MEET THE BFF TEAM

SADIE

HODSWOOD

  • Sadie Hodswood is a mother of two, a full spectrum doula and an artist who lives and works within the ancestral and unceded traditional territory of the Hul’qumi’num and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples.

    She is a co-founder and Managing Director of the Birthing Families Foundation (BFF) which is a project she envisioned when she first became a doula, 9 years ago. At that time Sadie recognized that the birth world had many inequities and she felt compelled to make doula support available to all families, not just the privileged few.

    Always keen to grow, in 2017 she traveled to Brooklyn NY, for 4 months, to take part in another doula training with Ancient Song Doula services, offered by leaders in reproductive and birth justice. This training was transformative and helped to anchor her dedication to advocate for families back at home.

    Sadie is passionate about systems change and reproductive justice and she is driven to learn new ways to show up in this world. When not working with BFF, and of course parenting 24/7, you will find her getting creative in her studio or playing in nature.

PAMELA SHAKESPEARE

  • Pamela Shakespeare is a mother of two amazing children, a doula, bookkeeper and gardener living in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. She felt the call to birth work after experiencing two very different birth experiences with her children which led her to co-found the Birthing Families Foundation where she has served as the Administrative Director for the past 5 years. She oversees all administrative functions and plays a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of the organization.

    With a passion for supporting birthing families and promoting maternal and infant health she is committed to advancing the goals of BFF to provide support, resources and education to families during the perinatal period. She works with the board of directors, staff, volunteers and community partners to develop and implement programs that meet the needs of expectant and new parents. By focusing on grant writing and relationship building, Pamela has been able to help secure funds for BFF’s ongoing sustainability and put those funds to good use serving families with quality doula care that all families deserve.

    Prior to joining the Birthing Families Foundation Pamela completed a BA degree in Global Studies from the Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo which inspired her to pursue systems level changes that have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of society and the planet.

    When she is not working for the Birthing Families Foundation or bookkeeping for other companies, Pamela can be found in her garden, spending time with her children, playing in nature or surfing.

ALLISON

RUNNALLS

  • Allison Runnalls is a highly experienced and passionate birth doula, trainer, mentor, and reproductive justice advocate. She began her doula work in 1996 after the birth of her second child and completed formal training for Labour Support and as a Breastfeeding Counselor through Douglas College. Over the course of her career, she has attended over 1,100 births, supporting families through a wide variety of birth experiences — from hospital births and planned cesareans to unplanned home births and high-risk situations. Her approach centers on empowering clients through practical, evidence-informed support, helping them feel informed, confident, and respected throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and postpartum. 

    Allison is known for her inclusive, non-judgmental support style, working with people of diverse backgrounds, goals, and family dynamics, and encouraging partners to be actively involved in the birth experience. She also offers mentorship and training for aspiring and practicing doulas, sharing her extensive knowledge of comfort measures, hospital systems, birth progression, and client-centred care. 

    Since 2021 in her role with Birthing Families Foundation, Allison serves as Doula Program Director and Board Chair, helping the organization deliver community-based doula support, develop education programs for perinatal professionals, and expand access to equitable care for vulnerable families across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland. She also mentors other doulas and contributes to standards of practice and ethics for the doula community.

    Allison is a seasoned doula, educator, mentor, and leader in the birthwork community — dedicated to supporting families with compassionate, collaborative, and informed care, and to strengthening the skills and confidence of fellow birthworkers.

ROXY POULIOT

  • Roxy has recently transitioned into the parent club and feels deeply re-inspired in her work as a doula.

    With her love for children and connection to nature, she is passionate about supporting families through both birth and postpartum care.

    She was certified as a Full Spectrum Holistic Doula at Pacific Rim College in 2018, and has since been an active member of the Doula Collective on Salt Spring Island, where she has supported many families and built meaningful, lasting connections.

    She is very grateful to be part of the Birthing Family Foundation as a referral coordinator, aligning with their mission to make perinatal and healthcare services accessible to all. Roxy’s work reflects this belief in equity, community care, and inclusive support.

AMANDA BARBER

LEAH MCGREGOR

  • My name is Leah, mama of 3, lover of animals, sunshine, and being outdoors!  After having worked in the Mental Health field for 10 + years, I decided it was time for a change.  As a fitness enthusiast, it felt like a natural progression to move from fitness participant to fitness instructor, even though I am not a fan of public speaking. I started with my group fitness certification, then expanded to gain my person training certification. 

    I also took my love of supporting humans and trained as Birth and Postpartum Doula.    This is where my true passion lies.  The joy it brings me to connect with folks and support them through such an extraordinary journey fills my cup daily.  Walking alongside a families journey through pregnancy, labour, the birth of their little human, and then getting to support them in the early days of parenthood is truly magical.

MADISON GREGGAINS

  • Madison is a full-spectrum doula living on Salt Spring Island. She earned her Holistic Doula Certificate from Pacific Rim College in 2014, an experience that ignited her passion for birthwork and reproductive rights. Since returning to the island in 2015, Madison has been an active member of the Salt Spring Doula Collective, driven by her commitment to enhancing access to vital postpartum care in this rural community that can be isolating. Guided by her values of community, contribution and access to well-being, she finds birth work and advocacy with the Birthing Families Foundation to be a natural and fulfilling path. In her personal time, Madison enjoys traveling, skiing, practicing yoga and Pilates, and walking her dog, Theo.

SYLLONA KANU

  • Syllona Kanu is a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and researcher. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Sociology and Social Policy, and a Master of Science in Global Health with a specialisation in maternal health. Before becoming a doula, Syllona spent seven years working in community services, and social justice in Vancouver. Her work is grounded in reproductive justice, health equity, and improving experiences of care for birthing people and families, particularly those who have experienced trauma, marginalisation, or systemic barriers.

    As a doula, Syllona provides trauma-informed, person-centred support that helps families feel informed, empowered, and respected throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. She is passionate about combining evidence-based research with compassionate care, ensuring that families have access to the information, advocacy, and support they need to make decisions that align with their values and goals.

    Syllona has joined the Birthing Families Foundation Board of Directors as the Research Coordinator. In this role Syllona supports the organisation's research, evaluation, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. She's committed to advancing equitable, accessible, and culturally responsive perinatal care in BC and to strengthening the evidence base for community-based doula support.

    Outside of birth work and research, Syllona can likely be found spending time in nature, at her sewing machine, or lindy-hopping or salsa-ing on a dance floor in Vancouver.

ELIZEBETH SAWCHUK

  • Elizabeth (she/they) is a parent to three amazing humans and many many fantastic plant babies! She has been active as an advocate in community groups for many years.

    Having navigated the healthcare system experiencing two empowering home births, volunteering in reproductive justice and inclusive care, Elizebeth brings a wealth of knowledge to the secretary role and believes in maternal health equity, ensuring all families can access respectful, autonomous care.

AMY JEFFERSON

  • Amy is a Full Spectrum Birthworker, supporting individuals through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, early births/ losses (miscarriages) and abortion. Practicing professionally since 2021, her holistic approach is deeply rooted in her childhood in the Kootenays (also known at the Kutnaxa Nation), where witnessing physiological  undisturbed mammalian birth and natures rhythms inspired her path as a birthworker. 

    Amy’s work is driven by her belief that pregnancy is a sacred experience. She recognizes that how babies are welcomed into the world and how families are nourished during the postpartum period deeply impact those children later in life and who they become when they are parents. By balancing traditional, ancestral wisdom with evidence-based information, Amy is committed to providing culturally affirming, non-judgmental, inclusive, anti-oppressive, compassionate care. Her holistic support enables birthing families in the Lower Mainland and the Kootenays to feel confident and empowered on their journey to becoming new parents.

    When Amy isn't serving the lovely families in her community, traveling as a doula around the world or creating unique fundraisers for BFF, you can find her exploring the beautiful BC mountains with her dog, Fiona. An avid outdoors enthusiast, she loves camping, hiking and connecting with nature.  Amy also enjoys reading, practicing yoga and volunteering at the local Farmers Market. 

JANICE LIM HING

  • Janice is a Full Spectrum Birth worker. Janice was born in the Philippines, grew up on Turtle Island in a settler village known as Richmond, BC, and their ancestry is Chinese. They currently live and work on the traditional and stolen shared land and territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples, including xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen).

    “In my work I am influenced by the belief that how you give birth and how you are born can have a lifelong impact. I value the traditional and ancestral knowledge and ways of birthing that continue to be practiced around the world and aim to provide culturally affirming support to enable pregnant people and their partners to feel confident, grounded and connected in their choices and capable in their abilities to birth and parent. I am committed to helping birthing families access informative, non-judgmental, inclusive, anti-oppressive & compassionate care that speak to their values.

    When I am not spending time with my lovely clients and their sweet little ones, I am with my animals in my garden or out exploring our beautiful province. I also love to sit in community and laugh with my family.”

LEXI VAS

  • Lexi is a certified birth and NICU doula serving families throughout the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area. With five years of experience supporting growing families, she is passionate about helping parents feel informed, empowered, and deeply supported throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period.

    Lexi believes every family deserves compassionate, non-judgmental care as they navigate one of life’s most transformative journeys. Her approach is rooted in connection, education, advocacy, and emotional support, creating a safe space for families to explore their options, trust their instincts, and make decisions that align with their values.

    Lexi has a special passion for supporting first-time parents, families navigating NICU experiences, and those seeking evidence-based information alongside compassionate care. She understands that every birth and postpartum journey is unique and considers it a privilege to walk alongside families during these meaningful moments.

    In addition to her work as a birth doula, Lexi supportsfamilies as a NICU doula and serves as the Greater Vancouver Referral Coordinator for the Birthing Families Foundation. She is also actively involved in the doula community, dedicating her time to connecting families with resources and helping strengthen support networks throughout British Columbia.

    When she is not supporting clients, Lexi enjoys building community connections, advocating for accessible family support services, and continuing her education to better serve the families she works with.

    Lexi is honored to be part of the Birthing Families Foundation team and looks forward to supporting families as they welcome their newest little ones.

SARAH

MCCABE

  • Sarah (she/her) has been a volunteer doula with the Birthing Families Foundation since 2022 and is a new board member. A birth doula since 2017, Sarah’s full-spectrum perinatal work focuses on social justice, advocacy, and sexual and reproductive health rights. As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Sarah is especially passionate about perinatal care and support for LGBTQ+ families. She is involved in community-based programs like the Doulas For Aboriginal Families Grant Program, Doulas of Victoria, and also runs her private practice as a Certified Doula and perinatal educator.

    Sarah has two nieces and enjoys spending time with them outdoors. An avid reader and researcher, Sarah is soon applying for medical school and midwifery school.