BCCNM has received reports that
Gloria Lemay of Duncan, B.C., continues to hold herself out as a birth attendant in British Columbia and may be offering midwifery services and performing restricted activities as set out in the
Midwives Regulation, without being permitted to do so.
Gloria Lemay is not, and has never been, a registrant of BCCNM and is not entitled to practice midwifery in British Columbia.
Gloria Lemay is the subject of a permanent court order in B.C., granted on Feb. 2, 2000, which permanently prohibited and enjoined her from performing services for the purpose of midwifery, as defined by the
Midwives Regulation, recovering any fee or remuneration in any court in respect of the performance of services for the purposes of midwifery, and using the title “Midwife" or any name, title, description or abbreviation in any manner that expresses or implies that she is a registrant or is associated with the former College of Midwives of British Columbia, now amalgamated as BC College of Nurses and Midwives.
This order was varied in 2018 to reflect amendments to the
Midwives Regulation. For details of these orders, see:
College of Midwives of British Columbia v. Lemay, 2002 BCSC 905 and
College of Midwives of British Columbia v. Lemay, 2018 BCSC 1827.
Given the recent reports, BCCNM appeared in BC Supreme Court on Jan. 25, 2024, and obtained an order to search Ms. Lemay's residence and seize evidence related to her ongoing unauthorized practice of midwifery, pursuant to section 29 of the Health Professions Act. The court-ordered search and seizure was conducted on Jan. 30, 2024, by college investigators accompanied by members of the RCMP.
BCCNM will review the evidence seized and determine the next steps to be taken against Ms. Lemay.
More information on the risks of unauthorized practice of midwifery can be found here:
PUBLIC ADVISORY: Unauthorized practice of midwifery.
Verifying registration status
BCCNM encourages the public to verify the registration status for any individual who holds themselves out as a midwife via the midwife verification on the BCCNM website or by directing an inquiry to the BCCNM Registration department (midwives and nurses).
Nurse and midwife registration verification ensures that only those qualified with the requisite skills and education to be nurses and midwives are employed or practicing in nursing and midwifery positions in British Columbia.