“Working with Cora, Stephanie and Jill at Strathcona has shown me a kind of primary health care I didn’t know was possible. As a queer, gender diverse person, I’ve often carried an expectation that I’d need to explain myself, manage others’ assumptions, or brace for moments of discomfort. At Strath, that burden disappeared.

The team, including the front desk folks, created a space where my identity wasn’t an obstacle or an afterthought—it was simply part of who I am, respected and understood. For the first time, I felt fully seen in a health care setting, not just as a patient, but as a whole person. And, this was especially important for me given how deeply personal and vulnerable pregnancy was for me.

The support you offered—clinically, emotionally, and personally—has reshaped my understanding of what compassionate, inclusive primary care can look like. I’m profoundly grateful for the safety, dignity, and affirmation you brought to every interaction from our first meetings in the office right through to when I was birthing my baby and then learning how to feed them. Thank you for providing a model of midwifery care that feels not only healing, but truly human.”

— HAYF, client