Establishing pathways for midwifery students from Laurentian

The Ontario Midwifery Education consortium has been made up of three institutions since 1993: Ryerson, McMaster and Laurentian, but the recent announcement of insolvency at Laurentian has led to the sudden closure of their School of Midwifery, amongst other restructuring decisions at the university. The Laurentian Midwifery Education Program (MEP) was the only bilingual midwifery school in the country, specializing in northern, Indigenous and rural midwifery care, and the loss has devastated the midwifery community and displaced students (current and incoming) as well as faculty and staff.  To support the continuity of MEP education throughout the province, the remaining consortium partners (Ryerson and McMaster) negotiated a temporary funding agreement with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to virtually train Laurentian transfer students, and oversee their placements in the north.

“The sudden news of Laurentian’s MEP closure has resulted in an impressive display of leadership and collaboration throughout the province to ensure transitional midwifery students feel supported, and are able to fulfil their degree requirements and serve their communities,” said Saeed Zolfaghari, Ryerson’s interim provost and vice-president, academic. “The responsiveness amongst the consortium and within Ryerson is monumental and I’m pleased to recognize our internal stakeholders who rose to the challenge and brought this plan to fruition, including: the University Planning Office, Office of the Registrar, Faculty of Community Services and the Ryerson MEP.”

All three universities in the consortium produced graduates with equivalent competencies based upon the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council (CMRC) standards, however, there were sector-specific differences, and the new pathways established at Ryerson and McMaster will take these distinctions into account. While the province has pledged to find a new home for the bilingual midwifery program in northern Ontario, the remaining consortium members will support transitional students and limit the impact of these disruptions on the fall/winter semester.

“The Laurentian School of Midwifery delivered a world-class program and held a unique position and legacy in Canada,” said Karline Wilson-Mitchell, director, Ryerson Midwifery Education Program. “While the loss of this consortium partner cuts deep within the Ontario midwifery community, Laurentian transfer students will be welcomed by the Ryerson MEP community and begin the process of learning with, from and about each other. Resilience and innovation will be byproducts of this complex and unpredicted change.”

Midwifery is a community service, dedicated to the health and wellness of new parents and babies, while providing support to their families. This field is critical and Ryerson recognizes the importance of continuity and access to midwifery care throughout the province. As consortium partners, the university is committed to sustaining midwifery education in northern Ontario, delivering the same dynamic, high-quality curriculum since the program started on campus in 1993.