Your Midwives
Shawna Robertson and Kazuko Hiroe work side-by-side as supported solo midwives. This means they both have their own low volume caseload (4-5 births per month each). For continuity of care, they make every effort to see their own clients for all visits including prenatal, birth and postpartum.
image credit: Andrea Helleman
Shawna Robertson, RM
Since 2018, I have had the pleasure of working and living in this wonderful community. I am honoured and profoundly humbled to live and work on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation.
I came to midwifery with a strong drive to provide the families I care for with a dignified and highly tailored experience. Midwifery is my life’s work and I am inspired daily to improve and expand my knowledge about childbearing and all it encompasses.
I truly believe that the cornerstone of holistic midwifery care is informed choice. I consider myself a guide and knowledge-sharer to my clients - who are the experts in their individual experience. My commitment is to provide you with information rooted in evidence with kindness and compassion and to then hold space for you to make decisions that are right for you and your family. I am keenly aware that a birthing person's experience of care throughout their childbearing years will become their lifelong memories - integrated forever into the fabric of who they are.
My aim is to always protect, nurture and support your intuition. I truly believe that when birthing people’s expertise is held in the highest regard, it fosters an environment of self-empowerment, trust and confidence that not only positively affects their own families, but also has the power to inspire change in future generations of birthing people and their families.
I look forward to collaborating with you and your support people to envision and create an experience that aligns with your beliefs and intuitive knowledge.
Kazuko Hiroe, RM
Mother. Adventurer. Midwife: Feel free to call me Kaz.
The pursuit of supporting a gentler birth culture began in 2008 as a young mother and active doula while advocating for access to midwifery services in the Sea to Sky corridor. Having found my passion, I continued to immerse myself in everything birth related and have benefited from a broad diversity in birthing philosophies, environments and mentorships. The impact of these encounters has nurtured an appreciation for the nuances and uniqueness of each individual and their experiences.
My practice is rooted in client centered and collaborative care. It is continually evolving based on the best available evidence, client circumstances, and my own personal growth as a midwife. I support autonomy and strive to build mutually respectful and trusting partnerships. Birthwork has a way of keeping me humble. I am always learning.
After graduating from the UBC Midwifery program, I practiced at Strathcona Midwifery Collective in East Vancouver. Our team focused on equitable care for underserved populations including Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+ and sanctuary clients. We also attended a high volume of home births. I am committed to the continuation of that work and outreach.
I am thrilled to now offer supported solo midwifery care on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation, where I have raised my family and called home over the past 18 years.
Laurie Hannah, MOA
We are so overjoyed to introduce you to Laurie, our incredible office administrator. Laurie is the friendly voice you encounter when you call the clinic. She is kind, helpful and full of joy! Laurie has a strong interest in women’s health, nutrition, fitness and holistic healthcare.
As a graduate from Fanshawe College in Ontario, Laurie joined Roots Community Midwives with over ten years of administration and support experience in both the retail and service sectors.
When she's not in clinic working miracles, Laurie can be found spending her free time with her adored pets as well as exercising, exploring nature, cooking and snowboarding.
If you are in need of appointment changes, are interested in coming into care or simply have questions, Laurie will be there to help.
Britney Olivares, Midwifery Student
My name is Britney Olivares (she/her), and I am a second-year midwifery student at UBC. I’m a second-generation immigrant of Mexican descent, born and raised in North Vancouver. I am so thankful and privileged to be living and working on the unceded land of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation during my clinical placement. I am also thrilled for the opportunity to work alongside and learn from Shawna and Kaz at Roots Community Midwives, as well as the clients whose care I will be involved in.
My interest in the midwifery profession emerged in early adolescence with the desire to support birthing bodies during one of their most profound moments in life, and ensure they are nurtured in an empowering environment that respects their body, mind, and spirit. While I always felt destined to pursue maternal care in my career, I especially aligned with the midwifery model of care that emphasizes normal conceptions of birth, and the power of the birthing person’s autonomy. I aspire as a student and future midwife to provide equitable, accessible, and culturally sensitive care to all pregnant folks, and engage in a spiritually and physically enlightening atmosphere, cohesive with my authentic self.
Outside of midwifery and my education, you can find me doing creative projects: painting, illustrating, crocheting, or engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, and camping - especially with my border collie puppy Max. I am also a keen world traveler, and am fluent in English and Spanish.
I am so fortunate to be part of the birth/pregnancy experience to those in care at Roots Community, and eagerly look forward to meeting you!