Congratulations on your pregnancy! We know first hand that this journey of growing your family can be simultaneously exciting, overwhelming, scary and joy filled. Our hope is to partner with you and your family in order to provide you with the information, support, knowledge and reassurance that you need to feel fully equipped to welcome this new phase of life.
We are passionate about this beautiful place we call home, and about ensuring that all families have access to their choice of maternity care provider in their home community. We believe that pregnancy and birth are both normal and tremendously significant times in the life of the individual, the family, and in the wider community. It is a privilege and a gift to share these unique and profound experiences with the families of Sooke.
Uta Herold
Registered Midwife
With her mother being a midwife, Uta got in touch with the profession in her earliest childhood. At five years of age she found her calling and decided to become a midwife. In 1981, she graduated from the midwifery program at the university in Magdeburg, Germany, a school with a history of more than 230 years of midwifery education. She has worked as a midwife ever since and has attended approximately 2500 births to date.
Within her midwifery practice, she has also worked as a prenatal class instructor and a Pelvic Floor Class instructor. In 1995, she graduated from a three year program in Classical Homeopathy, and in 2006 attended a one year program in Traditional Chinese Medicine with a focus in obstetrics. Uta includes her knowledge and experience in these complementary therapies whenever it is indicated and meets the interests of her clients.
Her passion for this special profession is nourished by every birth she attends. Being able to share this unique and profound experience with women and their families is a great gift for Uta that never becomes routine. Uta is a mother of two boys, born in 1999 and 2001.
Julie Bowser
Registered Midwife
Julie (she/her/hers) is a white settler of european ancestry living and working on the traditional and unceded Te’mexw territory of the T’sou-ke Nation. She is honoured to work here with Norah Macy and Uta Herold. Julie was introduced to midwifery in 2014 with her nephew’s birth. She was inspired by how her sister’s pregnancy and birth was an empowering experience. Julie shadowed a traditional Maya
midwife in rural Guatemala in 2015-2016 for several months before deciding to pursue a degree in midwifery at the University of British Columbia. Through the course of her education she has had the privilege of attending births in Victoria, the Sunshine Coast, Vancouver and the Tri-Cities area. She continues to be drawn to the practice for its community-based, client-centred approach.
Julie is passionate about reproductive justice and working towards equitable and accessible health care systems. When not being a midwife, she enjoys paddling and ocean dips! Julie has deep gratitude for the opportunity to be alongside you and your family during this intimate and transformative journey.
Sooke Midwifery Team
Corina, Ashley, and Pradheepa work as a team of midwives. As a client of the team you will get a chance to to meet and get to know us all during your pregnancy and one of us will be at your birth. Working as a team allows us to balance work and home life with our families and ensure you have a well rested midwife on call 24/7 every day of the year.
Corina Skala
Registered Midwife, Lactation Consultant
I attended a midwifery assisted home birth at age twelve, and since then I have always wanted to be a midwife. I graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 2001 with a BAH in Women’s Studies and Health Studies. Following this education I began the Midwifery Education Programme at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. I was pleased to complete my studies and clinical practicum in 2007 receiving a BHSc specialized in Midwifery. I began my career as a midwife in Canada’s arctic community of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, located on the Hudson Bay. Working with the predominantly Inuit population was very interesting and rewarding. My trust in natural childbirth was strengthened further in this remote site. I have been working as a midwife in the Lower Mainland since 2008 and worked over the past two summers on Vancouver Island. When not working, I enjoy time outdoors exploring nature with my family. I started working at Sooke Midwifery July 2024 and am excited to be part of the team.
Pradheepa Simonpillai
Registered Midwife
Pradheepa (she/they) belongs to the Tamil-Canadian settler diaspora, and was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. Before graduating from the Midwifery Education Program at Toronto Metropolitan University, Pradheepa was a passionate urban-farmer and youth worker, working with teen parents to access nutritious food, housing, therapeutic community supports, and education opportunities, while offering prenatal and parenting programs. They created an organic garden farm & cooking program – built for and run by young parents and infants. They believe in holistic and healing pregnancy, birth and postpartum with a balance of clinical and compassionate care.
Pradheepa has a wild toddler who was born at home into the hands of midwives. You’ll find them often with family, chasing trails and waterfronts with their dog.
Pradheepa is honoured to live and work on the ancestral territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Sc’ianew, T’sou-ke, Ditidaht, and Pacheedaht Nations.
They’re excited to be part of the Sooke Midwives team and become a part of this extraordinary community.
Anya Olsen
4th year Midwifery Student
My name is Anya Olson, and I am in my fourth and final year of UBC’s Midwifery program. Thank you for inviting me into your family’s pregnancy and birth team, it is a deep honour to be here. I am so deeply in awe of human bodies that grow babies, and always have been. I love the way that midwifery care supports agency and choice for all birthing people and empowers people to make decisions about their healthcare. I don’t think I will ever tire of the magic of birth work. I am continually struck with moments of gratitude and glee when I think about how large a privilege it is to bear witness to such a deep transition in people’s lives. Working with birth has taught me so much about life and love, and I am a better human for it.
Before midwifery, I have worked as a farmer in regenerative agriculture, a holistic nutritionist, a yoga teacher, and a tree planter among other things. Each of these experiences have exposed me to new ways of thinking and deepened my adoration of the human body.
On my days off, you can find me enjoying the sunshine and identifying plants, fermenting something delicious or thrill-seeking in my climbing harness or surfboard. It is a pleasure to be here and I can’t wait to meet you!
Ashley Broadbent
Registered Midwife
Ashley Broadbent has been a practicing Registered Midwife since 2008, providing care to families throughout the Ottawa Valley, with a strong focus on rural and community-based midwifery.
She completed the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University and began her career with Community Care Midwives in Oshawa, Ontario. She later continued her practice with Gentle Beginnings Midwifery in Ottawa. Ashley has extensive experience supporting clients in rural settings, where access to care and continuity are essential, and she is passionate about bringing high-quality, personalized midwifery care to underserved communities.
Prior to her midwifery training, Ashley earned a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Ottawa. She also has a background in herbal medicine and a deep knowledge of vitamins and herbal supplements, which inform her holistic approach to care.
Ashley is excited to join Sooke Midwifery and looks forward to working with and supporting the women of this vibrant and diverse community.
Norah Macy
Registered Midwife
On parental leave starting October 2025
Norah (she/her) is a settler of English and Irish descent, and is grateful to be living and working on the unceded territories of the T’sou-ke and Pacheedaht Nations and serving Sooke and the surrounding areas as a registered midwife.
Norah’s approach to midwifery is built on a foundation of informed choice, personal relationships, and a holistic approach to health. Norah brings a balance of clinical knowledge and warm support to her practice through her background in biology (BSc ‘11, UBC) and research, and her years of experience as a birth doula supporting low resourced and new immigrant families.
Norah’s passion and research accomplishments as a midwifery student earned her recognition as a Wesbrook Scholar, one of UBC’s most prestigious awards for academic achievement and community contribution. A tool she developed with UBC’s Birth Place Lab to help hospitals better support the natural processes of birth is now being used in over 100 hospitals in the U.S. and has been recognized internationally.
When not working you’ll find Norah outside exploring the West Coast with her partner, daughter, and dog. Norah is deeply grateful to have found her passion in midwifery and is thankful for every day she gets to walk alongside families as they grow.