Message from the Chair–February 2022

Black History Month is a wonderful time for us to be releasing the equity report commissioned by the AOMBT and conducted by equity consultants, Kimalee Phillip and Caitlin Patterson. In the past year, our consultants achieved a huge amount of work to further our progress and incorporate our new strategic pillar of Equity in our work at the AOMBT.

They reviewed documents and our governance structure, and conducted interviews with members as part of their work. Staff have already made some changes thanks to their recommendations.

Until recently, we were not fully aware of the make-up of our membership. Our recent member survey allowed us to learn more about who our members are. With our equity consultant’s assistance, we delved further into learning about the experiences of racialized members. We are grateful to those who participated in the interviews for their time and trust and their words.

The AOMBT is committed to continuing the long-term work of removing barriers and challenges that IBPOC and other racialized members may be experiencing. To this end we will be creating a standing committee to advise us on equity issues. Moving this work out of our Governance and Equity Committee, to its own place, reflects our commitment to continuing work to improve. This and other committee work will include members and external advisors, not only trustees. I am so excited to find ways to include more members in the work of the trust.

I encourage everyone to view the Summary Report of the equity consultants. (While here, check out the new website if you have not done that yet!)

Please consider helping us in this journey of reconciliation by joining the trust, as a Trustee or as a committee member. One of our Trustees, Ashley Lickers, an indigenous midwife, (Six Nations Maternal & Child Centre) will be leaving the trust, and is starting an exciting new role in midwifery education. Her voice and viewpoint have been highly valued at the AOMBT and she will be missed at the Trust table.

We especially want to encourage midwives from diverse backgrounds to run for election to the trust. Midwives are lifelong learners and are more than capable of gaining the skills to be good trustees. But ensuring that midwives of a variety of backgrounds that reflects our membership is important to make the Trust relevant to our members.

Interested in learning more about how you can join a Committee or contribute to our work, please email me at chair@midwivesbenefits.ca.

Please also visit our Elections page regarding how to submit a Trustee nominations form and additional information about recruitment for new Trustees.