Meet The Team
DAA Board of Directors
Christine
Jennings
Treasurer
she/her
As a self-confessed birth enthusiast, a love of birth brought Christine to doula work. Baby snuggles are certainly the sweetest, but what has stuck Christine to this role is holding space for the deeply impactful transformation that happens during pregnancy and birth as parents are born.
As a doula, helping people find their voice, define their autonomy, and supporting families in their agency is her jam.
Christine been serving Calgary (and area) families and has been an active member of the doula community since taking her training in 2012. Christine strongly believes that being in community with other doulas is how we grow, so we may continue to know better and do better in every support capacity we find ourselves in.
Christine lives in Airdrie with her husband, their two magical children, her father, and their much beloved dog. She loves long walks in the woods, reading all the books, and holds an evergreen love for Harry Potter but a growing disrespect for JK Rowling. She makes a mean fried egg sandwich and loves her friends with fierce loyalty.
April Fermaniuk
Vice President
she/her
April Fermaniuk is a local yeg bossbabe and owner of Edmonton Area Family Doulas agency. She is a wife to the most supportive doula husband ever, and mother of three tiny humans, and the cutest Bernedoodle ever.
A certified birth and postpartum doula for over 5 years, April is honored to guide families through the life changing journey of having a baby and adjusting to life with a newborn. She absolutely loves teaching newborn care and prenatal education classes.
Fun facts! April apologizes for everything, all the time. She is an active (alumnae) fraternity girl with Alpha Gamma Delta. April also spent several years working as a military reserve officer working army cadets (youth). She also HATES socks, and much to the chagrin of her husband, so do her children.
On days when she’s at her computer returning emails you can find April sipping Chai Lattes out of her fav Prairie Chick Prints mug and listening to music while she works. When she’s not running her business, April is spending time with her husband and their three incredible children having fun outside or watching movies.
Milly Friedman
President
she/her
Milly is a respected leader in the birth community and is truly honoured to be the President of the Doula Association of Alberta. She has worked over 15 years as a business owner and entrepreneur, including the last six years as a certified birth doula.
Milly is a fetal positioning specialist, Spinning Babies parent educator, certified personal fitness trainer, and nutrition coach. Her foundation of practise is listening and learning; honouring inclusivity, culture and diversity.
She is a dynamic, proactive and highly organized person and is known to manage stressful and crisis situations with a calm and methodical demeanour.
Milly believes in a balanced lifestyle and is committed to being her best self at work, home and in the community. You can find Milly enjoying the outdoors with her family no matter the weather. She feels grateful to live in this abundant province and enjoys experiencing all it has to offer.
Heather
Hill
Administrator
she/her
Heather is a Certified DONA Birth Doula, living in Sherwood Park Alberta. She is passionate about all things birth, family and parenting. She has three teenage children, and found her passion for birth through her own birth experiences. She has been practicing birth work since 2011, as birth doula, childbirth educator, lactation educator, birth photographer, and prenatal yoga instructor.
Heather is happiest when she has found something to grow, nurture or create. She often found digging in her garden, holding babies and the hands of their parents, customizing some crafty inventions to make life simpler, or cooking and baking.
Heather has taken on the role of Administrator with the Doula Association of Alberta. Previously she has worked as a Social worker with Child and Family Services, and been involved on the board of the Doula Association of Edmonton.
She is pleased to be in this role with DAA, supporting the doula community to grow strong and improving experiences for all birthing families in Alberta.
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Kathy
larabee
Membership Coordinator
she/her
Kathy has an unbridled passion for birth! She has worked as a birth doula since 2010, serving the northern Alberta area and is now located in Calgary. She is a birth doula, loss and bereavement doula and childbirth educator.
Because how we birth matters, Kathy continues to learn ways to help birthing families have better experiences and has added a master Rebozo certificate to her credentials. She incorporates the use of this precious cloth in her arsenal of birth practices whenever she can and loves to teach how to use it for comfort in birth.
She has also been a long-standing co-facilitator of birth doula trainings and loves to mentor new doulas.
Kathy’s favourite credentials: “Grandma” – to three of the most beautiful grandchildren – who are the loves of her life.
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Supporting Roles
Kristy Cooper
Lindsey Bowns
Website & Social Media Manager. She/Her.
Public Relations Manager. She/Her.
Kristy Cooper is a dedicated mama, wife, and birth doula who has found her bliss in the world of birthwork since 2017. As the founder of Little Doula on the Prairie, she provides unwavering support to birthing families in east central Alberta, ensuring they have the best possible birth experiences.
In addition to her doula work, Kristy is also the Host of the popular Birthing on the Prairies podcast. Through this platform, she engages with Alberta families, capturing their unique and personal birth stories, and sharing them to inspire and educate others.
With a deep commitment to her community, Kristy is passionate about helping doulas meet the growing need for labor support. Recognizing the power of social media, she utilizes these platforms to create meaningful relationships, connect individuals, educate expectant parents, and raise awareness within the birthing community.
Kristy's dedication, warmth, and vast knowledge make her an invaluable resource for those seeking support and guidance throughout their birthing journey. Her passion for empowering families and advocating for their needs shines through in all aspects of her work.
Thoughtful. Encouraging. Kind, to a fault. Lindsey is that friend you call in the middle of the night when your heart and mind are racing and you need someone to slow things down.
She's also a girl-mom, a dog lover, a teacher of baby ballerinas, and a sweat-enthusiast. Need proof? - She wore running shoes during most of her own labor, WITH her hospital gown!
Her enthusiasm for birth, parenthood, and genuine friendships led her to doula work in 2019. Her modern, judgement-free outlook makes her feel like that funny friend who just happens to enjoy talking about placentas during pedicures and breastfeeding over brunch.
Community Liaisons
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Stephanie Griffith
Red Deer Liaison. She/Her.
I’m Steph – mom of three rolling through my 30’s (WAY too fast) with my husband and our lab named Jeter. Most times you’ll find me mom-ing; whether it be running around after the 3-year-old or running around for the 10- and 11-year-olds; annndddd making sure the dog isn’t eating something he shouldn’t be. Our life is a blur of busy, organized crazy chaos but it’s our beautiful crazy chaos and I wouldn’t change one minute of it.
When we aren’t in go mode for the house and the day to day, my husband and I like to try to balance the chaos. We enjoy the mountains (nothing beats that first inhaling of the fresh mountain air), travelling; when we are able, and every possible concert we can cram into our lives.
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My quest to become a doula came to fruition shortly after the birth of my second child in 2020. I’ve completed my training with Bebo Mia in the Summer of 2022 and am anxiously awaiting my certification. While working towards obtaining the requirements for certification with Bebo Mia I’ve also trained and completed my Certification with The VBAC Link. I'm truly invested in continuing education and plan to continue to arm myself with a trunk of knowledge in all things birth and baby.
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My deepest core value is honesty; I believe that anything is figure-out-able if the whole story is present. Good, bad and anything in between and I aim to use that value everyday as your doula, your friend, mentor and peer. I'm so honored, and excited for the future as your Red Deer Liaison.
Vicki Todd
Southern Liaison. She/Her.
My career in Lethbridge has been a trailblazing one, being one of the few doulas in the community when I began. 13 years later I’ve continued to be a leader in the birth community in Southern Alberta and as a Leader I’ve also created opportunities for new doulas to grow and learn.
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Raised in a home of activism and social justice, the idea of empowering women so that they could have a better experience through birth drove me to become a doula. Every birth I’m present at honours the midwives in my ancestry.
Supporting local business is a passion of mine whether it’s delicious coffee, music festivals, or record stores. I have two cats and 2 very active boys and a very supportive partner.
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I love doing this work. This HEART work, this hard work. I am always humbled when I'm asked to join someone in their labour and birth. Whether it’s teaching infant massage or Lamaze, supporting a birth, educating Partners about the process of birth so they can support their partners, I am fully committed to making sure new parents understand birth and their babies.
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It has been an honor to work with the families of Southern Alberta over the years.
Chelsea Snelgrove
North & East Liaison. She/Her.
Chelsea is a mama to three, wife and entrepreneur. She’s been building her practice in the field of holistic and integrative health care for over 10 years. Her skill set includes the roles of BodyTalk practitioner, certified birth & postpartum doula, health advisor, and human design reader.
Chelsea has been intuitively operating as a doula long before she became certified. As a patient care aide in a nursing home helping people as they transitioned from earth. Then as a sister and friend as people welcomed their babies earth side. You could say her support services have come full circle!
Chelsea feels totally at home in the birth world and is honored to be able to offer her combo of intuitive and evidence based guidance to every family she works with.
She is excited to be the Eastern Zone Liaison and to support and grow with this amazing doula community.
Adele Pardy-Callfas
Calgary Liaison. She/Her.
I'm Adele (or Del/Deli to friends), and I’m excited to nominate myself for the role of Community Liaison for the Calgary Area with the Doula Association of Alberta (DAA). With over 14 years of experience as a Certified Birth and Postpartum Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, and owner of The Hive Doula Services, I’m dedicated to providing exceptional support to families and enhancing our local doula community. Currently, I am also the president of the Calgary Doula Association (CDA), where I work to support and advance the interests of doulas in our area.
In addition, I am training with Evidence Based Birth® (EBB) to become an instructor, further enriching my ability to support and educate families and fellow professionals. My career has been focused on delivering heartfelt, accessible care throughout the birth and postpartum experience. Outside of my doula work, you can find me hip squeezing, baking sourdough, indulging in urban homesteading, and dreaming about the birth room.
Originally from Ontario but a proud Calgarian for nearly 21 years, I bring a blend of experience, enthusiasm, and a touch of old-school charm to this role. As a mom to an 18-year-old and a dedicated RMT, I’m eager to connect with and support fellow doulas in our community.
I look forward to the opportunity to contribute positively and work together with the DAA and our local doula network!
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Emma Wasylynchuk
Edmonton Liaison. She/Her.
I’m a certified doula & car seat tech, mom and postpartum healthcare worker in the Edmonton area! I started my journey as a doula as I’ve always had such a desire to help people and be a part of life’s big moments. I have a passion for helping my community and would love to be a part of this one.
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Erin Moyen
Education Director. She/Her.
Erin is one of few seasoned childbirth leaders in Alberta. Her paternal grandmother’s teachings and love of family shaped her calling into this treasured profession. With 17+ years educating, supporting and mentoring doulas and families, she is honoured to be the Doula Association of Alberta’s Education Manager. Although Erin was raised on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, she has been privileged to live and work in the Southern, Central and Northern regions of Alberta. This diverse experience has enhanced her understanding of the childbirth and doula culture in Western Canada.
Erin is the biological mother to 3 children, 3 angel babies and has been a foster mom to 5 under five. Alongside her husband, and youngest daughter, Erin resides on a farm in Central Alberta.
During her term as Education Manager Erin looks forward to meeting more of Alberta’s birthworkers, partnering with training experts, and coordinating educational events that meet the need of our current (and growing!) Doula Association of Alberta membership.