Media Award Winner 2018

The AOM’s media award was developed to recognize journalists who have demonstrated excellence in raising public awareness of Ontario midwives, midwifery issues and midwives’ contributions to the health-care system in Ontario.

This year’s media award goes to Cathy Alex for her CBC article “Ontario restores ‘beautiful ceremony of birth by funding 6 Aboriginal midwifery programs” that was published on February 10, 2017.

This story was chosen because the task force felt it did an excellent job of promoting information and events relevant to Ontario Midwives.  This article highlights the announcement of new funding from the Ministry of Health to support Aboriginal midwifery programs aimed at providing culturally safe care in Indigenous communities.   It touches on why it is important to bring back the ceremony of birth to indigenous communities and speaks respectfully about traditional medicine.  The story accurately portrays for the public the care that clients will receive with an Aboriginal midwife. It included images and quotes from the Minister of Health, demonstrating that the political system supports and endorses Aboriginal midwifery and sees the need to bring birth back to Indigenous communities as part of the process of healing and reconciliation.