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.
Kimberly Daniels, Midwifery Student
I am thrilled to join Shawna Robertson and Kaz Hiroe at Roots
Community Midwives for my final year of UBC's Midwifery Program!
Coming from Scottish and English ancestry, I am grateful to live, learn
and raise my family in the traditional unceded lands of the
Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation.
My first exposure to birth came in 2006 while supporting my sister
during the arrival of her first child. This birth sparked my interest in
attending births, leading me to doula training and DONA certification in
2009. Since then. I have worked as a birth and postpartum doula,
became a childbirth educator and opened two new chapters as an
accredited La Leche League Canada Leader. During that time, I also volunteered to support breastfeeding families, parents dealing with postpartum depression and anxiety, and those experiencing pregnancy loss. Continuing on the path into midwifery was a natural next step.
During both of my pregnancies, I was supported by midwives. I deeply
appreciated the autonomy of care and the holistic view of childbearing
this model of care supports. Learning from those experiences, my goal is
to nurture, prepare, and educate families about their birth and carlv
parenting choices as their family grows.
While not in the clinic or learning to catch babies, I can be found
tinkering in the garden, holding my breath watching our budding
equestrian fly over jumps, cheering on the sidelines of a rugby pitch, or
dancing around the kitchen preparing a meal with family and friends.
I look forward to and am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of your
pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.