In the Beginning
Founder, Laurie Chalmers, began the Natural Mother and Baby Store / Centre in 2003 as a website from which members of the community could access programs, services and products for mothers and babies. In March 2004 the Centre took up its current location on Wesley St. where Shantala Baby Massage and pre / post natal yoga classes began. Other instructors and parent educators were invited to participate by renting the space and assisting in publishing a monthly newsletter. Baby sign and mom and baby drop-ins followed and were successful.
The vision was to create a warm, welcoming space that was accepting of all mothers and babies, with classes, groups and programs that would be educational and fun, and build relationships and community among Nanaimo mothers. The direction of the Centre was in providing support for mothers in pregnancy, during labour and birth, and in the post partum period; assisting with breastfeeding, infant care, and family relationships; and in fostering every woman’s natural ability to mother. This vision did not exclude fathers; its purpose was to fill the gap for new mothers with small babies who make up the majority of primary, stay-home caregivers for young infants.
Community Dedication
The Centre’s first members were people looking to sell natural products to mothers; mothers looking for an alternative to the Health Unit and for peer support rather than professional advice; and desperate mothers needing help and support with breastfeeding and other serious difficulties.
The Natural Mother and Baby Store and Centre became the incorporated Natural Mother and Baby Society in June, 2005, supported by a small group of dedicated volunteers. Shortly after, Laurie secured funding for Connect, a 12-week, intensive parenting program aimed at vulnerable mothers, and this allowed the society to continue to function through financial assistance and momentum. In June 2006, the Society received a grant from Service Canada to hire four people for program development, infrastructure building and sustainability. Again in August 2007 the Society received another grant from Service Canada to hire another four people for a limited period to research program and project viabilities and to pilot specific programs, namely The Nanaimo Doula Collective and Mentoring into Motherhood, Mothering into Mentorship. In November of 2008 the Society secured a third grant from The Ministry of Housing and Social Development to pilot a doula outreach program, providing funded birth and postpartum doula support, prenatal and new parent education and pre/post natal yoga casses to new mothers and their families in our community. The project was a huge success. However, like many non-profits, the Nanaimo Mother and Baby Society experienced growing pains. To help us in our innitiative to find long term solutions to sustainability issues commonly experienced in the non-profit sector, the NMBS received a grant in November of 2009 to research sustainability through the Labour Market Partnership Adjustment Model, provided again through the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. Our current research looks at how a co-operative non-profit model provides long term viability to our Society and offers opportunities for further community involvement in our growing organization.
Into the Future
The direction of the Society has always been driven by the voices of the mothers it serves, and has followed a clear set of guiding principles against which everything is measured. It provides a wide variety of educational opportunities for families, and all funds generated by programs are funneled back into the Society in order to be able to provide the same programs free for those with economic barriers.
In August 2006 a comprehensive strategic planning meeting helped members and the executive devise a focused plan for the further development of the society’s structure, programming and direction. The result of the strategic plan included a three year timeline of projects and funding goals; a clear assessment of gaps in community services that the Society could potentially fill; and a cohesive vision of core programming. Much of the goals set forth in 2006 have now been met and the Society is currently looking at creating an up-to-date strategic plan to see us through the current economic hardships experienced through cuts to funding budgets we have relied on. The Society is currently seeking a broad social cross-section of Nanaimo mothers through membership and board representation.
