Our Teams

Red Team

Nikki Munkley – Partner

Hello there!

My career began in healthcare in 1987 when I attended the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, England and graduated as a Registered Nurse. Although my original intention was to specialize in the field of Intensive Care, my genuine love of life and travel led to my commencing training to become a registered midwife and I graduated from the University of Worcester, England in 1993. I worked as a Registered Midwife until I immigrated to Canada in May 2002, becoming registered here in July 2003.

I have known my husband since we were teenagers and I am devoted to my family, being the proud mum of two fabulous children and a dog. Both my labours and deliveries were with midwives and amazing experiences that changed my life.

Consequently, my lifelong passion is to assist women giving birth, however it is experienced. I have a vision that one day water birth will be a choice for women and accepted as a safe and effective way to give birth, both in the hospital setting as well as at home. It is from experience that I can say that giving birth is truly one of life’s most empowering and intense experiences. I feel blessed to be sharing in this unique and special time with you!

Karen McKenzie – Associate

Hi! My name is Karen McKenzie and I have been a Registered Midwife since 2004. I am a lifelong resident of London where I live with my two daughters. I thoroughly enjoy my job as a midwife and cannot imagine doing anything else. It is a pleasure to be included in women’s experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and the early days of welcoming a newborn baby. I remain fascinated and awed by women’s strength and tenderness and by the nuances of a changing family. I am truly blessed!

Daina Nestick – Associate – On Mat Leave until June 2012

Hello!!!

My name is Daina Nestick. I was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario however most of my family currently lives just outside Vancouver. I developed a passion for women’s health care while attending McMaster University’s bachelor of health sciences program in 2000 and nurtured this passion when traveling overseas and engaging in many women’s health initiatives. The majority of my clinical training has been here at Talbot Creek and completed the midwifery program through McMaster University in April 2008. I feel so blessed to work with the lovely women in this community!! I look forward to meeting and caring for you and your family and guiding you through this amazing transformative journey.

Natalie Hicken – Associate

I joined Talbot Creek Midwives after graduating from McMaster University’s Midwifery Education Program. During my training, I had the opportunity to work in several midwifery practices across southern Ontario as well as doing a placement on the maternity ward in a rural bush hospital in Zambia. Prior to my midwifery education, I spent some time studying nursing through Seneca-York University in Toronto. My husband and I make our home in London with our two cats, Luke and Leia. Practicing midwifery has been a long-time aspiration of mine and I am blessed to be working with you and your growing family!

Meagan Furnivall – Associate

I am currently graduating from the McMaster University Midwifery Education Program. I am 24 years old with a passion for maternity care and am very excited to soon be providing midwifery services to women of all social and cultural backgrounds. I have a special interest in midwifery at the international level and public health policy in developing countries. I enjoy working collaboratively with other professions to help ensure women receive the greatest level of care possible. I hope to one day contribute to areas of research that promote equal access to midwifery care for all women in need.

Blue Team

Janet Clarke – Partner

Hello there!

I was born, raised and trained in England and practiced as a midwife there from 1981-1988. I came to Ontario nineteen years ago having spent the first seven years as an obstetric nurse, I am now proudly practicing as an Ontario Registered Midwife.

I have two wonderful children and know too well the joys of expecting and raising a young family.

I recently moved to St Thomas to be closer to the community that our practice serves.

I am thrilled and enthralled to have the opportunity to attend the needs of the childbearing families in this area. God bless!

Laura Parizeau – Associate

Hello!

My name is Laura Parizeau, and am I excited to be one of the newest members of the Talbot Creek Midwives! Prior to beginning my midwifery studies, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies through the University of Waterloo co-op program. As a result, I have a range of work experience in the health care field, from Recreational Coordinator at a small rural hospital (I shared an office with the Chaplain and took care of the fish tank) to Region Facilitator at the London Hospitals (I was involved in many interesting projects, including Digital Imaging and the SWO Perinatal Partnership). Midwifery is the profession which allows me to bring all of my experiences and interests together (well, maybe not all – no office fish yet!) and being a midwife is fantastic.

I spent the first 19 years of my life in the city of Sarnia, and the next ten years in nine different cities (including at least 18 moves at last count). My family is very important to me (not just because they are great at hauling my stuff all over Ontario) and I am thrilled to have moved so much closer to them. My partner Ryan is a nurse at Parkwood, and along with our grumpy cat Gracie, we have started to make St. Thomas feel like home. I look forward to meeting you!

Jill Portelance – Associate

Hello all!
Welcome to Talbot Creek Midwives! I am a native of Sudbury, Ontario (The Nickel Capital of the world) and home of the catchy tune “Sudbury Saturday Night”. I grew up on a small hobby farm on the outskirts of town with my 3 brothers, 3 sisters and wonderful parents. I have a diploma in Animal Sciences, Certified Personal Support Worker, and a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery degree. I have a wonderful husband and three amazing kids, 2 boys and a girl. My family and I moved here to St Thomas in 2009.
My interest in midwifery began during my second pregnancy. I had called too late with my first and so did not have midwives, but got in with them the second time around. The midwives were so wonderful and made everything so personal and special, I knew this was what I wanted to do some day! So I spent “the early years” with my kids and once my youngest started grade 1, I embarked on this amazing journey and have never looked back! I have done placements in Sudbury, North Bay, Guelph and here in London and St Thomas. It has ultimately led me and my family to a permanent home here and we love this community and all it has to offer. I have done the majority of my midwifery training under the supervision of Nikki, Karen, and Janet and am now very pleased to be working as their colleague. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing in the joys of becoming a family and I hope to pass on the amazing midwifery experience that I enjoyed, to all of you.