In 2020, Dawson Creek faced a crisis in maternity care. A wave of physician departures left just one midwife and two primary care providers to support obstetric services across the South Peace region. The workload was unsustainable, and providers felt isolated and overwhelmed.
Family doctor Magda Steenkamp knew the stakes were high. Expectant parents wanted the security of giving birth in their home community—close to family, friends, and support networks – instead of travelling far from home for the birth. In 2021, she and her colleagues saw the opportunity to implement a collaborative framework that brought providers together under one roof and launched the Chickadee Maternity Care Collaborative clinic.
With support from the Rural Obstetrics and Maternity Care (ROAM) program, funded by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural issues, the clinic allowed for a team-based approach. Midwife Haley Hayner says the change was transformative for both patients and providers.
“To be honest, I was on the fence about quitting this career,” Hayner recalls. “I felt very isolated as a provider. It’s a huge step forward as a registered midwife to now be integrating with physicians, nurses, and obstetricians.”
Dr Steenkamp says the group looked to the community to understand the patients’ needs.“We put it out to the public: What do they want to see, what do they want their care to look like?”
The resulting collaborative model expanded capacity, introduced mentorship opportunities for medical residents, integrated virtual-care tools, and supported new team members as they adapted to rural practice.
For families, the impact is immediate and deeply personal. Local maternity care means parents can be surrounded by loved ones, without having the expense and stress of travelling long distances.
For physicians and other health care professionals, the benefits are just as important.
“When you work in this collaborative framework—when you’ve got that safe space—you have a real opportunity to look at potential positive changes for the system,” says Dr James Card, co-chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues.
By prioritizing connection and teamwork, the Chickadee Maternity Care Collaborative is securing local obstetric care for the South Peace while giving providers the support they need to thrive.
ROAM is delivered through the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), funded by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC). For more information, visit the RCCbc website.