In memory of Jane Erdman

Jan. 16, 1956 – Oct. 10, 2024

The following tribute was written by Elana Johnson, former AOM President.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Jane Erdman. She will be remembered with great fondness by the many clients and midwives whose lives she touched. 

Jane was a graduate of the first MEP class and joined Womancare Midwives upon her graduation. She remained with the practice throughout her 23-year career, passionately caring for hundreds of families and welcoming new little ones into the world safely and with joy.

Jane was a strong feminist practitioner dedicated to ensuring the integrity of the midwifery model of care, holding the principals of client-centred care, informed choice and choice of birthplace at the centre of her practice. She provided a high level of clinical excellence centered on physiologic birth with warmth, sensitivity and great kindness. Central to her work was a deep commitment to supporting Indigenous midwives and providing culturally appropriate care.

Throughout her career, she was a clinical preceptor to many successful midwifery students, mentoring with wisdom and skill, and significantly contributing to the solid growth of her chosen profession. Jane was awarded the Association of Ontario Midwives' first Clinical Teaching Award.

Jane served on the AOM Board, the AOM Benefits Trust and the Canadian Association of Midwives Board, further building and strengthening midwifery within our province and our country. Nicole Mellin of the AOMBT writes:

Jane was a pioneer and crusader of gender equity, human rights and social justice. She was on the Benefits Committee when the AOM Benefits Program was established in 1994 by the AOM. She was one of our settlors and founding Trustees when the Trust was formed in 2008. Jane returned to the Trust as a Trustee again in April 2016 where she served another eight and a half years.

During her time as a Trustee, Jane was a strategic visionary, influencer and change-maker. She was Chair of the Equity & Governance Committee, sat on the Finance & Audit Committee and led and/or participated in numerous Task Forces and projects over her long tenure at the AOMBT.

Jane hardly ever missed a midwifery conference, and those who attended will attest to her epic moves on the dance floor. Midwifery in Ontario will shine a little less brightly without Jane but her legacy will live on in those she mentored, those she provided care to and in the hearts of all who worked with her and knew her.

In honour of Jane, please consider donating to the Jane Erdman Midwifery Fund through the Children’s Health Foundation. This fund, in her name, will continue the important work that Jane undertook in her community throughout her career.