The Team
Terri Rout, RPNSW, CBE,PSW, Waterbirth Community Educator, President, and Founder of waterbirth coalition of canada.
Terri is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker, Childbirth Educator, and Waterbirth Community Educator. Terri is a mother of 3 and Grandmother and it was after the birth of her first grandchild that she found her passion for the birthing world. Since that time she has completed the Perinatal Support Worker program at Mohawk College and opened her own business (TLC Birth and Beyond) where she provides support to new and expecting families from conception, right thru to the first year. Her passion for waterbirth began after completing her training with world-renowned Waterbirth Expert, Nurse, and Midwife Barbara Harper. After repeatedly facing rejection for the request for waterbirth for her clients in Hospitals she decided to launch the Waterbirth Coalition of Canada to Educate and advocate for Waterbirth across the country. Terri has now dedicated herself to creating a future where waterbirth is a safe and empowering option of birth in all settings.
Grace Goobie RPNSW, CBE, CEO
Grace Goobie is a Registered Perinatal Support Worker, with a Personal Support worker background. Grace is a mother of three young boys who is known for her caring, nurturing, and calming presence, which she brings to her work supporting mothers during the perinatal period. Her passion for birth work began 10 years ago after the birth of her first child, driving her desire to assist other mothers not only with their desired births but also with postpartum healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually as well as her amazing support and guidance with breastfeeding and newborn care. Grace aspires to empower and educate mothers to embrace the power of water during their birth experience and bring more awareness of the benefits to birthing in the water.
Virginia Collins, RPNSW, CBE, Executive Director of Waterbirth coalition of canada
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.