Our Midwives

Alescia Richardson, RM

I was born and raised in Ontario, but had long awaited the opportunity to move to British Columbia. In the year 2000 I attend the University of Waterloo where I graduated with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Sexuality, Marriage and the Family.

After graduating I became trained as a Doula and quickly gained experience by volunteering on a labour and delivery floor at my local Hospital. It was during this time as a Doula that I realized that I wanted and needed to do more.

In 2005 I traveled to Romania and volunteered at a Failure to Thrive Clinic. Here I provided care and love to a dozen plus infants who were abandoned and malnourished. This experience opened my eyes even wider, reminding me that caring hearts and patience can make a world of difference.

Shortly after I returned from Romania I started the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University in Toronto. It is now with great honour that I join with my colleagues at West Coast Health Collective, in your journey through this magical and challenging transformation called Motherhood.

I look forward to being a part of your childbirth experience.

Meghan Radebe, RM

I was born and raised in Mahikeng, South Africa – a rural town on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. I lived in many parts of the country, including Johannesburg, where I met my wonderful husband. In 2006 we moved to Canada to pursue our tertiary education. I was drawn to midwifery as a career after my own positive experiences birthing two babies with an extraordinary midwife in New Westminster. This experience, coupled with the stories of other women in my circle of friends, set my feet firmly on the path to becoming a midwife.

I began working with childbearing families as a doula in 2014 and later as a prenatal yoga instructor. In 2017 I started my midwifery degree at UBC and have worked as a student midwife in Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster, and the Tri-Cities. These experiences have given me a fuller appreciation for the midwifery model of care and all that it has to offer families during one of the most transformative periods of their lives. What I love most about midwifery is that it is a model of healthcare that allows the time and space to truly hear people’s stories and to share knowledge in a way that empowers people to make informed decisions about their bodies and their birth experiences.

For me, practising the art and science of midwifery is about humility, accompaniment, and empowerment. I strive to extend this learning to all areas of my life and to be of service in whatever community I find myself. I am thrilled to be joining the team at West Coast Health Collective and to be working with the families they serve.