Remembering Jane Erdman, Jan. 16, 1956—Oct. 10, 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Trustee Jane Erdman, RM, on October 10, 2024.

On top of her 23-year career as a practising midwife with Womancare Midwives, Jane served on the AOM Board and the Canadian Association of Midwives Board, in addition to serving as a Trustee at the AOMBT both while practising and during her retirement, when she “happily embraced the role of Elder in midwife political life.”

Jane was involved in financial matters related to Ontario midwifery since her registration in 1996. She was dedicated to finding ways to meet the needs of every single AOMBT plan member in order to ensure midwifery in Ontario not only being sustainable, but thriving into the foreseeable future. Her own experience with disability allowed her to bring an extra level of empathy to her role as Trustee.

In the words of Nicole Mellin, executive director of the AOMBT,

“Jane was a pioneer and crusader of gender equity, human rights, and social justice. Jane’s early work to bring wellness benefits for midwives first began with the Benefits Committee, when the AOM Benefits Program was established in 1994 by the AOM. She was one of our settlors and founding Trustees when the Trust was formed in 2008. Jane returned to the Trust as a Trustee again in April 2016 where she served another eight and a half years. During her time as a Trustee, Jane was a strategic visionary, influencer and change-maker. She was Chair of the Equity & Governance Committee, sat on the Finance & Audit Committee and led and/or participated in numerous Task Forces and projects over her long tenure at the AOMBT. Jane will be deeply missed by all those that worked with and knew her.”

In honour of Jane, please consider donating to the Jane Erdman Midwifery Fund through the Children’s Health Foundation. This fund, in her name, will continue the important work that Jane undertook in her community throughout her career.