adult, student or parent) in a way that stays with them long after they’ve heard her speak.
She is the Founder of Children's Wellness International (an online conference dedicated to supporting whole child wellness) and the creator of numerous children's programs including Meditating Munchkins™, Crazy for Crystals™ and Yay! Yoga™ which all support children's mental health. Her TV Series and Podcast Help! We've Got Anxiety!™ brings families content that supports family well-being!
Gillian Cullen - Faculty of Therapeutic Relationships & Inclusivity
Birth Mark (she/they) is the vision of founder and CEO, Gillian Cullen (she/they) and was created after recognizing the impact of individual support and that there were people and communities without access to this valuable resource.
Growing up in an underserved community where she witnessed families with layered barriers, Gillian was drawn to community action and how work as a doula provided solutions to families. As an abuse survivor, Gillian has personal experience and understanding to what it feels like to be alone and vulnerable when facing reproductive health and parenting. A Full Spectrum Doula and Craniosacral Practitioner, Gillian has attended countless trainings/workshops on how to better support people in their reproductive journey.
Birth Mark (she/they) is the vision of founder and CEO, Gillian Cullen (she/they) and was created after recognizing the impact of individual support and that there were people and communities without access to this valuable resource.
Growing up in an underserved community where she witnessed families with layered barriers, Gillian was drawn to community action and how work as a doula provided solutions to families. As an abuse survivor, Gillian has personal experience and understanding to what it feels like to be alone and vulnerable when facing reproductive health and parenting. A Full Spectrum Doula and Craniosacral Practitioner, Gillian has attended countless trainings/workshops on how to better support people in their reproductive journey.
Brianna Cooper - Outreach Coordinator and Teacher Assistant
Brianna is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker with a background in administrative work and over ten years in healthcare as a PSW.. She is open minded and passionate for empowering parents and new families as they enter into parenthood. Brianna takes a non judgemental approach to life and is always open to learning. She is the Outreach Coordinator for the PNSW program which helps build relationships and create awareness of the PNSW role for student practicums.
Brianna is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker with a background in administrative work and over ten years in healthcare as a PSW.. She is open minded and passionate for empowering parents and new families as they enter into parenthood. Brianna takes a non judgemental approach to life and is always open to learning. She is the Outreach Coordinator for the PNSW program which helps build relationships and create awareness of the PNSW role for student practicums.
Terri Rout - Industry Relations Officer
Terri is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker and is very passionate about educating and supporting families in their journeys to parenthood. Terri was a Personal Support Worker prior to the birth of her first grandchild and has been working supporting new mothers and their families for the past 8 years, she has 3 children of her own and 6 grandchildren. Terri has recently taken on the role of the Industry Relations Officer and is diligently working towards raising awareness about the importance of perinatal support and educating individuals as well as organizations about the benefits that come from supporting families from conception right throughout the baby's first year.
Terri is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker and is very passionate about educating and supporting families in their journeys to parenthood. Terri was a Personal Support Worker prior to the birth of her first grandchild and has been working supporting new mothers and their families for the past 8 years, she has 3 children of her own and 6 grandchildren. Terri has recently taken on the role of the Industry Relations Officer and is diligently working towards raising awareness about the importance of perinatal support and educating individuals as well as organizations about the benefits that come from supporting families from conception right throughout the baby's first year.